Indian River High School

Chesapeake, VA 23325

Phone: (757) 578-7000
Fax: (757) 578-7004
District: Chesapeake Public Schools

4

GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades 9,10,11,12 • 1643 students

Indian River High School, a public school located in Chesapeake, VA, serves grades 9-12 in the Chesapeake Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 4 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Indian River High School is a public school located in Chesapeake, VA. 1643 students attend Indian River High School.

School Ratings

Category Rating Details
Test Scores 5/10 The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Virginia Standards of Learning data from Virginia Department of Education, and using 2025 Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) End-of-Course data from Virginia Department of Education.
College Readiness 2/10 The College Readiness Rating uses this high school's graduation rates, college entrance exam participation and performance, or AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment participation to determine how well schools are preparing students for success in college and beyond. The College Readiness Rating was created using the following data from the 2021 Civil Rights Data Collection: percentage of students enrolled in IB, AP or Dual Enrollment classes in grades 9-12, using 2025 4-year high school graduation rate data from Virginia Department of Education, using 2025 demographic data from the National Center for Education Statistics, and using 2025 demographic data from Virginia Department of Education.

Posted: February 8, 2026

Attended this school for one semester and it was BAD. The facilities were dilapidated and gross, infested with cockroaches, rats, and such, and it does not prepare students for college and/or other post-education paths at all. Think of the worst school you can imagine, and then triple its worseness. That is Indian River High School. Bottom of the barrel. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILDREN TO THIS SCHOOL.

Posted: February 8, 2026

Posted: February 8, 2026

Posted: February 8, 2026

Posted: February 8, 2026

Posted: February 8, 2026

Posted: February 8, 2026

Posted: February 8, 2026

Posted: August 30, 2025

Last night game with any Awei versus Granby high school was a good game, but I felt that the coaches did not let all the players play in the game. They kept the same people playing, especially the coach putting in his son and all the game and did not let the other players play we all came out to see all children play, but the coach decided to have his own son Shine the light and how the others participate so if this is going to continue, I think a lot of last night was talking about taking their children away from the school because they’re supposed to be where everybody takes her plan not just plan one set of children all night long and not letting the other ones get a chance to play. This is so ridiculous and everybody was so disappointed there was no cheering really going on because of this so to the coaches the next time you need to let all the kids share the happiness and not just the coach playing his one son.

Posted: August 30, 2025

Posted: August 30, 2025

Posted: August 30, 2025

Posted: August 30, 2025

Posted: August 30, 2025

Posted: August 30, 2025

Posted: July 5, 2025

Awesome staff. O my complaint is the traffic to when you drop off. It’s awful

Posted: July 5, 2025

Posted: July 5, 2025

Posted: July 5, 2025

Posted: July 5, 2025

Posted: July 5, 2025

Posted: July 5, 2025

Posted: July 5, 2025

Posted: January 11, 2025

My sister and I were both students at the school she had it worse than I did because she was special needs high functioning. Teachers were very dismissive, facilities dirty lunch disgusting and expensive for disgusting food. Staff would come up with rules out of nowhere just to I don't know bother us. The fact that we had to buy gym shorts was so stupid but they didn't have sweats for winter and they still made us wear the shorts during winter time. Had an English teacher her entire curriculum was circled by black segregation it was the most boring material I have ever read for an entire semester she made us read the book watch the play watch the black and white movie and then watch the colored movie and write a report on each one. I love reading and this was one of the most boring books I've ever read in my life. And it wasn't teaching it was read this then take the test watch this then take the test. My sister who graduated with honors the guidance counselor kept trying to get her to graduate with a certificate of completion instead of a diploma and freshman classes she didn't need to take, they tried taking advantage that my mother Puerto Rican woman did not understand a lot of the paperwork so I had to go and fix it. All this to say I can't wait for Virginia to get on board with school choice where the money follows the student not where you live.
PS. Yes there were a couple of teachers that were very nice but you can see that it was getting beaten out of them.

Posted: January 11, 2025

Posted: January 11, 2025

Posted: January 11, 2025

Posted: January 11, 2025

Posted: January 11, 2025

Posted: January 11, 2025

Posted: January 11, 2025

Posted: December 13, 2024

Posted: December 13, 2024

Posted: December 13, 2024

Posted: December 13, 2024

Posted: December 13, 2024

Posted: December 13, 2024

Posted: December 13, 2024

Posted: December 13, 2024

Bad BAD BAD BAD this school. The whole staff is lazy establishment is terrible. Please don’t send your kids here if you don’t have to.

Posted: July 29, 2023

Posted: July 29, 2023

Posted: July 29, 2023

Posted: July 29, 2023

Posted: July 29, 2023

Posted: July 29, 2023

Posted: July 29, 2023

Posted: July 29, 2023

My kids and I love this school. They love the teachers and administration at this school.

Posted: June 4, 2023

Principal never emailed back after many attempts. Staff taking tickets at basball games. Ladies taking tickets at baseball games are extremely rude and I professional. I can’t imagine my kids having to deal with no feedback and unprofessional teachers all day.

Posted: June 4, 2023

Posted: June 4, 2023

Posted: June 4, 2023

Posted: June 4, 2023

Posted: June 4, 2023

Posted: June 4, 2023

Posted: June 4, 2023

Posted: November 14, 2019

I am not impressed with the Indian River facility and staff. It is unfortunate because I am an IRHS graduate and alumnus. While I do not have children my nieces and nephews all attended IR. The last one will graduate in 2020. In short, they are guarded and rude. I have attended school functions for the past 7 years. I have seen the principle (Mrs. Dunbar) on numerous occasion. I smile and say hello and she looks right thorough me. Her rudeness is exhibited by her staff. The same thing has happened when with the assistant principles. I find them uncaring and unapproachable. When I see Mr. Frye at event he still speaks. He genuinely cared about the students and community. I understand the safety and welfare of the children should take priority. BUT, if you have seen the same person at events for the past 7 years it might be a good precautionary measure to have a casual conversation. Blank stares and unresponsiveness only goes so far. Has the school system changed this much over the years? These people cannot be properly training our children for the next phase in life. This goes beyond administering a curriculum and attempting to get satisfactory SOL passing percentages.

Posted: November 14, 2019

Posted: November 14, 2019

Posted: November 14, 2019

Posted: November 14, 2019

Posted: November 14, 2019

Posted: November 14, 2019

Posted: May 18, 2018

Posted: May 18, 2018

Posted: May 18, 2018

Posted: May 18, 2018

Posted: May 18, 2018

Posted: May 18, 2018

I would not recommend this school to anyone. The school administration was horrible to me and only supported those doing poor in school. Although I got good grades, I was very depressed and I was made fun of by the administration and some teachers. I've never heard of a school more childish and my college friends were appalled when I told them stories. I'm not sure why the counselor did not once talk to me about events that happened while I attended Indian River, but I can say that the people that go to this school are the most disrespectful and trashy individuals, and the administration alike.

Posted: May 18, 2018

Posted: October 21, 2017

As a teacher at this school for 30+ years, after teaching at three or more other schools, I found the administration supported students, parents, teachers, community who deserved it. No one groups was supported above the others. (Presently retired)

Posted: October 21, 2017

Posted: October 21, 2017

Posted: October 21, 2017

Posted: October 21, 2017

Posted: October 21, 2017

Posted: March 15, 2017

Posted: March 15, 2017

Posted: March 15, 2017

Posted: March 15, 2017

Posted: March 15, 2017

The new Principal has worked very very hard to be a good leader to the students, faculty and parents.

Posted: March 15, 2017

This is not the fault of faculty and staff. This is coming from poorly raised students who lack integrity, compassion and respect. The greater percentage of these students are coming from Indian River Middle School.

Posted: March 15, 2017

New Principal 2 years ago. Has made positive changes, weeding out bad teachers, implementing other CPHS ways, working very hard to overcome it's bad reputation. BUT, the Athletic Director is holding the school back, he should have retired several years ago. Where are the partnerships with the car dealerships on Military Hwy to help Athletics financially? Other HS's have vinyl banners up to show whom they partner with. Not us. The job has out-grown his capabilities. Be involved and volunteer, you will meet great teachers, get to know Administration, and meet great parents. We did.

Posted: March 10, 2017

Great school, family feel, the remodel has really helped!

Posted: February 14, 2017

Many may talk bad about this school but it is what you put into it. My child has excelled here and has experienced diversity that will be a positive mark in her life going forward. Be active, Volunteer!

Posted: February 14, 2017

Posted: February 14, 2017

Posted: February 14, 2017

Posted: February 14, 2017

Posted: February 14, 2017

Posted: February 14, 2017

Posted: August 31, 2016

Posted: August 31, 2016

Posted: August 31, 2016

Posted: August 31, 2016

I was impressed by the dedication and support of my daughter’s teachers and the school’s administrators throughout her enrollment at Indian River. In particular, Assistant Principals Harding and Joppy were extremely helpful as was the special education department (my daughter has some mild disabilities; her case manager was always proactive and communicative). The choral and drama departments are excellent and Principal Dunbar was often in attendance at performances. The teachers who we met were personable and clearly cared about their students' welfare and education. The front office staff and guidance department were also supportive and responsive – overall, the environment at Indian River is welcoming and friendly, but it's clear that education and discipline are priorities. The staff and faculty do their utmost to prepare students for the next step in their lives, whether it's college, the military, or employment. I was quite pleased with my daughter’s experience at Indian River.

Posted: October 31, 2014

Indian River High School has only had positive effects on me as a person, as a student, and as a rising adult. This school's teaching staff is highly dedicated, to say the least. Central, I believe, to what makes this school among the highest caliber is that it mirrors the real world. It not only teaches one how to take a standardized test, but how to live in an unpredictible and complex world. Students at this school almost always have a desire to learn. This school not only appreciates originality, but also encourages it. I have never felt prosecuted for the person that I am and anyone here will be able to tell you the same thing. Coming from Greenbrier Middle School, I was accostomed to a controlling, limiting environment. Upon the first few days as a freshmen at this school I realized that the student body and teachers were open to helping me, whether it was with helping me understand a math lesson or with helping me with a private matter. I feel lucky to go to this school. Many of my friends from my middle school went to Oscar Smith and constantly tell me about how unfortunate they feel to be there. As for me, I feel blessed to be a Brave. Never have I felt so lucky.

Posted: July 17, 2014

Indian River is the most terrible high school in chesapeake! Literally!!! My daughter went to Indian River for her freshman year and she came home crying everyday. I finally transferred her to Oscar smith and she is now a rising junior! She loves it there!!!! If you are a parent looking for a high school go check out OSCAR SMITH HIGH SCHOOL!!!!!

Posted: September 8, 2013

Indian River is a fantastic high school with a dedicated teaching staff. I had a child graduate from there in 2008 & I currently have a freshman enrolled there. The sports and orchestra programs are terrific at Indian River and the students get a chance to stay active and form great friendships. We love Indian River high school. Go Braves!!!

Reviews provided by GreatSchools

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