Schools and Kids

Schools 

Albemarle County Schools
Charlottesville City Schools
Private Schools
Regional Schools
Adult and Community Enrichment
Nearby School Systems

Colleges and Universities

Public v. Private
Albemarle v. Charlottesville

Which is better to educate your junior or juniors: Charlottesville's urban system that spends a lot of money and has incredible music programs with students who win international competitions, or the highly rated Albemarle County system with its mix of rural and/or affluent kids? Or is it the private schools that seem to multiply each year? We can't answer these questions, but we can provide a few leads.

Albemarle County Schools

# of students: 13,166 est. (2013)
Phone: 296-5893
       

Superintendent: Dr. Pam Moran
Secretary: Christine Thompson             Phone: 296-5826        
                   

Albemarle School Board

There are a total of seven School Board members, one from each of the six magisterial districts plus one at-large, who are elected to serve four-year terms and must be a resident within their district.

Clerk: Jennifer Johnston

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 296-5893                           

Board meets: 2nd & 4th Thursdays of each month at 6:30pm in the Lane Auditorium of the County Office Building for regular board meetings and at 6:00pm in Room 241 of the County Office Building for regular work sessions.

Jason Buyaki
(Rivanna) 973-7026

(Samuel Miller) 973-3815

(Jack Jouett) 296-4931
(Rio) 973-4464

(White Hall) 465-5156

(Scottsville) 293-7262
Ned Gallaway, Vice Chair
(At-Large) 242 3935

Albemarle Elementaries (Grades K-5)


Agnor-Hurt
3201 Berkmar Drive
973-5211

Baker-Butler
2740 Proffit Road
974-7777

Broadus Wood
185 Buck Mountain Road, Earlysville
973-3865

Brownsville
5870 Rockfish Gap Turnpike, Crozet
823-4658

Paul H. Cale
1757 Avon Street Ext.
293-7455

Crozet
1407 Crozet Avenue
823-4800

Mary C. Greer
190 Lambs Lane (by AHS)
973-8371

Hollymead
2775 Powell Creek Drive
973-8301

Meriwether Lewis
1610 Owensville Road, Ivy
293-9304

Virginia L. Murray
3251 Morgantown Road
977-4599

Red Hill
3901 Red Hill School Road, North Garden
293-5332

Scottsville
7868 Scottsville Road
974-8040

Stone-Robinson
958 North Milton Road
296-3754

Stony Point
3893 Stony Point Road near Keswick
973-6405

Woodbrook
100 Woodbrook Drive
973-6600

B.F. Yancey
7625 Porters Road, Esmont
974-8060

Albemarle Middle Schools (Grades 6-8)


Jackson P. Burley
901 Rose Hill Drive
295-5101

J.T. Henley
5880 Rockfish Gap Turnpike, Crozet
823-4393

Jack Jouett
210 Lambs Lane
975-9320

Mortimer Y. Sutherland
2801 Powell Creek Drive
975-0599

Leslie H. Walton
4217 Red Hill Road
977-5615
 

Community Public Charter School

 901 Rose Hill Drive                    

972-1607

Albemarle High Schools (Grades 9-12)

Albemarle High School
"The Patriots"
2775 Hydraulic Road
975-9300

Monticello High School
"The Mustangs"
1400 Independence Way
244-3100

Western Albemarle High School
"The Warriors"
5941 Rockfish Gap Turnpike
823-8700

Murray High School
"A School of Choice"
1200 Forest Street
296-3090

Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC)

1000 East Rio Road                    

973-4461                                 

(see Charlottesville public schools)

Math, Engineering, & Science Academy 2775 Hydraulic Road (in the new Science wing of Albemarle High School)

Regional School

PREP/Ivy Creek School
227 Lambs Lane
975-9400

Adult and Community Enrichment Classes

Charlottesville Parks & Rec - Golf, tennis, etc. 970-3264

Albemarle Parks & Rec - Smatterings of sports, plus yoga, aerobics, and camps for kids. 296-5844

CATEC - See Charlottesville public school listings. 973-4461

Alliance Française - Apprenez français! Also: special events. 260-0640

Charlottesville Cooking School - Guess what you learn how to do here? 963-2665

Seasonal Cook - More courses of the culinary sort. 295-9355

Atlantic Coast Athletic Club - Get that blood pumping! 978-3800

Albemarle Fire & Rescue - Learn how to save a life. 296-5833

Albemarle County Adult Education - ESOL, GED, workplace training, citizenship and business classes, basic computer skills, and more. 296-3872                 

Families in Crisis - a federally-funded project meant to help homeless children and youth go to school, stay in school, and succeed in  school. 296-3872

Migrant Education - Helping the children of migrant workers go to school. 296-3872                             

Open Doors - Offers education classes as well as driving improvement, motorcycle safety, and hunting classes.  Includes listing of all courses offered.

 

Other nearby county systems:

Augusta: 540-245-5100
Fluvanna: 589-8208
Greene: 985-5254
Louisa: 540-894-5115
Madison:540-948-3780
Nelson: 263-7100
Orange: 540-661-4550


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Charlottesville City Schools

# of students: 3,979 (2013)
Phone: 245-2400
Closing/cancellation line: 245-2401

Superintendent:

Charlottesville school board

What once was a board chosen by the Charlottesville City Council is now a seven member elected body.

Clerk: Leslie Thacker

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 245-2400

Board Meets: 1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month at 6:00 in the Booker T. Reaves Media Center of Charlottesville High School                                        

 Chair
293-7432

 
296-6961


979-3471
, Vice Chair
825-6806

825-0143

295-5847 

964-1275 


 

Charlottesville Elementaries (Grades K-4)

Venable
406 14th Street NW
245-2418

Johnson
1645 Cherry Avenue
245-2417

Jackson-Via
508 Harris Road
245-2416

Greenbrier
2228 Greenbrier Drive
245-2415

George Rogers Clark
1000 Belmont Avenue
245-2414

Burnley-Moran
1300 Long Street
245-2413

Charlottesville Middle Schools

Walker Upper Elementary School (5-6)
1564 Dairy Road
245-2412


Buford Middle School (7-8)
1000 Cherry Avenue
245-2411

Charlottesville High Schools

Charlottesville High School (9-12)
"The Black Knights"
1400 Melbourne Road
245-2410

Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) Joint project of City and County, this Rio Road complex teaches auto repair, culinary arts, video production, early childhood education, carpentry, electricity, masonry and courses needed for health careers. 973-4461 Director: Adam Hastings

Private Schools

Afton Christian School
Emphasizes character training in a Christian setting and uses the ABEKA phonics curriculum for reading. Near the Albemarle/Nelson line. K-12.  9357 Critzer Shop Road in Afton. 540-456-6853

Blue Ridge School
After celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2009, this all-boys boarding school's campus is being led by a new Headmaster.  The campus is near the Shenandoah National Park in St. George at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Grades 9-12. 273 Mayo Drive. 985-2811

Charlottesville Catholic School
Eye-catching school "providing a rich and challenging curriculum in a community rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and traditions of the Catholic Church." Pre-K-8. 1205 Pen Park Road. 964-0400

Charlottesville Day School
This school that opened in 2006 seeks to "educate the whole child." Progressive, research-based, differentiated instruction individually geared to each student. Pre-K-6. 320 10th St. NE. 817-2371

The Covenant School
"Academic Excellence Under the Sovereignty of God" in two campuses. The lower school faces the 250 Bypass, and the upper school is on Hickory Street near Fifth Street Ext. Pre-K-12. 220-7309 (lower school, Pre-K-6) 220-7329 (upper school, 7-12). 

Charlottesville Waldorf School
One of over 100 schools nationwide that "encourage students to live with self-assurance," but the only one aiming to be the "greenest school in America," thanks to an ambitious building plan incorporating eco-friendly design. Pre-K-8. 120 Waldorf School Road.  973-4946
 

Fork Union Military Academy
A leading college-preparatory, military boarding school for boys plus a post-grad program. Unorthodox, one-subject plan for high school students is a hallmark of the academic tradition. 6-12. President: Rear Admiral J. Scott Burhoe. 4744 James Madision Highway, Fork Union. 842-3212

Field School of Charlottesville
All-boys day middle school dedicated to developing "well-rounded boys of character and accomplishment" with an emphasis on rigorous academics and ample physical activity. Grades 5-8.
1408 Crozet Avenue, Crozet. 923-3435

Free Union Country School
Elementary program that aims to foster "independence, responsibility, self-confident decision-making and each child's natural desire to learn."  Encourages parent involvement.
Pre-K-5. 4220 Free Union Road. 978-1700

Little Keswick School
This small boarding school for boys
with learning, behavioral, or emotional difficulties ages 10-15 at admission was founded in 1963 and is sitting on 25-acres of land. 500 Little Keswick Drive. 295-0457

Living Education Center for Ecology and the Arts
This small school for creative kids empowers them to be "catalysts for creating a positive future that enhances the quality of our community and of the natural world." Grades 8-12. School Director: Ernie Reed. 610 Farish Street. 971-1647

Miller School
One of America's first coed boarding schools, its "Mind Hands and Heart" curriculum is available to both boarding and day students. Picturesque 1,600-acre scenic campus with lake and plenty of Victorian architecture. Grades 8-12. 1000 Samuel Miller Loop. Headmaster: Rick France. 823-4805

Montessori School of Charlottesville
Montessori environment for toddlers and preschool (21 months - 6 years). Accredited by the American Montessori Society, it has three locations: 631 Cutler Lane, 1602 Gordon Avenue, and at the JABA day care center at 674 Hillsdale Drive (3-6 years old). 295-9055

Mountaintop Montessori
Montessori education for pre-K-8, and even classes for children ages 6 to 24 months with parental accompaniment. Their mission is to "stir up life, but leave it free to develop." 305 Rolkin Road on Pantops Mountain. 979-8886 

North Branch School
They stress a love of learning rather than grades and competition. Still, alumni have been admitted to some of the nation's most competitive colleges. Pre-K-8. 221 Mickens Road in Afton. 540-456-8450

Oakland School
Co-ed boarding and dayschool for children with learning disabilities ranging from dyslexia to visual and/or auditory processesing disorders, as well as organizational and study skills difficulties. Ungraded curriculum allows children to progress with ease and comfort. In Boyd Tavern near Keswick. Age 7-14 at admission. 293-9059

Peabody School
For intellectually advanced children, on Avon Street near Mill Creek. "Education is not filling the pail... it's lighting the fire." K-8. 1232 Stoney Ridge Road. 296-6901

Renaissance School
Located on historic Court Square, this school offers a rigorous, integrated, and arts-centered college prep curriculum dedicated to developing Renaissance thinkers. Classes are small, seminar-style, and engaging. Curriculum is complemented by independent study programs during junior and senior years. Graduating seniors are routinely admitted to first choice colleges with scholarship. Grades 9-12. 418 East Jefferson Street. 984.1952.

St. Anne's Belfield School
Charlottesville's oldest independent school, this perennial private school, lacrosse powerhouse has two campuses, both in the Ivy Road area. Honor codes and respect for Christian traditions,  including chapel, are hallmarks. K-12. 2132 Ivy Road. 296-5106

Tandem Friends School
"Freedom with responsibility" characterizes this college prep program in a spiritual community, based on Quaker values and a "no-cut" athletic policy. Grades 5-12. 279 Tandem Lane, near Avon St. Ext. 296-1303

Village School for Girls
All-girls school downtown employing numerous visiting experts as teachers in addition to a core faculty. Grades 5-8. 215 East High St. 984-4404

Woodberry Forest School
Boys boarding school near Orange that draws students from across the country for its high-powered academics and athletics. Honor code. Grades 9-12. Headmaster: Dr. Dennis M. Campbell. 898 Woodberry Forest Road. 540-672-3900

Colleges & Universities

University of Virginia - One of the world's top universities. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson. 924-0311

UVA's School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies offers sundry courses for self-improvement and career advancement. 982-5313

UVA's Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program allows folks who started their degree but didn't finish to finally earn their diploma. 243-2557

Piedmont Virginia Community College Not quite as famous as UVA, but it's supposed to be one of the best-kept educational secrets around. 977-3900

Mary Baldwin College This Staunton-based institution offers an adult degree program with over 30 majors right here at PVCC. 961-5422

Old Dominion University The Tidewater-based institution's "Teletechnet" program offers part-time classes at PVCC toward an ODU degree. 800-968-2638

Averett University  This Danville-based institution offers undergraduate business degrees and an MBA. 791-5600

National College offers programs in business, computers, paralegal, medical, and more. 295-0136

Virginia School of Massage Charlottesvillians love their massages— and you could be giving them! 293-4031

Osher Institute of Lifelong Learning A UVA branch with non-credit classes founded in 2001 offering "subjects that interest active, involved seniors." 923-3600


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Stuff to do with kids!

There's plenty to do with the whole family, rain or shine, winter, spring, summer or fall. Here's a list of some of what Charlottesville — and the surrounding areas — have to offer.

Virginia Discovery Museum
East end of the Downtown Mall – A hands-on, interactive children's museum for kids ages 1-13 featuring 12 permanent exhibits, rotating exhibits in the Discovery Corner, and changing Back Gallery exhibits. Other ongoing programs include Magic School Bus, Poetry Clubs, Tuesday Travelers, Toddler Times, Friday Fun and drop-in art projects. Mon.-Sat. 10am-5pm. Closed Sun. $6 all ages except under 1 year old free; $75 annually for a family membership or the $125 explorer membership, which gets you into 160 different kids museums nationwide. 977-1025.

Jefferson-Madison Regional Libraries
Some of the best programming for kids around. In addition to regular story times, all eight branches host a wide variety of classes, clubs, reading groups, game nights, workshops, performances, and all kinds of fun for kids of all ages all year 'round. And they also lend books. 979-7151.

The Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center
In Darden Towe Park, Rt. 20 north – This hands-on facility commemorates the hometown origins of Lewis and Clark's westward journey. While the museum buildings have yet to go up, tours of full-size replicas of a keelboat, pirogues, and dugout canoes– water craft used on the first leg of the expedition– are available by appointment and cost $150 for 1-9 people; $200 for 10-19; and $300 for 20-30, with funds going to completion of the museum. All replicas were constructed at the site by young volunteers using hand tools and historic techniques. Regular hours will resume when construction is complete. 979-2425.

McCormick Observatory
McCormick Road at the top of Observatory Hill – UVA's astronomy department opens the dome at the observatory and allows visitors to step up to three research telescopes for awesome views of the heavens. Department staff and graduate students answer questions and narrate a slide show. First and third Friday nights (weather permitting) 9-11pm DST. 7-9pm EST. Free. 924-7494.

Putt Putt Golf Course
1515 Putt-Putt Place – Legendary miniature golf, with two 18-hole courses suitable for even the smallest golfers. A hole-in-one still wins a discounted game. Open daily March 1 - November 30, 10am-11pm, depending on weather. $6 per person. 973-5509.

ACAC Adventure Central
200 Four Seasons Dr.–  With a three-pool water park complete with slides and fountains, classrooms, indoor playstructures, tennis courts, and an indoor sports arena, Adventure Central is home to a summer camp, an after-school program, birthday parties, and sports academies in the summer and winter. 978-7529. 

Kegler's Bowling Lanes
2000 Seminole Trail – There are lots of family perks at this bowling alley, including bumpers available on all lanes to help little bowlers keep the ball out of the gutter, a refurbished arcade room, billiard tables, and a snack bar. Mon-Fri. before 5pm: $12 per person, including shoes, unlimited time until 5pm; after 5pm and all weekends $17 per person, including shoes, for two hours. 978-3999.

UVA sports, various locations
Football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, and lots of other competitive sports are very accessible for families at the university. Sports fans can find some sort of game or match several times a week during the school year and even some during the summer. Kids up to 8th grade can sign up for Cavman's Crew  to get seven free admissions in six sports, freebies, and meet and greet opportunities. Check www.virginiasports.com for schedules. Call the UVA ticket office for information, ticket prices, and kids club sign up: 924-8821.

–>>For more, check our Sports and Recreation section.

Science Museum of Virginia
2500 W. Broad St., Richmond – Hands-on and interactive exhibits make science fun for the whole family. Exciting rotating exhibits and an engaging array of permanent displays, IMAX movies, planetarium shows, special events, and lots more. Check website for hours and admission fees. 800-659-1727 or 804-864-1400.

Children's Museum of Richmond
2626 W. Broad St., Richmond – An award-winning place for kids ages 12 and under to learn while they play. Lots of active, hands-on, entertaining displays, rotating exhibits, and special events and programs. Check website for hours and admission fees. 804-474-2667 or 804-474-7000.

Frontier Culture Museum
Rt. 250 west in Staunton or exit 222 from I-81 – A unique experiential museum portraying the historical context of our immigrant ancestors with authentic 17th, 18th, and 19th century working farms and costumed interpreters from Germany, Northern Ireland, England, and the Shenandoah Valley. Daily: 9am-5pm. Winter hours: Dec. 1 - mid-March; 10am-4pm. Adult $10, children 6-12 $6, under 6 free. 540-332-7850.

Fruit Fun!
Three of the closest to town are Carter Mountain Orchard (977-1833) next to Michie Tavern, which offers apples, peaches, and stunning mountain-top views in the summer, Chiles Peach Orchard (823-1583) near Croze,t which also grows apples, cherries, peaches, strawberries, and pumpkins in the fall, and The Berry Patch (963-0659) which has blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries in the spring.

The Gypsy Express
Charlottesville has plenty of parks, sure, but we dare say Staunton has something more thrilling for tots than any playground slide:  a miniature train in Gypsy Hill Park. Revived by a nonprofit a few summers ago after several years of flooding and track problems that kept it out of service, volunteers now operate it on weekends during warm months. The train loops around a narrow-gauge track complete with two bridges and two tunnels. Can you scream? "You're supposed to; otherwise the engineer goes to sleep," says the nonprofit's president, John Zinn. It's $1 a ride, which consists of four loops— "unless they lose count," notes Zinn, "and then you get five." And if your tots get bored riding the rails, they'll perk up when you stroll over to the adjacent duck pond and give them some healthy duck treats available from vending machines. (Bread isn't good for them.) Operates May-Oct, Sat.   12pm-6pm, Sun. 1pm-5pm. 540-885-0513.

Youth Organizations

Boys and Girls Club
The goal here is to "help youth from all backgrounds (with a special concern for youth from disadvantaged circumstances) develop qualities and skills needed to become responsible citizens and leaders. Trained staff provide programs that enhance character and self esteem, are educational and fun, and contribute to the development of youth by allowing the member to realize and reach their full potential." With locations at Cherry Avenue, Southwood, and Jack Jouett Middle School, it's for children ages 6-18. Fees range from $35 to $50, depending on the club's location. Their administrative office is located at 1000 B Cherry Ave. 971-9400.

Boy Scouts
Part of the Boy Scouts of America and Stonewall Jackson Area Council, the Monticello District includes troops all over Charlottesville as well as Albemarle, Orange, Madison, Fluvanna, and Greene Counties. with programs for boys ages 7-21 and girls 14-21. Info: 434-964-0880 or district executive .

Cub Scouts
It all starts right here for the young scout. The Monticello District is home to nearly three dozen different packs in Charlottesville, Albemarle and surounding counties. 434-964-0880 or .

Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council
Unlike Boy Scouts who help old ladies across the street and get to dance around campfires at their Order of the Arrow induction, Girl Scouts "inspires girls ages 5-17 with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service so that they may become happy and resourceful citizens." Based in Roanoke but with troops in 36 counties across Central Virginia. 540-777-5100.

The Charlottesville/Albemarle 4-H Program
Operates locally through the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. It offers many exciting activities for hands-on projects, camping experiences, workshops and contests, and programs offered through local schools. Ten different 4-H Clubs give kids ages 5-18 a way to get together with others who have similar interests, including leadership, llamas, livestock, dogs and horses, ecology, botany, bees, and more. Check here for more info and contacts for clubs. 872-4580.

Young Women Leaders Program
For middle school-aged girls, this mentoring program pairs girls with "Big Sisters" from UVA. The program includes twice-weekly meetings throughout the school year.  924-9732.