First Colonial High School, Virginia Beach, VA

First Colonial High School phone, mascot & school colors

Phone: (757) 648-5300
Mascot: Patriots
School colors: Columbia Blue, White, Gold
Principal: Daniel Miani
Address: 1272 Mill Dam Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Official school website ↗

Score breakdown

Compared against all 321 Virginia public high schools. 1–4 is below the state average, 5–6 around it, 7–10 above it.

8.3 · Test scores

SOL pass rate of 86.1% across all subjects — 81th percentile statewide.

7.6 · College readiness

On-time graduation, AP participation, and college enrollment within 16 months — 73th percentile.

9.5 · Attendance

Chronic absenteeism of 7.2% — better attendance than 94% of peers statewide.

Year over year: 8.2 for 2025–26, compared with 7.4 for 2024–25 — up 0.8.

Test scores by subject

Percent of students passing Virginia SOL tests, 2025–26. High school reading and writing compare end-of-course tests with the statewide end-of-course result.

This school Virginia average

Biology

87%state 77%

Geometry

81%state 82%

Algebra I

79%state 86%

Algebra II

93%state 88%

English Reading

92%state 86%

English Writing

83%state 76%

World History I

82%state 71%

Source: Virginia Department of Education, School Quality Profiles — SOL pass rates, 2025–26.

College & career

Class of 2025 cohort of 416 students; AP and dual enrollment are 2025–26, unless noted.

95.4%

On-time graduation rate (class of 2025)

65%

Advanced Studies diplomas

69%

Enrolled in college within 16 months (class of 2022)

3.6%

Dropout rate

42.9%

Enrolled in AP courses

32.9%

Took an AP exam

8.1%

Dual enrollment (college credit)

688

Industry certifications earned (CTE)

Source: Virginia Department of Education — Graduation, Diplomas, Advanced Programs, Postsecondary Enrollment, and CTE datasets.

First Colonial High School & its school zone

First Colonial High School is a public high school in Virginia Beach, VA 23454, part of Virginia Beach Public Schools. Buyers searching homes for sale near First Colonial High School are typically shopping the First Colonial zone, one of the areas families compare when weighing Virginia Beach high school zones. On the VaHome School Score the school earns 8.2/10 — above the state average among Virginia's 321 public high schools, based on Virginia Department of Education data for 2025–26. That is up from 7.4 in 2024–25.

The school's overall SOL pass rate is 86.1%, with standout results in World History I (82% vs a 71% state average) and Biology (87% vs a 77% state average). 95.4% of the class of 2025 graduated on time, 65% of them with Advanced Studies diplomas. 69% of the school's 2022 graduates enrolled in college within 16 months. Program depth includes 43% AP course enrollment, 8% dual enrollment for college credit, 688 industry certifications through career and technical education. Chronic absenteeism is 7.2%, better than the 16.4% state median for high schools.

For house hunters comparing Virginia Beach school zones, homes zoned to First Colonial High School sit in the First Colonial attendance area — use the listings on this page to see every active REIN MLS home in the zone. School zoning and attendance boundaries can change between school years — always verify a specific address's assignment directly with Virginia Beach Public Schools before making a housing decision based on school zone.

How the VaHome School Score works

Test scores (40%): the school's SOL pass rate across all subjects, ranked against every Virginia public school of the same level.
College readiness (40%): average statewide rank in on-time graduation rate, AP course enrollment, and college enrollment within 16 months of graduation.
Attendance (20%): chronic absenteeism, ranked statewide (lower is better).
What changed for 2025–26: Virginia retired the accreditation “combined rate” we used for academic progress in 2024–25, so progress now uses the state's student growth rates. Virginia publishes no growth measure for high schools, so their 20% now goes to attendance. The year-over-year comparison at the top uses the score we published for 2024–25; part of a school's change can come from this method update.
The weighted statewide percentile maps to a score from 1.0 to 10.0: score = 1 + 9 × percentile. 1–4 is below the state average, 5–6 around it, 7–10 above it.
Every input is public data from the Virginia Department of Education, refreshed each school year. No opinions, no black box — you can check our math.

Data: Virginia Department of Education School Quality Profiles (2025–26) · NCES. VaHome is not affiliated with VDOE, NCES, or GreatSchools.

At a glance

School district: Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Grades served: 9-12
School type: Regular public high school (non-charter); hosts the Legal Studies Academy magnet program
Established: 1966
Enrollment: 1,714 students (2025-2026)
Student–teacher ratio: 18:1
Classroom teachers: 94.49 FTE
Accreditation: Fully Accredited (2025-2026)
NCES school ID: 510384001684

Academic performance

SOL pass rates · 2025-2026

Reading

92%

Mathematics

83%

Science

87%

History & Social Sci.

86%

95.4%

On-time graduation (Class of 2025)

3.6%

Dropout rate

65%

Earned an Advanced Diploma

College & career readiness

2025-2026

42.94%

Students in AP courses

8.05%

Dual-enrollment (college credit)

688

Career & technical credentials earned

AP course enrollment 42.94%; AP exams taken 32.91%; dual enrollment 8.05%; 688 industry certifications, per Virginia School Quality Profiles (2025-26).

Attendance

2025-2026

7.2% of students were chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days).

About First Colonial High School

First Colonial High School opened in the fall of 1966 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, built primarily to relieve overcrowding at the original Virginia Beach High School. It is part of Virginia Beach City Public Schools and takes its Patriots identity and colonial theme from the region's early American history.

The school sits at 1272 Mill Dam Road in a large-city locale on the north side of Virginia Beach. In addition to a comprehensive academic program, it hosts the Legal Studies Academy, a specialty/magnet program established in 2002 for students interested in law and law-related careers, alongside Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment coursework.

Athletics & activities

State athletic titles

VHSL state championships include Girls Swimming (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023), Girls Volleyball (2000, 2002, 2014, 2023), Lacrosse (2011, 2012, 2015), Girls Tennis (1977, 1982, 2011), Baseball (1993, 2024), Girls Soccer (2018, 2021), Boys Soccer (2021), Boys Volleyball (1997)

Notable alumni

Mark Ruffalo· ActorJuice Newton· SingerSteven Culp· ActorJosh Boone· FilmmakerDerrick Borte· FilmmakerMark Reynolds· Major League Baseball playerAaron Rouse· Former NFL player and Virginia state senator

Data sources

NCES Common Core of Data - First Colonial High ↗ — NCES ID, enrollment total and by grade, grades served, teachers FTE, student/teacher ratio, locale, school type, phone, race/ethnicity, free/reduced lunch2024-2025
Virginia School Quality Profiles - First Colonial High ↗ — Accreditation, SOL pass rates, graduation/dropout, advanced diploma, chronic absenteeism, AP/dual enrollment, demographicsSOL, attendance, enrollment & AP/dual 2025-2026; graduation Class of 2025; accreditation SY2025-2026
First Colonial High School - Wikipedia ↗ — Founding year/history, mascot, colors, principal, VHSL championships, notable alumni, specialty programsAccessed July 2026
First Colonial High School official website (VBCPS) ↗ — Official website URL, principal, program infoAccessed July 2026

Figures reflect the 2025-2026 (Virginia DOE SOL, attendance, enrollment, AP & dual enrollment); Class of 2025 (graduation); 2024-2025 (NCES staffing); accreditation SY2025-2026 unless noted. School zoning, boundaries, and ratings change — verify with the school division before making housing decisions.

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