VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach Friends School (VBFS), an educational fixture in the Hampton Roads community since 1955, announced today the sale of one of its parcels of land to The Breeden Company as the school transitions from offering K-12 education to toddler through eighth grade. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
With declining enrollment in the upper school over the last several years, the school assessed that it could better fulfill its mission of providing Quaker-inspired and value-centered education to families with children as young as two all the way through eighth grade. Over the past 18 months, total enrollment in pre-K through eighth grade has nearly doubled.
“With our new strategic direction, it just made sense to unlock the value of a nearly seven-acre parcel,” said Joanne Young, head of the School Committee, “and dedicate the funds to retiring debt, reconfiguring the campus on our remaining property, and in the process, securing our long-term future.”
VBFS will continue to be located at its current address and have full use of the acquired land for two years while The Breeden Company goes through the process of planning, designing, and permitting for a high-end apartment community.
“We received a lot of interest in this parcel, which is adjacent to the Hilltop retail hub, but Breeden has been very gracious and understanding of our unique needs as a school with ongoing operations,” said Young.
Although the physical characteristics of the school will be changing, the mission will not, which is aimed to educate the whole child, developing strong academic intellect and personal character, through recognition of each child’s individual light and living the Quaker testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.
VBFS is the only VAIS-accredited Quaker school in southeastern Virginia serving students in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Suffolk.
