In 2014, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) and An Achievable Dream Academy (AADA) began a partnership in Virginia Beach by establishing an AADA program at Seatack Elementary School.

For the past five years, the elementary program has become a staple of the Seatack community, and, in the 2018-19 school year, AADA expanded to middle school – finding a home at Lynnhaven Middle.

Since the program has been established, only students who lived in the Seatack/Birdneck/Lynnhaven communities could apply to be in the academy. This year, to bolster participation in the program, VBCPS and AADA are expanding the recruitment areas for families interested in applying.

Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, families from the following schools can now apply to be considered for the AADA program:

• Alanton Elementary
• Birdneck Elementary
• Brookwood Elementary
• Christopher Farms Elementary
• Cooke Elementary
• Corporate Landing Elementary
• Holland Elementary
• King’s Grant Elementary
• Kingston Elementary
• Linkhorn Park Elementary
• Lynnhaven Elementary
• Malibu Elementary
• Ocean Lakes Elementary
• Seatack Elementary
• Strawbridge Elementary
• Three Oaks Elementary
• Trantwood Elementary
• Windsor Oaks Elementary
• Windsor Woods Elementary

In addition, beginning in 2019-2020, rising sixth-graders from the following schools can also apply to the program:

• Corporate Landing Middle
• Lynnhaven Middle
• Plaza Middle
• Virginia Beach Middle

Due to the makeup and organization of the program, only students entering kindergarten through sixth grade can apply for admission in order to meet the graduation requirements of the academy.

AADA has been operating successfully in Newport News for more than 25 years. Students who participate in this program have many additional opportunities for school success and develop social, academic and moral skills (Social, Academic and Moral Education; SAME) that help them become strong adults. The program provides an extended-day and year-round education with enrichment classes; field trips; the support of community partners and mentors who are dedicated to the welfare of students; and, of course, high-quality academic instruction.

Families looking for more information about AADA and the opportunities for students can attend any of three upcoming information sessions and recruitment meetings at Seatack Elementary School. The first will take place Tuesday, March 26, at 6 p.m. The second will be Saturday, April 6, at 12:30 p.m. Additionally, there will be a recruitment dinner held at Lynnhaven Middle School, Tuesday, April 23, at 6 p.m.

Families are encouraged to bring their children with them to the events to come learn more about AADA.

In the meantime, families looking for more information about AADA can visit vbschools.com.