Ground broken for new west area high school
This morning, June 18, school and county leaders officially broke ground on the first new high school in more than 20 years in Chesterfield County.
Temporarily known as the west area high school, the new school will be the 12th high school within Chesterfield County Public Schools. Scheduled to open for students in August 2027, the new school is part of a community facilities bond plan approved by Chesterfield County voters in 2022. Community members selected the exterior colors of the new school, which is designed to accommodate 2,400 students. A permanent school name will be chosen before the school opens.
Located on Duval Road in the Matoaca District, the west area high school is situated near the new Deep Creek Middle School, which will open in August 2025, and the under-construction west area elementary school, scheduled to open in August 2026.
See the full news release with quotes and more information on our website.
Summer school begins June 23
CCPS welcomes students for our summer school which begins June 23. In-person classes will meet Mondays through Thursdays through July 17. Just a few reminders about the summer school schedule:
July 7 is a student and staff holiday.
CCPSOnline classes run June 16-July 24.
High school graduation will take place at 2 p.m. July 24 at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull. Guests must have tickets to attend graduation.
Not sure where your summer school classes are?
See where elementary summer school will meet.
See where middle school and high school summer school will meet.
Cameras will enforce speed limits in school zones at some summer school locations
Automated speed cameras will be active during arrival and dismissal at the following locations during summer school which will be held Monday through Thursday from June 23 to July 17, 2025. When camera speed enforcement is active, violations will result in a $100 fine. Here are the summer school locations where automated speed cameras are in use and timeframes when cameras will be active.
Beulah Elementary: from 7-8 a.m. and from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Cosby High: from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Ecoff Elementary: from 7-8 a.m. and from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Moseley Elementary: from 7-8 a.m. and from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Reams Road Elementary: from 7-8 a.m. and from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Swift Creek Elementary: from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Chesterfield County is placing cameras in school zones to enforce speed limits, protect students and boost road safety. The cameras will enforce speed limits only while flashing warning lights are active during school hours. On school days, the warning lights are on for one hour in the morning as students arrive and one hour in the afternoon as students depart.
The Chesterfield County government website offers the latest information.
Elementary students pitch creative projects in school “Shark Tank”
Will the sharks bite? Salem Church Elementary students hope the answer is yes when they participate in their school’s version of “Shark Tank.” After creating solutions to real-world problems, students pitched their ideas to a panel of volunteer judges. Projects included a cuddly alarm clock, a device to clean up after infants and a wheelchair that can navigate stairs.
Manchester High film students win top awards
Manchester High students won top awards during this year’s Virginia High School League film festival:
First place in experimental films for "MESH" directed by Chloe Lawson and Sierra Lackert
First place in narrative films for "To All Ends" directed by Ben Armstrong and Gideon Bradner
Second place plus audience choice award in public service announcements for "Memories" directed by Valentino Margaritini-Toscano
Christopher Okamuro teaches video production at Manchester High, which had a total of seven films selected for the statewide film competition. “Flood” won second place in experimental films; “Catalyst” won third in narrative films; “Paw Brawl” won sixth in animation; and “Yearbook” won sixth in public service announcements.
Five films from Clover Hill High were also selected for the VHSL film festival. “HeartBreaker" won second place and “Skipped” won fifth in animation; “Polluted” won fourth and “Silent Kindness” won fifth in public service announcements; and “WOW” won seventh in the commercial category.
Reminder: Update your child's transportation information for the 2025-26 school year
The 2024-25 school year is just coming to a close, but transportation planning for the coming school year is already underway. All families are asked to update student transportation information by logging into ParentVUE to choose the way students will travel to and from school and to check your home address and any alternative addresses. Easy-to-follow directions for accessing ParentVUE are online, and your student’s school can provide additional assistance.
Please update transportation information prior to Aug. 1 to ensure that changes are reflected in your student’s bus route at the start of the 2025-26 school year.
Bus stops and pick-up/drop-off times will be available via Versatrans e-link in mid July.
Bus numbers will be shared with families closer to the beginning of the school year.
Transport type: How will your student travel to and from school? Within ParentVUE, choose the method that your student will use most of the time.
Addresses: Here is how to update your student’s address:
Parents/guardians can make changes to transportation information by logging into ParentVUE, clicking the student’s name, then clicking on student info.
Alternative addresses are places students stay before or after school on a regular basis (for example: alternating custodial parent addresses). Families use ParentVUE to update alternative addresses and pickup/drop-off days as often as needed.Parents/guardians can contact their school’s registrar to make the change.
Please note: A student’s home address must be confirmed by the registrar at the student’s school before changes are final.
More detailed information and instructions: See this document.
Questions: Call the Transportation Department at 804-464-3077.
July 31 is deadline to apply for School Board advisory committees
Advisory committees established by the Chesterfield County School Board are one way community members connect with schools. This CCPS in the Know video gives a quick-and-informative overview of how advisory committees work.
Advisory committee members are appointed from each of the county’s five magisterial districts and include parents, teachers, staff members, students and others interested in helping Chesterfield County Public Schools achieve its vision of creating a better tomorrow. Visit the Advisory Committee page for more information, including committee meeting dates.
Advisory committee members who are appointed by the School Board must reside in the district they represent. Parent representatives on the Gifted Education Advisory Committee must have a child in the gifted program of Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Apply online by July 31 if you are interested and eligible for these advisory committee seats:
Audit and Finance Committee
Bermuda District representative to serve July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027
Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee
Dale District representative to serve July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028
Citizens Budget Advisory Committee
Clover Hill District representative to serve July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027
Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee
Midlothian District representative to serve a partial term ending June 30, 2026
Gifted Education Advisory Committee
Dale District representative to serve a partial term ending June 30, 2026
School Health Advisory Board
Dale District representative to serve July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028
Matoaca District representative to serve a partial term ending June 30, 2027
Matoaca District representative to serve July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028
Immunization information for the 2025-26 school year
The Virginia Department of Health has important vaccine information for families of rising kindergartners, rising seventh graders and rising 12th graders. These links take you directly to the information you need to make sure your student is prepared for the 2025-26 school year:
English
Spanish
VIDEO: Volunteer Tuesdays
Enthusiastic Thomas Dale High School students volunteer each Tuesday at nearby elementary schools, bringing energy, creativity and support. This ongoing connection creates teamwork, laughter and growth as the older and younger students learn from each other.
Matoaca High student is Virginia’s top softball player
Kaylee Hodges of Matoaca High School is the 2024-25 Gatorade Virginia Softball Player of the Year. Announced June 9 — just days after she finished her sophomore year — the award distinguishes Kaylee as Virginia's best high school softball player. Read more about Kaylee’s accomplishments on the field.
Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The Gatorade Player of the Year website offers more information about Kaylee and the annual awards.
Chesterfield County Public Schools serves free summer meals
Chesterfield County Public Schools offers summer meals for children 1-18 years old. Free breakfasts and lunches will be available at 21 sites Monday through Thursday from June 23 through July 17, unless otherwise specified. Sites will be closed July 7. See complete information about our 2025 summer meals here.
July 15: Join us for El Librotazo, the big book party
Put on your party (and reading) hats for El Librotazo, the big book party! At El Librotazo, every child can choose up to five books to keep for free. That’s right: Every child from birth through high school can get books to keep and enjoy for as long as they want. That’s why this is a big book party!
Join us from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 15 at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds (10300 Courthouse Road). There is no cost to attend, take home books, or enjoy fun and food at El Librotazo.
Families are asked to register by July 8 for free tickets. We have a limit of 3,000 attendees. Register soon – this event fills up fast!
This big book party is made possible thanks to the support from the Chesterfield Education Foundation, Dominion Energy, HappyKidz, Interspan, Fayad Law, and the Old Dominion Group.
Play the Summer Library Game
This summer, get into fun with Chesterfield Public Library. In their Summer Library Game, players earn points for doing certain activities for a chance to win fabulous prizes. Paper game boards can be picked up at any Chesterfield County library or you can play online through the Beanstack app. The Summer Library Game is open to all ages – that means parents can play too! Learn more about the Summer Library Game here.