Forty-one HCS students graduate from Virginia Peninsula Community College with associate degree

Friday, May 12, 2023, was a momentous day when 41 Hampton City Schools students graduated from Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC) with their associate degree before even receiving their high school diploma. One student is a part of the Governor’s School for Science and Technology and 40 students are a part of the Virginia Peninsula Community College Academy of the College Experience (ACE) at Phoebus High School.

The New Horizons Governor's School for Science and Technology (NHGS) is a magnet school. Students of this school are chosen from the Gloucester, Hampton, Isle of Wight, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg-James City and York County School divisions.

The ACE Academy is one of Hampton City Schools’ wall-to-wall academies and is housed at Phoebus High School. ACE provides students with early exposure to the academic rigors and intellectual challenges of college-level work through a structured blend of high school and college curriculum. With the opportunity to complete their high school diploma and associate of arts degree simultaneously, ACE results in substantially reduced college tuition costs and the time spent earning postsecondary degrees. Over the past three years, 100 ACE students have earned their associate degree before receiving their high school diploma, for a total of 103 associate degree students since the inception of dual enrollment.

ACE is highly competitive, offering only 100 slots per grade level. Visit our website here for more information and requirements to participate in the program.

Congratulations to the following students who received their associate degree from VPCC:

Dr. Raymond Haynes, chief of secondary school leadership shared, “It is with great honor that I congratulate all of the students on graduating with their associate degree. Thank you also to VPCC for a continued partnership that allows our brilliant young people to thrive in extraordinary ways. As a division and community, we remain committed to all of our students graduating the Portrait of a Hampton Graduate, prepared for success in careers, lifelong learning, and life.”

Hampton City Schools is extremely proud of these young adults and their accomplishments. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors in college or the workforce.