Princess Anne High School
| Princess Anne High School | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Address | |
|
4400 Virginia Beach Boulevard Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452 United States |
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| Coordinates | 36°50′42″N 76°7′40″W / 36.84500°N 76.12778°WCoordinates: 36°50′42″N 76°7′40″W / 36.84500°N 76.12778°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, high school |
| Founded | 1954 |
| School district | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| Superintendent | Dr. Aaron C. Spence |
| Principal | Mr. Danny M. Little |
| Staff | 146 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 1,813 (2008-09) |
| Language | English |
| Color(s) | Red, White, and Blue |
| Athletics conference |
Virginia High School League Beach District Eastern Region |
| Mascot | Cavaliers |
| Rival | Bayside High School |
| Website | princessannehs.vbschools.com |
Princess Anne High School (PAHS) is one of 11 high schools in the Virginia Beach City Public School System. Opened in 1954, it is the oldest remaining high school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. The school is named after the now extinct Princess Anne County, Virginia (itself named after the British Royal, Queen Anne, titled at the time and prior to ascension, Princess of Denmark) which was annexed with the founding of Virginia Beach.
The school was built during a period of rapid expansion of the then Princess Anne County. The cost of construction and equipment was $3,500,000, which included approximately $1,000,000 of federal funds. The school was first occupied in September 1954. Several schools had previously been built and remain in use today, however, they were converted to smaller middle or elementary schools in order to address ballooning class sizes. In 1963, Princess Anne County was incorporated into the newly formed City of Virginia Beach and thus PAHS became the oldest remaining high school in the system.
Four days before the opening of school in September 1995 a fire destroyed approximately one-third of the building. The blaze began in the library, destroying numerous valuable records; among them the entire collection of PA yearbooks before 1995 and numerous printed and digital course materials collected by teachers throughout their careers. The exact cause of the fire has never been announced, however many suspected arson by a student. Since the student was likely to be a minor, his/her identity could be withheld from the public record. Alternative theories simply posit accidental causes during burglary.
Throughout both the 1995-1996 school year and the 1996-1997 fall semester, classes were held in a nearby vacant shopping mall known as "Celebration Station," which has since been demolished. Shuttle buses transported students between the temporary location and the remaining, intact portion of the school/portable classrooms on the main campus.
Following the fire, a large portion of the school was entirely rebuilt. As a result, the PA library now maintains one of the most extensive and up-to-date media collections of any Virginia Beach high school. A new wing was also added for art classes and studios. The school reopened in January 1997, with the official re-dedication ceremony held on May 4, 1997.
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