Landstown High School Governor's STEM and Technology Academy is a public secondary school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia which first opened in 2001. The school features the Technology Academy and Governor's STEM Academy, two of several magnet programs in Virginia Beach. Students throughout the city interested in a technology education can apply to learn from three different strands: pre-engineering technology, information technology, and entrepreneurship technology. Entry to the Academy requires recommendations, above average grades, and an electronic portfolio which demonstrates aptitude. It was founded as a general high school and technology magnet school in 2001 and additionally designated a Governor's STEM Academy during the 2012–2013 school year. Landstown is home to the award winning "Eagle Elite" Madrigal Choir. Under the former direction of Dr. Martha Springstead, the choral department has performed in NYC with the Heritage Festivals of Gold at Riverside Church, and are members of the Disney Honors, Class of 2006, Class of 2011, and Class of 2015 held at Disney World.
Mission Statement
Landstown High School, in partnership with students, family, and community members, will empower all Eagles to reach their highest potential by fostering a diverse and engaging educational experience.
Technology & Governor's STEM Academy
Technology Academy
The Technology Academy at Landstown High School opened as one of several magnet programs in the school district in September 2001. It features a cutting-edge curriculum designed for students with a deep interest in and talent for technology. The innovative learning environment provides students the added advantage of combining academic and technical training that will prepare them for a variety of post-graduation choices.
Governor's STEM Academy
The Governor’s STEM Academy for Engineering, Marketing, and Information Technology was unanimously approved by the Virginia State Board of Education for implementation in the 2012–2013 school year at Landstown High School. This Academy provides rigorous, advanced academic 4 year plans of study for students in the high-demand fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Alma Mater & Fight Song
Alma Mater
In our hearts, we will soar like eagles, In our lives, there will be friendships true. When we raise the banner of Landstown High, We will cheer black, silver, and blue. Lift us high with commitment to greatness. Our success is the service we do. In a class, on the field, eagle spirits are sealed When we cheer black, silver, and blue. In our hearts, we will soar like eagles. In our lives, there will be friendships true. When we raise the banner of Landstown High, We will cheer black, silver, and blue. Fair Landstown, we honor you!
Fight Song
Fight, Eagles, Fight to victory! Blue, black, and white, Go Eagles! Show the rest that we're the best And fight on for your name! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! Fly, Eagles, fly soar with pride! Here, stand in unity! We pledge our hearts and honor To our Landstown Eagles Pride! GO EAGLES!
Accolades
Landstown High School was named one of only 60 Partnership for 21st Century Learning exemplar schools in the U.S., listed as one of the Washington Post’s top eight percent of all U.S. high schools, maintains a decade of full state accreditation, is Home of Blue Ribbon Literary and Fine Arts programs, is one of only approximately 200 schools in America to receive back-to-back National Association of Student Councils Gold Awards of Excellence, in its fourth year of the prestigious Governor’s STEM Academy whilst having continued AVID National Demonstration Site – one of only 78 high schools in the nation, offers over $7.4 Million in offered scholarships, and is the recipient of nine VHSL Sportsmanship Awards. Landstown High School is also the home of six VHSL State Championships.
Athletic honors
Landstown's football team went to three consecutive state championship games between 2003–2005 under Coach Chris Beatty, who led the team to a 40–2 record during that three year span. They won the state championship in 2004 but lost in 2003 and 2005. The star players during this time were Percy Harvin, Devon Simmons, and Damon McDaniel. In early 2006, Coach Beatty left Landstown to become the offensive coordinator at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia followed by a stint at Northern Illinois University. As of March 2015, he is a running backs football coach at University of Virginia. Harvin set five state track records while he was at Landstown High, winning five gold medals at the state finals in 2005: long jump, triple jump, 100 meters, 200 meters and 400-meter relay.
2005 State championship winner, Boys outdoor track team
2006 Regional championship winner, Boys soccer team.
2006 State championship winner, Girls track team.
2008 Nike Indoor Nationals National title in the 4 × 200 meter relay, Girls indoor track team, running a US #1 time of 1:40:08. All-American honors awarded to relay members Kelnesha Hinnant, Olivia Hutchins, Cierra McGee and Marlena Wesh. Wesh also won the 200 meter dash National title with a time of 24.46. Wesh competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics for Haiti.
2008 annual Penn Relays Carnival, Girls outdoor track, placing 4th in the 4 × 100 meter relay, with a time of 46.07, the fastest American time. Relay team members Olivia Hutchins, Leah Brown, Cierra McGee, and Marlena Wesh were awarded gold watches and advanced to the Championship of America.
2008 state championship winner, Girls indoor track team. They were the first team in the history of Virginiatrack and field to win all three relay titles: the 4 × 800 meter relay, the 4 × 100 meter relay, & the 4 × 400 meter relay. They also tied the record for the most points ever scored at the VHSL AAA state track and field meet with a score of 94 points. Eagles members were awarded All-State honors.
Javonte Culbreath is awarded Beach District Honorable Mention for the 2011–2012 varsity basketball season
2015 State semifinalist, Girls Soccer. In their first ever trip to the State Tournament, the Lady Eagles ended their season 17–3–2, the three losses came in the post-season tournaments and were by a goal. The team outscored their opponents 65-to-9 overall and recorded 17 overall shutouts. They were the Coastal Conference 1 regular season champions, the conference's tournament runner-up, and the South Region tournament's runner-up. In the State semifinals, they ended up losing 2-1 to defending State champion, Battlefield.
2019 State champion, Boys Basketball.
Notable alumni
Mychal Denzel Smith – New York Times bestselling author of