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Evaluation: Achievable Dream shows strong graduation and mixed secondary outcomes; board to consider recommendations in January
Summary
A VBCPS evaluation found the Achievable Dream Academy produced a 100% on‑time graduation for its first senior cohort and substantial scholarship awards, but enrollment and some secondary academic measures lag division peers. The administration and Achievable Dream leaders proposed recruitment, staffing clarifications and a recommended sunset clause to be addressed in January.
The Virginia Beach City Public Schools received a comprehensive evaluation of the Achievable Dream (AAD) Academy on Dec. 11, 2025 that praised the program’s early results while flagging areas for improvement. The presentation, delivered by the division’s program evaluation staff, recommended continuing the partnership with several modifications and suggested adding a sunset provision tied to enrollment.
The evaluation said AAD reached full implementation in 2025 and that the program’s first graduating class of 27 seniors graduated on time; 81% of those seniors were reported enrolled in college and the cohort received more than $2.5 million in scholarships. The report found many elementary-level academic measures favored AAD students, while results at the secondary level were mixed.
The evaluation summarized enrollment and participation data for 2024–25 and 2025–26: about 108 applicants applied for the 2024–25 year with approximately 69% accepted across levels; for 2025–26, the report showed an overall acceptance/enrollment rate near 58%, with higher acceptance at middle (about 73%) and high school (about 80%) levels. Presenters noted capacity and transportation limits affect enrollment at the elementary grades.
The report also estimated the additional cost to the division for AAD in 2024–25 at roughly $2.9 million, with the largest component—secondary staffing—at nearly $2.2 million after accounting for offsets and payments from AAD to VBCPS.
Dr. Lee Breeland, president and CEO of Achievable Dream, told the board his organization concurs with the evaluation recommendations and outlined recruitment steps already underway: academy nights, student ambassadors, and expanded family outreach. Breeland acknowledged an unanticipated dip in kindergarten enrollment versus demographer projections and explained that some students who left were due to families moving out of the division or out of the expanded transportation zone.
Board members asked for additional fiscal detail, including whether four additional high‑school FTEs provided by central office were included in the reported AAD cost total. Superintendent and staff said they would follow up with detailed cost accounting and HR coding clarifications; staff also noted some secondary AAD teachers are recorded in HR as Lynnhaven staff rather than as AAD staff, complicating some analyses.
The program team recommended seven actions including efforts to increase enrollment, formalize secondary staff designations in HR, strengthen behavior and academic supports, expand access to advanced high‑school courses, and consider a sunset clause tied to enrollment thresholds in the memorandum of agreement. Administration indicated it concurs with the recommendations and said the board will see the evaluator’s recommendations and any proposed MOA language for action at the board’s January meeting.
"When we accept a student into the program, the goal is that they will stay with us the entire time," Dr. Breeland said during questions, noting the program’s post‑graduation supports.
Next steps: staff will provide follow‑up details on staffing and cost accounting and bring the evaluator’s recommendations and any proposed MOA/sunset language back to the board for formal action in January.
