Frequently Asked Questions
- Where and what is the Advanced Technology Center (ATC)?
- What is the purpose of the ATC?
- What does the Virginia Beach City Public Schools offer at ATC?
- Will ATC become my home school?
- Can a student attend an academy school and attend ATC?
- How is the ATC different from Landstown High School’s Technology Academy?
- How can taking the courses at ATC benefit high school students?
- Will transportation be provided to the ATC?
- How do I apply for admission to the ATC?
- When will notification occur for acceptance into the ATC?
Q. Where and what is the Advanced Technology Center (ATC)?
A. The 137,000 square-foot, $22.5 million-dollar Advanced Technology Center, located on the Virginia Beach campus of Tidewater Community College (TCC), has been developed through a special partnership involving the Commonwealth of Virginia through TCC, the Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), and the City of Virginia Beach. The ATC represents a unique blueprint for future technical education in Virginia Beach.
Q. What is the purpose of the ATC?
A. The mission of the Advanced Technology Center is to serve as a primary source for instruction in Information Technology, Telecommunications, High Performance Manufacturing/Engineering, and to be a significant contributor to city, regional, and statewide workforce development initiatives.
Q. What does the Virginia Beach City Public Schools offer at the ATC?
A. The ATC offers a two-block, half-day programs five days a week to all qualifying high school 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. It features industry certified programs using advanced technology. Many of these programs offer articulated college credit for those students who enroll in degree and certificate programs at TCC. The center's instruction focuses around three strands: Information Technology, Telecommunications, and High Performance Manufacturing/Engineering. These strands reflect a logical answer to the challenges of tomorrow's workforce.
Q. Will the ATC become my home school?
A. No, students stay at their neighborhood VBCPS high schools for their core academic classes and travel to the ATC for instruction in the morning or afternoon.
Q. Can a student attend an academy school and attend ATC?
A. Yes. In most instances, students can attend the ATC while participating in another school's academy program. However, it is best to check with your guidance counselor regarding your personal situation.
Q. How is the ATC different from Landstown High School’s Technology Academy?
A. Qualified students from all VBCPS high schools may apply for acceptance to ATC programs. If accepted, these students continue to attend their neighborhood high schools for half of the day, and spent the other half of the day at the ATC. In the case of students accepted to the Technology Academy, Landstown High School becomes their student’s home school. Technology Academy students may also choose to take advantage of programs at the ATC.
Q. How can taking the courses at the ATC benefit high school students?
A. Here are a few of the ways taking courses at the ATC can benefit high school students:
- Students can stay at their neighborhood VBCPS schools and take classes at the ATC.
- Many classes lead toward college credit.
- ATC students prepare for nationally-recognized certifications.
- Students may join the workforce after high school or continue their education in college.
Q. Will transportation be provided to the ATC?
A. Yes, students accepted into the program may choose to use regularly scheduled VBCPS school buses or drive a personal or family vehicle to the ATC.
Q. How do I apply for admission to the ATC?
A. You can apply to ATC by:
- Completing the attached application or download the information from our Web site at www.vbatc.com
- Current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students submit the completed application to their guidance counselor by March 18, 2005.
Q. When will notification occur for acceptance into the ATC?
A. Notification of acceptance into the program will occur by mail prior to the end of the current school year.
