MACHIPONGO, VA- As the 2025-26 school year draws to a close, Northampton County Public Schools (NCPS) is looking back on a tremendous year of growth, dedication, and success. From historic academic milestones to state-level recognitions, our students, teachers, and staff have consistently demonstrated what it means to inspire learners for life.
Here are the Top 10 Accomplishments from the 2025-26 school year:
1. Full Accreditation and Top-Tier State Rankings
This school year marked a milestone year of academic growth for Northampton County Public Schools, as the division achieved full accreditation from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Adding to this success, Northampton High School earned the state’s highest individual honor of “Distinguished” status, scoring an incredible 97.1 points on the state’s rigorous framework.
This accreditation milestone is backed by statewide data ranking NCPS at the very top for school improvement in the Commonwealth. The division ranked #1 in math and #4 in reading for student improvement among grades 3 through 8, while also ranking #5 in reducing chronic absenteeism among grades K-12 throughout Virginia. Together, these historic honors validate the tireless, data-driven efforts of our students, teachers, and staff.
Dive deeper into these milestones: NCPS Achieves Divisionwide Accreditation, NHS Earns ‘Distinguished’ Status and Northampton County Public Schools Ranked High for Improvement in Virginia
2. Securing $2.8M for Tech and Workforce Development
NCPS secured a pair of massive federal investments designed to transform educational equity and technical training on the Eastern Shore. First, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans championed a $2 million federal allocation in the House spending bill dedicated to major renovations and upgrades to our Career and Technical Education (CTE) facilities in Eastville, paving the way for expanded local workforce training.
Compounding this win, the division celebrated a highly competitive $842,304 Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This funding will deploy 96 interactive, high-definition video conferencing systems across the division, breaking down geographic barriers to connect our students directly to advanced or specialized coursework, professional development for our teachers, and virtual student support services such as speech therapy and mental health resources right from their home campuses.
Dive deeper into these milestones: Kiggans Delivers Critical Investments in Food Security and Conservation, Secures $4 Million for Hampton Roads and USDA Awards $842,304 Distance Learning Grant to Northampton Public Schools to Expand Rural Learning Opportunities
3. Expanded School-Family Connections and Holistic Support
Northampton County Public Schools deepened its commitment to student and family well-being this year by intentionally expanding its network of wraparound resources and community engagements. The division introduced the brand-new Uwill partnership to provide immediate teletherapy support, while continuing to offer ParentGuidance.org as a trusted, ongoing resource for family mental health education and coaching. This holistic support was also mirrored by the Annual Food Drive sponsored by the Student Services team, which rallied our community and local partners - including local churches, businesses, and an incredible 500-pound donation from the YouTube channel Gone Diggin’ - to support 25 local families ahead of the holidays. Complementing these wellness initiatives, NCPS hosted various family engagement events such as Back-to-School Night, Hispanic Heritage Night, STEM Night, and parent information nights and webinars, bridging the gap between home and classroom to build a stronger, more connected school community.
Dive deeper into these milestones: NCPS Focuses on Whole-Family Wellness with Free Student and Parent Resources and NCPS Student Services Annual Food Drive Support 25 Families
4. Divisionwide Literacy Campaigns and Community Engagement
The NCPS Reads program achieved remarkable success this year, engaging elementary families with shared readings of Frindle and Life According to Og the Frog. At the same time, Northampton Middle School students dove into Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life. To continue the connection between school and home, parents received Family Reading Guides with nightly discussion questions, and a recorded video of a community member reading the suggested chapter. Further, the NCPS Bookmobile visited 15 community events, distributing over 1,300 brand-new free books this year, bringing its total to 2,084 books since its launch in May 2025.
To reinforce classroom instruction, NCPS expanded classroom libraries focusing on history and science for grades K-8. The division also continued to utilize the PBIS book vending machines at Kiptopeke, Occohannock, and Northampton Middle, while also leveraging 21st Century Grant funding for after-school literacy enrichment. Finally, NCPS strengthened its K-8 reading and writing initiatives through enhanced teacher training with the Collaborative for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and partnered with Sterling Literacy Consulting to offer a free virtual course that teaches parents of PreK - 6th-grade students how to support the science of reading at home.
5. Occohannock Ranks in Top 3% Statewide for Early Childhood Excellence Again
Occohannock Elementary School earned a prestigious spot on the Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5) Excellence Honor Roll, achieving the highest possible rating for a second consecutive year. Out of thousands of participating early childhood sites across the Commonwealth, Occohannock was recognized as a “national exemplar” and placed in an elite group representing the top 3% in Virginia. Scoring an impressive 718 out of 800 points, Occohannock distinguished itself as the only public school program in the entire region to maintain its “Exceeds Expectations” status from the previous year, ensuring the division’s youngest learners continue to receive a strong academic foundation. Dive deeper into this milestone: Occohannock Elementary Earns Highest State Rating for Early Childhood Programs
6. NCPS Earns 3rd Consecutive National Music Education Honor
Demonstrating sustained commitment to creative excellence, Northampton County Public Schools was once again named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” (BCME) by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. This marks the third consecutive year the division has received this prestigious national designation, which recognizes districts across the United States that provide exemplary dedication and equitable access to high-quality music and arts education for every student. Dive deeper into this milestone: NCPS Honored with 3rd Consecutive “Best Communities for Music Education” Award
7. Kiptopeke PTA Named a National School of Excellence
The Kiptopeke Elementary School PTA earned the distinguished designation of a National PTA School of Excellence for 2024-2026, placing it among the top 330 schools and PTAs recognized nationwide. This national honor celebrates the group’s dedication to building strong family-school partnerships and creating an inclusive environment. The award highlights the collaborative efforts of parents, teachers, and local businesses who come together to support student success through impactful community events, food bank donations, and foundational literacy initiatives. Dive deeper into this milestone: Kiptopeke Elementary PTA Earns National PTA School of Excellence Award
8. Record-Breaking State Tournament Triumph for Odyssey of the Mind
NCPS celebrated an unprecedented performance at the Virginia State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament, sending a record-breaking three teams to the state level - and with all three earning podium finishes. Leading the charge, the Northampton High School “Structure” team secured a 2nd place finish and punched their ticket to the World Finals. Their 8-inch balsa wood structure held a staggering 457 pounds, and the team also finished as the highest-scoring spontaneous team in their division. Adding to the historic run, Northampton High School’s “Classics” team captured a 3rd-place win with a humorous epic-poem performance. At the same time, Northampton Middle School’s “Classics” team also placed 3rd in the state and earned the distinction of being the highest-scoring spontaneous team in Virginia for their category. Dive deeper into this milestone: Northampton Students Achieve Historic Odyssey of the Mind Success at State Tournament
9. Historic Robotics Season for the NHS ShoreBots
Northampton High School’s robotics team, The ShoreBots (Team 1908), capped off their most successful season in program history, demonstrating exceptional engineering prowess, teamwork, and critical thinking. Their hard work throughout the competitive year culminated in bringing home their first-ever “Blue Banner” division championship title, along with the judged Quality Award, cementing a legendary milestone for the program and the entire division. Dive deeper into this milestone: NHS ShoreBots Celebrate Historic Robotics Season
10. Celebrating NMS and NHS Athletic Achievements
Northampton County students shattered decades-old records and captured titles at every level this year, logging an extraordinary postseason run across sports and academic competitive activities.
The Year by the Numbers:
Team Titles: 9 Eastern Shore District Titles | 19 Regional Qualifiers | 2 Region A Championships | 9 State Appearances | 1 VHSL State-Runner Up | 1 VHSL State Championship
Historic Records: 2 Undefeated Regular Seasons | 4 Postseason Streaks Broken
Individual Honors: 9 State Champions | 22 All-State Team Honorees | 18 Region Champions | 73 All-Region Honorees
Northampton Middle School Championship Highlights:
Baseball: Finished a flawless, undefeated 9-0 season to capture the district championship
Boys Basketball: Finished 2nd in the regular season, then peaked at the perfect time to win the district playoff tournament championship
Girls Basketball: Dominated with an undefeated regular season and reached the district title game, winning more games this single year than the previous 5-6 seasons combined
Northampton High School Championship Highlights:
Boys Soccer: Eastern Shore District, Region A, and VHSL Class 1 State Champions
Girls Outdoor Track: Finished elite as the VHSL Class 1 State Runner-Up
Girls Indoor Track: Crowned Region A Champions, 3rd place in VHSL Class 1 Championship
Robotics: Qualified for World Championships, ranking in the top 200 out of 4,000 teams
Football: District Champions; captured the program’s first playoff win since 1995
Girls Cross Country: District Champions; made the State Championship for the first time in 15+ years
Boys Basketball: Co-District Champions and Region Runner-Up; made the State Tournament for the first time in school history
Baseball: Qualified for the Region A Tournament for the first time since 2009
Softball: Played well and won first district game in several years
Postseason Contenders: Eastern Shore District Champions for Girls Soccer and Volleyball; Co-District titles in Scholastic Bowl; 3rd in the Region for Wrestling (9 state qualifiers) and Boys Cross Country; 3rd in State for Speech; regional appearances for Golf (sport returned after a decade), Girls Basketball, Girls Tennis, Girls Soccer, Boys Indoor Track (Region A Runner-Up), and Boys Outdoor Track (3rd in region)
In Closing…
From our early childhood classrooms to state championship arenas, this year's record-breaking accomplishments are a direct reflection of the hard work of our students and the unwavering support of our educators, families, and community. Together, the NCPS family has set a phenomenal new benchmark for academic and athletic excellence on the Eastern Shore.
About Northampton County Public Schools: Located at the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Northampton County Public Schools (NCPS) is a PreK-12 school division dedicated to providing a high-quality, inclusive education that reflects our community’s values.. By balancing innovation with a supportive, small-school atmosphere, NCPS strives to prepare every learner to be a productive, responsible, and proud citizen. The division is committed to elevating instructional quality and expanding student support services to foster community pride and to ensure all students are ready for enrollment, employment, or enlistment in an ever-changing global society.
###