• Character & Leadership
• Teaching and Learning
• Partnership & Community

Character & Leadership

The Norfolk Academy strives:

• To live each day by our conviction that sound moral and spiritual values define the individual in a more significant way than academic achievement.  
• To insist, through the inculcation of values embodied most of all in our Honor System, that intellectual and personal integrity become ingrained.   
• To help all students in identifying the best in themselves and to assist them in building upon that foundation a sense of purpose, perseverance, and compassion for others. 
• To instill a commitment to public service and to advancing the greater good, first through respect for self, and then for every other member of the community until unselfishness of thought and action becomes habit. 
• To encourage a culture of kindness and belonging in which every individual is known, valued, and encouraged to form meaningful connections with others.  
• To nurture, through shared moments of reflection, celebration, and connection, a deeper understanding that spiritual values are the foundation of a purposeful life.  
• To develop leadership capabilities by combining direct instruction, real-world experiences, and community engagement – emphasizing honor, responsibility, humility, and service – so that students are prepared to lead with integrity.  
• To instill a sense of responsibility by holding students accountable for their own actions and by insisting that they meet their obligations to others as well as to themselves.  

Teaching and Learning

The Norfolk Academy strives:

• To foster intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning, empowering students to apply their knowledge beyond the classroom to build a better, stronger world.  
• To cultivate a learning environment that prioritizes intellectual curiosity and open inquiry by empowering students and faculty to pursue ideas freely, engage in thoughtful dialogue, and contribute meaningfully to the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.   
• To prepare students for college life and adulthood by fostering an atmosphere in which learning is seen as its own reward and by designing educational experiences that support and challenge each learner to thrive. 
• To equip students with foundational skills in reading, writing, and numeracy, along with the learning strategies and critical and creative thinking skills they need to flourish in a rapidly changing world.  
• To assist students in becoming skillful and versatile communicators, not only through the school’s well-developed public speaking program, but also through an educational approach that emphasizes effective expression in a variety of settings. 
• To design and deliver learning experiences that engage students through varied media, emerging technologies, and meaningful connections to local and global communities and resources.   
• To emphasize, through a well-developed athletic program, not only the vital importance of physical well-being, but also the merits and benefits of competition, sportsmanship, and camaraderie.  
• To emphasize, through well-developed programs in the fine arts, not only the value and joy of creative expression, but also the essential role of the arts in opening the heart, mind, and spirit to new insights.  
• To make effective use of regional resources, including engagement in experiences that explore Tidewater’s unique history, cultural assets, geography, and environment.   
• To recognize the value of traditional teaching methods as well as the necessity for judicious experimentation with the new.  
• To support and advance faculty growth through ongoing professional learning, reflective practice, and collaborative exchange, ensuring that teaching remains dynamic, research-informed, and aligned with the school's mission of academic excellence.  
• To steward and enhance a well-designed campus to support the vitality of the student experience and the beauty and utility of our built and natural environment. 

Partnership & Community

The Norfolk Academy strives:

• To promote student growth and achievement through strong, trusting relationships between teachers and students, supported by personalized feedback, meaningful assessments, and ongoing dialogue. 
• To maintain timely and open communication within the school community, including students, parents, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends.  
• To communicate to relevant constituencies about important factors that sustain an excellent educational program consistent with the Philosophy of the school, such as the admissions process, financial aid resources, fiscal stewardship, and philanthropic priorities.    
• To make our school an integral part of the community by partnering with other organizations and by sharing school facilities, resources, and programs.    
• To build an enduring partnership between parents and the school, grounded in a shared responsibility for student growth and a commitment to the school's Philosophy and values.