Draft:Old Donation School

Old Donation School (ODS) is a public magnet school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is located in Virginia Beach City Public Schools. It serves grades second through eighth, and is a full-time gifted school for 1,375 students.

History
Old Donation School was originally the name of an elementary school constructed in the same location as the Old Donation Center and the Middle School was in a seperate location, known as Kemps Landing Magnet School. At the construction of the new building, ODC was demolished and merged with KLMS to form the current old donation school. Originally, it was to be named the Edward E. Brickell Academy after Edward E. Brickell, a former superintendent, but due to the district-wide ban on naming schools after people it was settled to be the Brickell Academy for Advanced Academics and Art at Old Donation School.

Energy-Efficiency
The building was designed to be energy-efficient, featuring underground stormwater runnel. The school's field serves as a geothermal well, and plants around the perimeter act as an bioretention area. The building was mostly made with resources within 500 miles of the school, and features an extensive use of large windows and daylighting. The school also uses rainwater-only flushable toilets.

Rankings
Old Donation School rose to notability after the U.S. News & World Report ranked ODS the number one middle school and number two elementary school in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Controversy
A lawsuit was levied against the school following the 2023-24 school year selection process. Selection for the incoming 2nd Grade class was based primarily on lottery rather than the pure application review system of years prior.

In November 2022, principal Joel Guldenschuh was arrested based on allegations of simple assault, he was a later acquitted and resumed his duties as principal.

Core classes
ODS was designed to follow a more advanced program than the rest of the middle schools around the city. For mathematics, ODS students take Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, and Geometry. The rest of the school district will take Advanced Mathematics, Pre-Algebra, and then Algebra. Science courses are different too, with ODS students taking Life Science, Physical and Chemical Science, and then Earth Science.

Electives
ODS offers many different classes as electives, including Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Special Projects, Digital Input and Applications, Written Communications, Desktop/Multimedia Presentations, and Jazz Band.

Extracurricular Activities and Teams
Although, ODS offers a variety of extracurricular activities, due to field space restrictions it does not have any athletic teams. However, student athletes are free to play for their home schools. Despite not having athletic teams, ODS does have academic teams such as debate, academic challenge, forensics, and the One Act Play. The Academic Challenge (quiz bowl) Team qualified with an 8-0 record for the 2024 NAQT Middle School Tournament and placed 33rd out of 160 schools across the nation.