Discovering the best IB program elementary school near Norfolk
Every parent wants the best education available for their children. While looking for good elementary schools near Norfolk, VA, parents often find that private schools can provide a broader canvas on which their children can learn and thrive, helping them to better understand the world around them and how to navigate it.
At Strelitz International Academy, we’re a member of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, and we take that mission very seriously, by offering an exceptional learning experience for your child as an International Baccalaureate (IB®) Primary Years Programme (PYP) candidate school, which utilizes an inquiry-based educational program. The International Baccalaureate (IB®) Curriculum in Virginia Beach, is an international, non-profit educational program that takes the process several steps further by providing a foundation of building critical thinking skills. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is one part of this educational process, targeting students aged 3-12 years old.
Why Norfolk Families Prefer SIA
Families searching for Norfolk elementary schools often want more than a strong academic program. We understand that parents are also looking for consistency, values, and a school community that supports their family’s needs. At Strelitz International Academy, we serve families from Norfolk and throughout the Hampton Roads area by providing a private elementary education grounded in care, inquiry, and purpose.
Convenience & Location
While our campus is located in Virginia Beach, many of our families commute from Norfolk each day. Our location allows parents exploring private elementary schools near norfolk va to access a high-quality IB® education without sacrificing convenience. We work closely with families to ensure daily schedules and routines remain manageable and supportive.
Military and NATO Family Support
We proudly support military and internationally mobile families who are an integral part of the Hampton Roads community. Our inquiry-based IB® framework provides academic continuity and a global perspective that supports children through transitions. For families comparing Norfolk elementary schools, our experience with diverse and mobile populations offers stability and reassurance.
Class Sizes and Individual Attention
We believe children learn best when they are known, supported, and encouraged. Our small class sizes allow us to focus on each student’s academic development, confidence, and well-being. This individualized approach is one of the reasons families seeking private elementary schools near Norfolk VA choose Strelitz International Academy.
Safety and Values
We maintain a secure, respectful, and values-driven learning environment where students feel safe to explore, ask questions, and grow. Families looking among Norfolk elementary schools often tell us they value our emphasis on responsibility, kindness, and mutual respect throughout the school day.
Supporting Students Through Inquiry-Based Learning
The Primary Years Programme is a transformative experience for students, teachers, and whole school communities. IB® primary school near Norfolk students learn how to take control of their learning while teachers collaborate with them to deepen their learning experience and build their confidence and motivation. The whole school community, including parents, are viewed as partners in the holistic learning process.
Our IB® program elementary school close to Norfolk is guided by six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, the PYP helps students broaden their learning by developing conceptual understanding and strengthening their knowledge across and beyond a broad range of subject areas. The programme aims to help students develop the skills, knowledge, and attitude they need to excel in both their studies, as well as their own personal growth.
The six transdisciplinary themes of global significance include:
Who we are: A study on what it means to be human from the standpoint of:
- Looking into the nature of ourselves to understand what we believe and value.
- Taking stock of our health on a physical, mental, and spiritual level.
- Identifying our relationships with friends, family, the communities in which we live, and how all that relates to our culture.
- Understanding our rights and responsibilities to ourselves and others.
Where we are in place and time: Examining our orientation in place and time including:
- Our own personal and family history.
- The discoveries and explorations of humankind.
- Distinguishing our relationships between how we connect as individuals to other civilizations from a local and global perspective.
How we express ourselves: Understanding how our conscious, subconscious and unconscious minds shape:
- How we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, as well as our beliefs and values.
- How we reflect on and enjoy our own creativity as well as that of others.
- How and why we appreciate aesthetics.
How the world works: Finding our place and part in the world by examining:
- The interaction between the natural world and human societies.
- How we use our understanding of scientific principles, and the impact scientific and technological advances have on ourselves as well as the environment.
How we organize ourselves: Identifying our systems and procedures to understand:
- The function of organizations.
- Individual and societal decision making.
- The impact our economic activities have on humankind and the environment.
Sharing the planet: Understanding our place in the world through:
- Responsibilities and rights.
- Sharing finite resources with humans and other living things.
- Our relationships within our communities.
- Access to equal opportunities.
- Conflicts, conflict resolutions, and peace.
What Makes SIA a Jewish Day School
As a Jewish day school, we integrate Jewish values, culture, and traditions into daily learning while welcoming families from all backgrounds. For parents comparing Jewish private school Hampton Roads options, SIA offers a balanced, inclusive environment where faith, academics, and global learning work together.
Jewish Values Integrated Into Daily Learning
We weave Jewish values such as respect, community, responsibility, and repairing the world into classroom discussions and learning experiences. These principles guide how students collaborate, reflect, and take action. Families exploring a Jewish Elementary School near Norfolk VA appreciate that values are lived each day, not taught in isolation.
Cultural Enrichment and Traditions
We enrich our academic program through meaningful cultural experiences, celebrations, and exposure to Jewish traditions that strengthen identity and understanding. These experiences complement the IB® inquiry-based curriculum and support global awareness. For families comparing private elementary schools in Norfolk, VA, this integration of culture and academics offers a distinctive educational experience.
As a result, families seeking a Jewish Elementary School in Norfolk VA find that our approach supports both academic excellence and personal growth within a caring school community.
An Invitation to Learn More About Our School Community
Ready to learn more about why Strelitz International Academy is one of the best private elementary schools available near Norfolk? Looking for a faith-based school that operates as a Jewish day school near Norfolk? Give us a call at 757-424-4327 so we can schedule a tour of our campus.
As a VAIS school, we invite you and your child to come visit our campus, to see the environment, meet with educators, and talk with administrators about your expectations and questions. We’d love to tell you more about our IB® PYP program and how affordable a quality private school nearby Norfolk area can be.
To schedule your visit, give us a call at 757-424-4327.


