Portsmouth Public Schools is fortunate to have a rich and active military community within the division. Within the city limits are the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, which employs more than 14,000 people, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Base Portsmouth.

With those installations and the many others in Hampton Roads, approximately 5 percent of PPS families are military-connected, which means one or more of a student’s parents or guardians serve in the military.

PPS is dedicated to providing a welcoming and engaging school environment for all families. For military-connected students, this means understanding the unique challenges that come with military life, including frequent moves, long-term deployments of a loved one and juggling varying graduation standards from state to state.

PPS partners with the city and military with its School Liaison Officer program to help provide families a transitional aid during reassignments. In addition, Military and Family Life Counselors are available at a number of PPS schools to support students and families as they acclimate to their school and to the division.

If families are looking for assistance while relocating to Portsmouth, they are encouraged to contact the Office of Guidance Services at (757) 393-8354. In addition, military families can take advantage of a number of resources available to them throughout the year, including the following:

• Military School Liaison Officer – support and resources that connects Military Families, Commands and K-12 Schools.

• MWR-NNSY – programs and services aimed at supporting military family quality of life.

• Interstate Compact on Education Opportunities for Military Families – information that addresses key transition issues encountered by military families including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility and graduation.

• Navy Exceptional Family Member Program – an assistance for sailors with the special needs of their Exceptional Family Members (EFM), at new duty locations.

• Guidance for Military Families with Students in Special Education – resource guide for military families with children in special education.

• Military One Source – resources that connect military families to the best military life.

• Tutor.com for Military Families – an online tutoring service available free for all military families.