The Newport News City Council convened on June 24, 2025, to discuss various topics, with a significant focus on the achievements of the Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) and the ongoing collaboration between the city and the school board.

The meeting began with the school board chair addressing the council, expressing gratitude for the city's support of local schools. The chair highlighted the importance of the council's unwavering commitment to education, noting that the city manager's leadership has fostered a strong partnership with the school board.

Key points from the chair's remarks included the full funding of the NNPS budget for the 2025-2026 school year, which will allow for the continuation of current initiatives and a 3% salary increase for employees. The starting salary for new teachers with a bachelor's degree will also rise from $55,100 to $56,000 annually.

The chair celebrated the recent graduation of over 1,600 students from NNPS, emphasizing the class of 2025's impressive achievements, including more than $85 million in scholarships and approximately 2,400 acceptance offers to colleges, universities, and military institutions. Notably, almost half of the graduating class achieved honors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, contributing to a graduation rate of 93%, surpassing the state average.

The chair also recognized five NNPS schools for their exemplary performance, with Deer Park Elementary receiving the highest achievement award and several others earning continuous improvement awards. Additionally, five teachers achieved national board certification, and Katherine Johnson Elementary was honored with a prestigious STEM award.

In sports, Woodside High School's boys indoor track team won the Virginia High School League Class 5 state championship, with individual athletes also achieving state titles in various events.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the city's commitment to supporting education and the ongoing collaboration between the city council and the school board, setting a positive tone for future initiatives aimed at enhancing educational outcomes in Newport News.