Gifted Education & Academic Rigor Services
Page Navigation
-
WELCOME TO
NORSTAR Brochure
Norfolk Science, Technology and Advanced Research, or NORSTAR is a STEM-infused program which develops student leadership in STEM innovation and creative problem-solving by providing laboratory and real world experiences in science, technology, engineering, and math. NORSTAR seeks motivated, gifted/high-performing students with the ability to demonstrate original, creative problem-solving abilities.
For detailed information about NORSTAR, please download our Program Overview.
NORSTAR welcomes all qualified students to become part of this rich and dynamic environment!
Application Information:
Candidates for the NORSTAR program should be in grade 8 or 9 during the current school year. Applicants should be in very good academic standing (3.0 GPA or above), and should show both high interest and high aptitude in Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Math.
To apply for the NORSTAR program, students submit a fully completed application, which includes:
- Student information (home address, contact information, extracurricular activities, etc.)
- Student questionnaire
- Positive recommendations from : 1) the student’s current science teacher; 2) the student’s current math teacher; and 3) the student’s school counselor
- A current and complete Middle School Profile, available through the student’s school counselor
The Application window for NORSTAR is currently closed. Please check back in Fall, 2025 for our 2026-2027 NORSTAR Application.
STUDENTS who are Not Enrolled in Norfolk Public Schools:
NORSTAR welcomes applications from eighth grade students who are not enrolled in Norfolk Public Schools during their eighth grade year, but intend to enroll in NPS for high school. In place of a Middle School Profile, NORSTAR will accept an official school transcript reflecting academic performance during the candidate’s sixth, seventh and eighth grade years.
—————-
Questions?
Contact UsGifted Education and Academic Rigor Services
7000 West Tanners Creek Drive Rom 318
Norfolk, VA 23513
Phone (757)852-4674
Fax (757)852-4677
NORSTAR Program Overview
NORSTAR FAQs
NORSTAR Videos
-
Video List Project Super Nova Rocketry Prototype Launches
Author:Length:Video List Color Sorter Track, 2024
Author:Length:Video List Nintoaster Entertainment System, 2024
Author:Length:Video List Roller Coaster 2022-2023
NORSTAR students designed and built this roller coaster to introduce students to STEM. We took our coaster to various elementary and middle schools across NPS, demonstrating the coaster and the physics concepts behind it. We also worke dwith students and families to build their own mini-coasters!
Author:Length:Video List Graffiti Robots: Battle Bots! 2022
The NORSTAR students showed off their robot building skills in a a exciting wrestling match. Watch out, Battle Bots!
Author:Length:Video List Ant Simulation Video 2021
Jack combined his research on animal behavior and computer science to creates a simulation of an ant colony. In 2022-2023, Jack will be attending the Honors College at Old Dominion University, majoring in computer science.
Author:Length:Video List NORSTAR Video Game Development 2021
Avery is honing his coding and video game development skills, creating an original, multi-player video game.
Author:Length: