School Chess – Hampton Roads Chess Association

Looking for Homeschool Chess Club? Click Here!

Schools We Serve

We serve public, private, and homeschooled students in Hampton Roads, from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Our current school partnerships include:

Virginia Beach

Norfolk

Chesapeake

Registration links are provided above when available.

Why Chess in Schools?

Countless studies conducted around the world prove that chess helps children perform better in school and on standardized tests. Systematic chess study and practice helps children with focus, planning, decision-making, impulse control, calculations, pattern recognition, and more.

Programs We Offer

After-school Clubs
In-school instruction
Workshops

How It Works

In partnership with the Virginia Chess Federation, we offer 10 free chess sets to schools launching a chess program for the first time
In HRCA-led programs, we provide all chess equipment!
From teaching curriculum to building team spirit, our coaches are here to help your school’s chess program thrive. Learn more about our coaches HERE
If you are looking for a staff-led program, we can provide free guidance to any school staff member interested in starting and running a chess club
We can assist in purchasing high-quality chess equipment at special pricing for your school.

Let’s get started! Complete our Interest Form, and we will be in touch shortly!

Curriculum

Our Coaches have extensive experience using a variety of curricula. Once students have completed a beginner course with us (usually a 12-week session), we provide our coaches a list of topics that are appropriate to cover with students as they progress. Coaches are free to cover material at their discretion, or come up with their own topics based on their best knowledge of their students and what they need.

What Schools Need to Provide

Support/Club Liaison

We’ve worked with every type of setup, from teacher-sponsors who manage check-in, check-out, and classroom behavior to PTA-led programs, and those exclusively with parent volunteers assisting. Our programs run best when there is additional support from teacher-sponsors or volunteers actively involved in the classroom.

Club/Site Coordinator Responsibilities

Act as the main contact at the site for HRCA, chess families, and participants
Serve as liaison between HRCA and the site.
Aid in recruitment efforts by distributing marketing materials
Offer registration support if necessary
Assist with check in and dismissal procedure
Provide extra supervision. This allows our coaches to maximize their time with students, and also ensures HRCA coaches are never left alone with a single student, per our Youth Protection Policy.
Procure adequate space for class and storage of class equipment.

Financial Aid

HRCA works hard to ensure that our tuition and fees are among the lowest of educational and sports offerings while providing quality staff and programming. We have limited financial assistance available, reserved for members with demonstrated financial need. If you are not a Title I school and this applies to your students, families may complete our Financial Assistance Application HERE.

Financial assistance includes payment plans, scholarships, and tuition waivers. Needs-based scholarships are available to HRCA members, regardless of school, through our Joan H. Schlich Memorial Scholarship Fund. We are subject to limited funding, but we strive to turn no child away for inability to pay.

HRCA Membership is not required to apply for financial aid, but is required to accept any awards.

Ready to get started?

If you are interested in starting a chess program at your school, please complete our Interest Form. We have limited coaches, days, and time slots available — the earlier we can start planning, the better!

HRCA is insured and we can add your school as an additional insured if necessary. Schools that require a coach to travel excessive distances (such as those on the fringes of our service area) or incur tolls may incur a travel surcharge.

To help keep our tuition rates low, we have a minimum of 10 students per class.

HRCA Membership is a separate free from tuition and is not required to participate in a class. Membership is required for scholarship opportunities, Scholastic Cup participation, and other members-only benefits.