By CHERYL ROSS By Cheryl Ross The Virginian-Pilot Portsmouth Competitive pay. Professional growth. Playing for a winning team. It sounds like a job ad. But these are some of the reasons teachers say they work in Portsmouth.

The Churchland Kiwanis Club recently awarded six $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors . The three recipients from Portsmouth were Michael B. Stuck, Kierra D. Jones and Emily M. Meyers, all from Churchland High School.

1. What's the enrollment at Portsmouth Public Schools? a. 16,500 b. 15,400 c. 19,300 2. Who was the first superintendent of Portsmouth "free schools" established in 1848? a. The Rev. Thomas Hume, pastor of Court Street Baptist Church b. Shipping magnate John C. Churchland c.

By Nicole Morgan, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va. Jan. 7--PORTSMOUTH -- Churchland High School senior Laurel Brisson decided to spend her last months of high school as a freshman at Tidewater Community College. "I really just wanted to get out of high school," Brisson said.

By DEIRDRE FERNANS Blue oceans and green continents: That's the simple view offered by a map hanging in an I.C. Norcom High School classroom. The students ignore it. It is a dinosaur in an age of satellites and online technology.