The Virginia Governor’s School Program is a state-sponsored summer residential program aimed at providing the state’s most gifted students with highly challenging academic and artistic experiences. High school sophomores and juniors may apply to attend a summer residential program on a college campus for up to five weeks in visual performing arts; agriculture; humanities; mathematics, science and technology; world languages; life sciences and medicine; or mentorships in marine science or engineering.
The application process begins in October and is extremely competitive with high school sophomores and juniors from across the state vying for limited spaces in each program. Each Virginia school division is permitted a certain number of nominees based on school enrollment. For the Visual and Performing Arts program, T.C. Williams High School may nominate two students for visual arts, two for dance, two for instrumental music, two for vocal music and two for theatre. For the World Language Academies, T.C. Williams High School may nominate two per language including Japanese. T.C. may nominate up to seven students for the Academic program and up to four for the Agriculture program. If more than two students apply in an area, a selection committee for that subject area will meet to hold auditions (performing arts only), review applications and select the nominees. Once nominated, students then go through a selection process at the state level.
Teachers in specific subject areas generally recommend students for application to Visual Performing Arts and Academic Governor’s Schools and Foreign Language Academies. Students may also apply by obtaining applications from the School Counseling Department.
The criteria for nomination to the Academic and Visual Performing Arts programs include:
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Participation in, or eligibility to participate in, the Talented and Gifted (TAG) program at T.C. Williams High School;
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Genuine interest in attending Governor’s School, and the emotional maturity, stability and self-discipline to live away from home for an extended period;
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Recommendation by a teacher or other professional who is knowledgeable of the student’s academic strength in the selected area;
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Application to only one Summer Residential Governor’s program or foreign language academy per year;
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Attendance at only one Summer Residential Governor’s program or foreign language academy during high school; and
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Eligibility for a free, public education in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The criteria for nomination to the World Language academies include:
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Genuine interest in attending the Foreign Language Academies, and the emotional maturity, stability and self-discipline to live away from home for an extended period;
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Recommendation by a teacher or other professional who is knowledgeable of the student’s academic strength in the selected area;
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Application to only one Summer Residential Governor’s program or foreign language academy per year;
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Attendance at only one Summer Residential Governor’s program or Foreign Language Academy during high school; and
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Eligibility for a free, public education in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Additional criteria for students applying to the French, German and Spanish Academies include:
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Completion of at least level III of the language prior to the beginning of the academy
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Good proficiency using the language; and
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Willingness to use the target language for all social and academic interactions.
An additional criterion for students applying to the Latin Academy includes:
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Completion of at least level II of the language prior to the beginning of the academy.
An additional criterion for students applying to the Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian Academies includes:
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Completion of at least level II of ANY language prior to the beginning of the academy, but are not required to have previously studied the academy languages. Students currently studying these languages are also encouraged to apply.
More information on the Governor’s School program may be found at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/index.shtml