What is Governor’s School?
 Summer Residential Governor’s School is a month-
long, residential, college-like program for selected
gifted and talented high school students.
 It is an opportunity for those selected to live, study,
work with, and get to know other students with similar
interests and abilities from across Virginia.
Tell me more…
 Summer Residential Governor's Schools provide gifted
and talented rising high school juniors and seniors
with educational experiences in visual and performing
arts; humanities; mathematics, science, and
technology; and agriculture; or through mentorships
in marine science, life sciences and medicine; and
engineering.
What can I expect?
Summer Residential Governor's Schools each focus on a specific
area. Students may be involved in:
 classroom and laboratory work,
 field studies,
 research,
 individual and group projects and performances,
 and seminars with noted scholars, visiting artists, and other
professionals.
 In the mentorship programs, students are selected to work
side-by-side with research scientists, physicians, and a variety
of other professionals.
A director and a student-life staff provide supervision of the
students 24 hours a day, for the entirety of the program.
What does it cost?
 Loudoun County Public Schools pay a portion of the cost
for their students. The remainder is funded through the
Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Department of
Education, the hosting university and occasionally private
foundations.
 Students are responsible for their spending money and
must provide their own transportation to their host
university.
 In other words, it is basically FREE!
SRGS Application Process
 It takes commitment to apply to SRGS!
 The typed application consists of:
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Resume/ Background record
Two teacher references
Essay/ Statement of interest
Test scores (academic applications only)
Grades (academic applications only)
How do I apply?
 Go to the Virginia Department of Education (DOE)
website for 2015 Summer Residential Governor’s
School. To access the application, go to the DOE
website, click on “Instruction”. Scroll down until you
see “Governor’s Schools” on the right, click on it, and
then go to “Summer Residential Governor’s Schools.”
 Applications must be typed! You can fill them in
online.
Visual and Performing Arts
 VPA applicants sign an “Intent to Audition” form
letting us know you intend to audition. Parents must
sign the form and it must be returned to your guidance
counselor by October 15, 2014.
 The LCPS local audition date is November 3, 2014
at John Champe HS. All the information you need to
prepare for the audition will be given to you today.
Visual and Performing Arts
 Being nominated to audition on the state level is not a
guarantee for acceptance into Governor’s School. It
merely means that you are eligible to audition with
other competitors in the state.
 State adjudication will be in January 2015 , site TBD.
Students will be notified by the DOE in December
with their audition time and place.
 Completed, typed applications must be turned in to
school guidance counselors by December 19, 2014.
Academic GS Application Process
 All completed applications must be submitted to your
guidance counselor by December 19, 2014.
 All completed applications MUST have 2 teacher
recommendations and be signed by your school
principal. Incomplete applications will be returned to
you for completion.
Academic Programs Locations
 Agriculture (AG) Virginia Tech in Blacksburg
 Humanities (HUM)Radford University, Radford
 Mathematics, Science, and Technology (MST)
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Lynchburg College, Lynchburg
Mentorships include:
Life Sciences and Medicine (LSM) VCU, Richmond
Engineering (NASA/NIA) Christopher Newport
University, and NASA/Langley Research Center; the
National Institute of Aerospace
and Marine Science (VIMS) Christopher Newport
University, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Visual and Performing Arts (VPA)
Dance
Music- Vocal and Instrumental
Theatre
Visual Arts
Located at Radford University, Radford.
SRGS Foreign Language Academies
 This program is part of Governor’s School, however,
additional information and questions should be
directed to the foreign language teacher(s) at your
high school. It is separate from VPA and Academic
Governor’s School.
SRGS Timeline
 If accepted, students can attend one summer after the
sophomore or junior year.
 Program duration is approximately 3 to 5 weeks
(depending upon the program).
 Beginning and ending dates vary, however, sessions are
concluded by the end of July.
Considerations…
 SRGS is an excellent opportunity for personal growth,
exploration of, and in-depth study of an academic field.
 Attendance at a Governor’s School is an
accomplishment and a resume builder.
 SRGS offers you the opportunity to experience college
life (dorms, cafeteria food, …)and meet like-minded
students from all across Virginia.
 It’s fun!
Additional Considerations…
 Students can only apply to one program.
 Students can only attend once, either as a rising junior
or a rising senior.
 Acceptance to Governor’s School is very competitive!
It is extremely important that you do your very best in
all aspects of application completion. Writing your
essay, auditioning, and selecting teachers/adults who
will recommend you is very important. Be certain the
adults you ask to recommend you can do so without
reservation.
Governor’s School State Enrollment
 Agriculture- 100 students
 Humanities- 200 students
 Mathematics, Science, and Technology- 160 students
 Life Science and Medicine- 26 students
 Marine Science Mentorships – 6 students
 Engineering Mentorships- 14 students
 Visual and Performing Arts – 200 students
Contacts
 Virginia Governor’s School main website:
www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/summe
r_residential/index.shtml
 Contact your Guidance Counselor or one of the Gifted Resource
teachers listed below with questions:
 Susan Helsley susan.helsley@lcps.org
 Jennifer Landry jennifer.landry@lcps.org