Erin Smith

Seven area high schools send their best and brightest to Governor’s School for advanced programming and the chance to work with other high-achieving students. Students apply in their sophomore year for admittance during their junior and senior years. The program runs for half a day and then students return to their home high schools for the remainder of the day.

Unfortunately, since Governor’s School starts during zero period (before the beginning of the official school day), there’s no bus service in the morning. You’ll need to drive yourself or get a friend or parent to drive you. You can catch a ride back to school with a friend or ride the tech bus when it’s time to go back to your school at midday.

Yes! You’ll still be very involved with activities at your home high school. You can participate in sports, clubs, plays, and more. Since you’ll take half of your classes at your home school in the afternoon, you’ll still get to see your friends and teachers and be part of that school community.

Students in the arts program take humanities classes at SVGS instead of English at their home school. Humanites classes cover the English curriculum, but also explore history, culture, art, and more. There’s a lot of reading and writing, and attention to the context of selections we study. SVGS humanities lessons encourage discussion, and students bring their ideas about art and theater into the classroom. You’ll get to do creative projects that overlap with what you’re studying in art and theater. You’ll also be able to take classes for dual enrollment or college credit. More on that below.

Yes. Our dual-enrollment courses are composition courses and they focus on writing. All colleges require that students take such courses, usually during freshman year. You’ll need to spend time at home working on several required formal papers. In class we’ll study examples of that type of writing and think about how to develop your own work. We’ll also conduct peer workshops of each others’ work. The reading assignments in your first semester are selected with rhetorical interest in mind—what is the writer attempting to do with this selection? What specific choices has he made in order to communicate effectively and persuasively? During the second semester of your junior year, you’ll be reading (and writing about) many selections from various periods of American literature.

Seniors will be reading and writing about a selection of texts from a variety of time periods of English literature. Some of these texts can be challenging. You will be expected to do a good deal of reading outside of class.

You will be reading mainly shorter selections your first year at SVGS. However, you will be expected to complete ongoing independent novel reading assignments during the school year and during the summer. The independent assignments will have accompanying written and creative assignments. Seniors read a combination of books and shorter selections.

Your humanities class will be made up of fellow juniors (or seniors) in the art and theater programs. The arts and humanities program has integrated time built into its schedule where students from both programs and both grade levels receive an opportunity to work together.

Dual-enrollment classes cover the curriculum for high-level high school classes and first-year college classes at the same time. They are more in-depth than normal high school classes, but when you finish, you’ll have a leg up on college work and be more prepared overall..

You do NOT have to take classes for dual-enrollment credit. Students opting out have a reduced workload. Juniors can take English 111 and 112 for college credit through Blue Ridge Community College. You must pass BRCC’s placement test to enroll. Seniors take HUM 200 through James Madison University.

BRCC classes cost approximately $50 (so that’s $100 a year for juniors.) Seniors take one course for credit ($300) from JMU. This might seem expensive, but it’s less than half what you’d pay to take the class on your own. SVGS also saves you money by loaning you your textbooks (college students have to buy textbooks!) If you don’t take your classes for college credit, they’re free.

Nope. Dual enrollment is something completely different. As long as you complete the courses in a satisfactory manner, you’ll get Blue Ridge or JMU credit. However, different colleges may have different rules about how they accept dual enrollment credit. They might count it in exchange for their equivalent class, they might accept it as elective credit, or, if you don’t get a high enough grade, they might not accept it at all. Colleges don’t like to accept C work. If you have questions, look into the dual enrollment policies at your chosen colleges.

Yes. You’ll take your English End of Course tests during your junior year. The two-day writing test occurs in March. There’s a multiple-choice section and an essay section. The multiple-choice reading test happens in May. The curriculum covered your junior year will help you do well on the tests. We’ll also do some very focused practice and review as the test approaches.

Seminar period happens once in December and again in May. We suspend regular classes at those times, and students get to work with students and teachers from all SVGS departments. You might take a class on color theory with Mr. Klein or puzzle making/solving with Mrs. Jenny. I usually teach digital media (Photoshop and Illustrator), but in the past I’ve also taught creative writing or fashion design. In the spring, you will plan and develop an independent capstone service project.

The opportunity for extended studio time with guest artists. Not only can they give excellent instruction, but they can also talk about their experiences making a living as professionals in their fields. The great atmosphere: SVGS is relaxed but stimulating. You have a lot of freedom. Your peers want to be here as much as you do. Your teachers are passionate about what they teach. Technology: You’ll have a chance to learn cutting-edge programs like Maya, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Final Cut. You’ll get to try your hand at programming, video-game design, and much more. Opportunities for travel: We take several arts-focused field trips a year to places like New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., and Richmond.

We’re so glad you’re interested. You’ll apply during your sophomore or junior year. See your guidance counselor for an application. You’ll need transcripts, teacher recommendations, and PSAT scores. You’ll also need to prepare a visual art portfolio or a theatrical audition piece. This is the most important part of your application.