Governor’s School

A Look at What We Do

In addition to the many cool projects featured in our video, in past years participants also created the following websites using Google Sites:

• Body Quest: An Exploration in Anatomy and Physiology
• Electron Control: Understanding and Constructing the Fundamental Digital Circuitry of Computing
• Eyes on the Skies
• Tales From the Genome

2024

Students live at the University of Lynchburg for four weeks. During this time, students are involved in classroom and laboratory work, field studies, research, individual and group projects, and seminars with noted scholars and other professionals. A director and a student-life staff will supervise students 24 hours a day throughout the program.

The Summer Residential Governor’s School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology at the University of Lynchburg, one of several Summer Residential Governor’s Schools, is part of the State of Virginia’s broader Governor’s School programs.

Benefits for Students

Governor’s Schools give gifted students academic, and visual and performing arts opportunities beyond those normally available in the students’ home schools. Students can focus on a specific area of intellectual or artistic strength and interest and study in a way that best suits the gifted learner’s needs.

Each program stresses non-traditional teaching and learning techniques. For example, small-group instruction, hands-on experiences, research, field studies, or realistic or artistic productions are major elements in the instructional design at all schools.

Students become scientists, writers, artists, and performers as they work with professional mentors and instructors. Every effort is made to tailor learning to the needs of the community of learners that comprise the program.

The Virginia Governor’s School Program has been designed to assist divisions as they meet the needs of a small population of students whose learning levels are remarkably different from their age-level peers. The foundation of the Virginia Governor’s School Program centers on best practices in the field of gifted education and the presentation of advanced content to able learners.

Administration

The Governor’s School programs are administered by the Virginia Department of Education, Office of Secondary Instructional Services, in cooperation with local school divisions, colleges, and universities.

A local director at each Governor’s School site has direct responsibility for the logistics of the program. Academic-Year Governor’s Schools have directors and regional governing boards that provide policy and administration of these schools. Program and site directors at the Summer Residential Governor’s Schools along with the specialists in the Virginia Department of Education work together to manage and maintain these programs.

The Department of Education, regional governing boards, local superintendents, site or program directors, school boards, and advisory committees establish policies for the Governor’s Schools. These policies are described in an administrative procedures document for each school. All Governor’s Schools annually submit a current administrative procedures document to VDOE.

Maintaining High Standards

Each Governor’s School maintains its standards through a system of internal evaluations. Summaries of findings are submitted to the Department of Education as part of the administrative procedures document. Internal evaluation methods may include collecting information from students and staff, interviews and written surveys with administrators, instructors, students, and parents, and analysis of other documents related to the programs.

Teams of external evaluators visit each Governor’s School regularly. Evaluation rubrics have been developed based on the National Association for Gifted Children’s standards (external link). The Governor’s School directors receive commendations and recommendations from the team sponsored by the Department of Education. The final report, sent to the director and the chairperson of the regional governing board, summarizes the findings and conclusions of the team.