ACE Center

ACE Center Applications

APPLY TO AN ACE CENTER

ACE Center Application Process

Selection Process:

ACE Centers use a lottery selection process where eligible students will be randomly selected to fill our program openings. Eligible students must have earned enough credits to qualify as a Junior (10+ high school credits) prior to the start of the 26-27 school year. Current 10th or 11th grade students accepted in their 8th grade year and Allied Health Speciality Center students are prioritized for placement into the program of their choice. In a two year program, juniors have priority for open seats. High Tech Academy, Practical Nursing, and Teacher Apprentice will follow their separate admissions process as required by the accrediting outside organization and noted on the application. 

In the lottery, after students have been classified as eligible, students are randomly selected using a random number generator with multiple staff members reviewing the selection. We will select 2 applicants for each high school per program, unless no applicants from a school are in the pool. Remaining seats are then assigned at random to the next lottery selection. 

Visual View of ACE Center Programs

Application Timeline for upcoming 2026-2027 Year

September 15
🔹 10th & 11th grade application available online on the CTE websites

September 29
🔹 8th grade application available online on the Specialty Center and CTE websites

September 2025
🔹 Previously accepted 8th grade students (now in 10th grade) make program placement selections with ACE Center Counselors

October 27–31
🔹 High school visits to the ACE Centers during the school day

October 28
🔹 ACE Center Open House (Hosted by ACE Center at Hermitage, 6–7:30 PM)

November 14
🔹 Application deadline for both 8th-grade and high school applicants

November 21
🔹 Application re-opens for current 10th graders
🔹 Applications submitted on or after this date will be placed on a waiting list
🔹 These will be reviewed/notified on a rolling basis as openings become available after

January 26
🔹 Students who already applied do not need to reapply—contact your home school counselor for program availability
🔹 First-time applicants should apply for consideration to open programs

December 15
🔹 Practical Nursing application closes
🔹 Both the ACE application and the St. Mary’s Application must be submitted

January 8
🔹 High school students notified via email of acceptance status
🔹 Practical Nursing students will be notified by end of January 2026

February 13
🔹 Middle school students notified via email of acceptance status

February 27
🔹 8th grade students submit acceptance notification to ACE Centers
🔹 Instructions provided in the acceptance email
🔹 High school students (10th or 11th grade) must notify their home school counselor of their intent to attend the ACE Center next school year

January 26 – May 31
🔹 Students who applied after November 21 will be considered for openings on a rolling basis
🔹 Priority is given to students who applied by the initial deadline but were not originally selected

Spring 2026
🔹 Previously accepted 8th-grade students (now in 9th grade) make program placement selections with ACE Center Counselors

If you need assistance, please contact the ACE Center you are applying to.

Contact Information

ACE Center at Hermitage – 804.756.3020

Russell Lewis, Counseling Director – rwlewis@henrico.k12.va.us

ACE Center at Highland Springs – 804.328.4075

Paula Harris, Counseling Director – pmharris@henrico.k12.va.us

ACE Center at Virginia Randolph – 804.261.5090

Korey Lamb, Counseling Director – knlamb@henrico.k12.va.us

Here are some additonal links to help with more information:

ACE Center Presentation

ACE Center Video

Signs of Suicide Lessons

Signs of Suicide Lessons IMPORTANT INFO for families of sophomores!

The Hermitage High School Based Mental Health Team in collaboration with the Health and PE Department will present lessons on Signs of Suicide to all sophomores 11/18 and 11/19 through Health and PE 10 classes. All parents of sophomores should review the SOS STUDENT LETTER and PARENT OPT OUT LETTER found below, which share more about the program. The student letter will be shared by Health and PE 10 teachers in class and Schoology. Parents only need to return the OPT OUT letter with their child’s full name and signed to their Health and PE 10 teacher IF they are opting their child out of the program. 

Henrico HS SOS Student Letter 2025

SOS OPT OUT Parent Letter 2025

Please contact the school counseling office if your 10th grader does not have Health and PE 10 this school year and you would like for them to participate in OR OPT OUT of the lesson. Your child may also turn in the OPT OUT letter to school counseling. If the letter is received, we will not ask them to participate. 

All parents are encouraged to visit https://sossignsofsuicide.org/parent to learn about youth suicide prevention, warning signs, and how to talk to their child about mental health. 

If you are interested in learning more as a parent or caregiver, please view this handout Parent-Caregiver-Handout-2023.pdf(Spanish-Parent-Caregiver-Handout-2023.pdf) and/or the training at the link below. 

SOS Parent and Caregiver Training Slide Deck

Let your child’s school counselor know if you have any questions.