At the high school level gifted students self-select courses that meet their individual needs in terms of rigor, intensity, subject matter, and post-secondary plans. Gifted services in the high schools are provided via class options and include honors sections, Advanced Placement classes, Dual Enrollment, virtual learning, independent studies, mentorships and academic Governor’s School.  A gifted resource teacher is assigned to each high school to support students, teachers, and guidance counselors in serving gifted students. 

MCPS students are eligible to apply to two academic year governor's schools. Informational meetings will be held in January each year. 

The Southwest Virginia Governor's School serves students in the areas of math and science.  This school is housed at the New River Community College in Pulaski, VA.  Students are eligible to apply as sophomores or juniors and may  attend this school as juniors and/or seniors.  

Interested students speak to your school counselor AND complete this form. 

The New River Valley Governor's School for Arts and Humanities serves students in the areas of humanities and visual/performing arts. This school is house at Radford University. Students are eligible to apply as freshman and begin attending as sophomores. If you are interested in applying for this program, please speak to your school counselor AND complete this form.  

The application process for both programs occurs in  February/March of each year.  Please contact your school counselor for more information. 

Summer Residential Governor’s Schools provide high school juniors and seniors with intensive educational experiences in visual and performing arts; humanities; medicine and health sciences; mathematics, science, and technology; or through mentorships in marine science, or engineering.

Each Summer Residential Governor’s School focuses on one special area of interest. Students live on a college or university campus for up to four weeks each summer. During this time, students are 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 three mentorships, 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 students 24 hours a day, throughout the program.

Students are eligible to apply in their sophomore or junior year. For more information, please contact your school counselor.

The Governor's Summer Residential World Language Academies are three-week summer residential programs for rising eleventh- and twelfth-grade world language students in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Students live fully immersed in either French, German and Spanish; partially-immersion Japanese; or spend their time studying Latin.  Each Academy program is designed to provide a unique and exciting opportunity for outstanding students who are interested in pursuing language studies in an intensive environment. Each language Academy provides a curriculum that integrates classroom instruction with a wealth of co- and extracurricular activities. Students in these programs experience the language in a functional and meaningful way. 

Students are eligible to apply in their sophomore or junior year. For more information, please contact your school counselor.