Southwest Virginia Governor's School

Procedure for Applying to the academic Year Governor's school program

Timeline

The entire application process for the Governor's School occurs during the student's tenth grade year.

Early september

Ninth and tenth grade students are notified of application requirements for the Governor's School via mail and through core subject area teacher. Specifically, students will be notified of math and Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) testing requirements for admission.

October

All tenth grade students intending to apply for the Governor's School take the PSAT.

NOVEMBER

Informational meetings are conducted between representatives of the Governor's School and interested students.

January or February

A half-day tour of the Governor's School is offered. Students have an opportunity to meet with teachers and complete a simple exercise in the computer lab.

february or march

Immediately following the tour, students must pick up an application from the guidance deaprtment at Pulaski County High School and sign for its receipt. There is a deadline of one (1) week to return the completed application to the Governor's School Liaison, who is a member of the guidance deaprtment at Pulaski County High School. Students must sign and date the application when they return it. A completed application consists of the Student Application, Student Record Form, School Recommendation Form, and three (3) Faculty Recommendation Forms. Any applications turned in after the deadline will not be accepted.

march

Once all applications are returned, the Pulaski County High School Governor's School Liaison will review each application, attach a high school transcript with relevant PSAT testing date and SOL scores, and complete the Candidate Rating Sheet for each applicant. Data are entered into a spreadsheet in which calculations are performed based on the criteria set by the Governor's School Selection Committee. Students are placed in rank order, from lowest to highest. The Liaison then forwards the applications, rating sheets, and spreadsheet with rankings to the Selection Committee. A selection committee is convened and reviews all applications.

Once the selection process is complete, the Selection Committee provides a list of selected students to the Governor's School Liaison. The number of students who attends the Governor's School each year is determined by the Pulaski County School Board, based on funds that are available. Offers of Admission and Acceptance Forms are immediately sent to selected students. Students have five (5) days to sign and return the Acceptance Form. The first alternate is sent an offer if one of the students selected initially declines the offer. Other individuals who are selected as alternates also receive a letter which details their status. Individuals who are not offered admission also receive notification. The offer to attend the Governor's School generall is for a closed, two-year program, with selection made from rising juniors; students who have attended a Go vernor's School in orther locationis and transfer to Pulaski County are considered for admission if the county cannot offer a comparable program for the at Pulaski County High School.