This document provides information about the Summer Residential Governor's School program. It is an intensive 4-week program where students live on a college campus and focus on an area of interest through classroom work, field studies, and projects. Current 10th and 11th grade students who are gifted and motivated can apply. The school pays for tuition and housing, while students provide their own spending money and transportation. Academic areas include STEM, humanities, and more. Visual and performing art areas include dance, music, theater and art. The application process involves interest forms, applications with essays and recommendations due in December. Selection decisions are made throughout the spring with notifications by April.
2. Summer Residential
Governorâs Schools
âș Intensive educational experiences
âș Focuses on one special area of interest
âș Live on a college campus for four weeks
âș Involvement in classroom and laboratory work, field
studies, research, individual and group
projects/performances, and seminars with noted
scholars, visiting artists and other professionals
3. Selection Criteria
âș Current 10th and 11th grade students
âș Identified as gifted
âș Able, motivated and mature
âș Completion of application process by deadlines
indicated
âș Up to four week commitment (July)
âș Strong teacher recommendations
4. Program Costs
âș Tuition, room and board are paid for by FCPS
âș Students must provide own spending money
(approximately $40-50 a week)
âș Students must provide their own transportation to and
from the program
5. 2021 Governorâs School
Programs
Academic
âș Agriculture
âș Humanities
âș Mathematics, Science &
Technology
âș Medicine & Health
Sciences
âș Engineering
âș Marine Science
Visual & Performing Arts
âș Dance
âș Instrumental Music
âș Vocal Music
âș Theatre
âș Visual Arts
6. Next Steps
âș Have a discussion with your parents
âș Would you be a good fit for the program?
âș Access Governorâs School information on the West
Potomac High School website
âș Complete the interest form by the deadline of
November 9, 2021
âș Students MUST complete the interest form
by the deadline in order to apply for
Governorâs School
7. Interest Forms: Due Nov. 9
âș Students should NOT use their FCPS Google Apps email.
Use a personal email address.
âș Academics Interest Form:
âș https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSKSJ7WDE
GOXTNwL33DXfFzJ6n03IFFuSRASb6IRjiiUIf-A/viewform
âș Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) Interest Form:
âș https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceSEhIo
TuvYo2EwbScfhJI1VqRVCs3YamYSMfMSoXMO_CZjQ/vi
ewform
8. Application Process
âș Fill out, print and deliver the appropriate application
and letters of recommendation to Mr. Shapiro or Ms.
Bluestein by:
âș December 7, 2021 for Academics and Mentorships
âș January 28, 2022 for Visual and Performing Arts
âș No LATE applications will be accepted
âș Request letters of recommendation (EARLY)
âș Specific format (Refer to online document for links, 2021
Virginia Summer Governorâs School)
âș Teacher scales and recommendations are rated â both should
be TYPED!
9. Important Factors
âș Career Highlights
âș Activities, research and honors
âș Rating scale for career highlights
âș Academic Essay
âș Indicate your passion/desire to pursue in college
âș Have parents/teacher review before submitting
âș No essay needed for VPA
âș Standardized Test Scores (Two)
âș PSAT, SAT, ACT, CogAT, and/or NNAT
âș GPA
âș Course Difficulty
10. Important Factors
âș Full Name
âș Ensure that it is located in the top right hand corner of
each page of your application
âș Black Ink
âș For student and parent initials
âș Request that your letters of recommendation to be
typed and placed on letterhead
âș Current and/or previous teacher who can speak to your
high level of academic rigor
âș Connect to the field in which you are applying
11. Timeline
âș Academics Application - December 2021
âș WPHS committee will review application packets and narrow
candidate pools to school-based quotas
âș VPA Application - December 2021
âș Students applying for Visual and Performing Arts are notified of
adjudication appointments by the Fine Arts Office for January
8, 2021 at Briar Woods High School
12. Timeline
âș January 2022
âș Mr. Shapiro and Ms. Bluestein will submit the Academics
applications of students moving forward in the process to
the AAP Office
âș Students not moving forward will be notified by Mr. Shapiro
and Ms. Bluestein in writing
âș February 2022
âș Mr. Shapiro and Ms. Bluestein will then submit the Visual
and Performing Arts applications of students moving
forward in the process to the AAP Office
13. Timeline
âș March 2022
âș Students will be notified if NOT selected (state level)
âș April 2022
âș Virginia Department of Education in Richmond determines
the final selection and will notify students of their final
status
âș Strength of applicant pool
âș School division ranking
âș Needs of program indicated
âș No student is guaranteed acceptance to Governorâs
School
14. Contact Information
Mr. Michael Shapiro
School Counselor
mrshapiro@fcps.edu
Ms. Stephanie Bluestein
School Counselor
smbluestein@fcps.edu
FCPS website for Governorâs School:
https://www.fcps.edu/node/32439
Thank you for your time!
