Commonwealth Governor's School
Coordinates: 38°17′42″N 77°34′32″W / 38.2951°N 77.5755°W
| Commonwealth Governor's School | |
|---|---|
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| Location | |
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Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, King George County, Caroline County, Virginia United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Magnet school |
| Established | 1998 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Number of students | 420 |
| Website | Commonwealth Governor's School |
The Commonwealth Governor's School (abbreviated CGS) is one of 18 magnet Governor's Schools in Virginia. The Commonwealth Governor's School is a half-day program for gifted and highly-motivated students based on a school-within-a-school model. The CGS program relies on a rigorous academic program, real-time interactive audio/visual broadcasts, field trips, and a family-like team environment to challenge students and instill lifelong habits such as leadership and academic excellence. Admissions are competitive (involving among other things, a timed essay, an interview, a review of academic history and teacher recommendations), and students are selected from Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, and King George counties. Students may apply for admission for all grades 9 through 12.
Program Structure
Enrolled students take all of their core academic classes at one of the six Governor's School sites. (Spotsylvania High School, Riverbend High School, Colonial Forge High School, Stafford Senior High School, King George High School, and North Stafford High School) Students who are not based at a school with a CGS site are bused to a site for these core courses. However, they are considered students of their neighborhood high schools where they take their non-core elective courses. Ultimately, students graduate from their "base" school with special recognition for completing the Governor's School program.
The curriculum is specifically integrated within core classes and involves tele-broadcasting technology between Commonwealth Governor's School sites.
Sylvia Wadsworth was the first director of the Commonwealth Governor's School, retiring from that position in 2005. Dr. David Baker took over the post after her departure. On May 19, 2010, Merri Kae VanderPloeg was named the new director.
Curriculum
Ninth Grade: Honors English 9, Honors Algebra II, Advanced Placement Environmental Science, Advanced Placement European History
Tenth Grade: Honors English 10, Honors Math Analysis with Discrete Topics -or- Honors Geometry with Trigonometry, Advanced Placement Biology with Environmental Emphasis, Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics
Eleventh Grade: Advanced Placement English Language and Composition, Advanced Placement Calculus BC -or- Honors Math Analysis with Discrete Topics, Dual Enrollment Chemistry, Advanced Placement United States History
Twelfth Grade Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition, Advanced Placement Statistics -or- Advanced Placement Calculus BC, Advanced Placement Physics B, Advanced Placement Human Geography
Culminating
As a part of the CGS program, students are required to complete a year-long research project to count as final exam grades in all core courses for each of the four years of the program. Students are guided through this process by their teachers and must give a presentation and create a "product" at the end of the year. Seniors are required to meet with an "expert" in the relevant field, who guides them through their research during the year, and students must present to their experts at the end of the year. Seniors must also present at some public forum at the end of the year. Projects are proposed by the students and approved by the teachers at the beginning of each academic year.