Gifted Programs and Services

Gifted Resources K-8

Gifted programming in Henrico County Public Schools includes direct service for identified students in grades K-8, through resource services at the elementary level, and through Talented and Gifted (TAG) elective courses offered in middle school.

Gifted School Based / Zone Center Programs: 4th & 5th Grades

Henrico has three Zone Center Program sites serving 4th and 5th grade students that do not offer full time school based gifted services. The remaining 4th and 5th grade students identified in general intellectual ability (language arts and math) are served in centers located in 14 of our elementary buildings

Gifted Young Scholars Academy at Wilder Middle School

Secondary gifted programming includes an application and lottery based program for 6th-8th graders through the Gifted Young Scholars Academy (GYSA) at Wilder Middle School. To be eligible to apply for GYSA, students must be identified in general intellectual aptitude by the end of 4th grade, and be in good academic standing receiving an overall B average during their 4th and 5th grade years. Students must pass their SOL tests in both English/Language Arts and Mathematics in 4th and 5th grade. There are 100 seats available in the Gifted Young Scholars Academy. A lottery system will be utilized to select the students who will be offered a place in the program. Students must meet all of the criteria above to be entered into the lottery.

High School Summer Residential Governor’s School

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.

Center for the Arts: Visual and Performing Arts, Henrico High School

The Center for the Arts (CFA) serves secondary students in grades 9-12 who are gifted in visual and performing arts through the CFA Specialty Center program at Henrico High School. Students participate in a four year course of study in one CFA curriculum area: dance, musical theatre, theatre, or visual art.

Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School

The Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School is a regional high school program that hosts 180 Henrico students and provides comprehensive educational opportunities that advance gifted students’ understanding of world cultures and languages.