Specialty Centers

HCPS Grade 8  Student Applicant Process

Henrico Resident Non-HCPS Student Applicant Process

Specialty Center Information Sessions
(All sessions start at 7 p.m.)

Mills Godwin High School
Sept. 25, 2019

Highland Springs High School
Oct. 2, 2019

Glen Allen High School
Oct. 10, 2019

Varina High School
Oct. 15, 2019

Specialty Center Shadowing Information
Please contact the specialty center directly to schedule your tour or appointment.

The Advanced Career Education Center at Hermitage
Oct. 21, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Junior Achievement Building at Libbie Mill Library                                         

The Advanced Career Education Center at Highland Springs
Oct. 21, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Junior Achievement Building at Libbie Mill Library

International Baccalaureate Middle Years/Diploma Programs
Oct. 24, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Henrico High School auditorium

Center for Engineering
Oct. 29, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Highland Springs High School auditorium

Center for Education and Human Development
Nov. 6, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Glen Allen High School auditorium

International Baccalaureate Middle Years/Diploma Programs
Nov. 7, 2019 – 7 p.m.
J.R. Tucker High School auditorium

Center for Communications and Media Relations
Nov. 12, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Center for Communications and Media Relations at Varina High School

Advance College Academy, Business Administration                  
Nov. 13, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Highland Springs High School auditorium

Center for Humanities
Nov. 14, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Hermitage High School auditorium

Center for the Arts
Nov. 18, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Henrico High School auditorium

Center for Spanish Language and Global Citizenship
Nov. 19, 2019 – 7 p.m.
J.R. Tucker High School auditorium

Todd A. Phillips Center for Medical Science
Nov. 25, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Mills Godwin High School (Mac Damron Theatre)

Center for Leadership Government and Global Economics
Dec. 2, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Douglas S. Freeman High School

Advance College Academy Social Sciences
Dec. 3, 2019 – 7 p.m.
J.R. Tucker High School auditorium

Center for Information Technology
Dec. 4, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Deep Run High School

Nov. 18, 2019: Application available online.

Nov. 18, 2019: Private School testing registration opens.

Jan. 17, 2020: Application deadline for students.

Jan. 13, 2020: Private school testing registration deadline.

Jan. 24, 2020: Middle School counselor deadline (internal) for finalizing submissions to high school programs.

March 6, 2020: Students get online access to check application status/acceptance.

March 20, 2020: Deadline for applicants to declare intent or accept waitlist offers online. Students may accept one center and one waitlist, and may remain on one waitlist until March 27 at 4 p.m.

March 27, 2020: All students offered a spot from a waitlist must inform specialty center chairs of their intent to accept an offer of admission.

April 17, 2020: All applicant standings finalized.

Online Application (HCPS Grade 8 students only)

Private School Students Online Application

ACE Center Class of 2023 Application 

Private School/Home School Student Testing Information

All eighth-graders in Henrico County applying for a specialty center must take the Direct Writing HAT and NWEA test in language arts and math in the fall. These assessments will be used as criteria for specialty center admissions. The HAT and NWEA test sessions will be offered in January to any Henrico resident who does not attend an HCPS middle school.

Nov. 18, 2019 – Private school testing registration will open
Jan. 13, 2020 – Private school testing registration deadline

Private school/home school testing dates:

NWEA Reading & Math Tests
Dec. 3, 2019 at Eastern Henrico Government Center (9 a.m.)
Dec. 4, 2019 at Eastern Henrico Government Center (9 a.m.)
Jan. 14, 2020 at Eastern Henrico Government Center (2 p.m.)

HATS Test
Jan. 22, 2020 at Eastern Henrico Government Center (9-10:30 a.m.; or 1:30-3 p.m.)
Jan. 23, 2020 at Eastern Henrico Government Center (9-10:30 a.m. or 1:30-3 p.m.)