Commonwealth Governor's School

Commonwealth Governor's School
Location
Fredericksburg, Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, King George County, Virginia, United States
Information
Type	Magnet school
Established	1998
Grades	9-12
Number of students	423
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 based on a school-within-a-school model. The CGS program uses 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 academics. Admissions are competitive (involving, among other things, a timed essay, an interview, and teacher recommendations), and students are selected from Spotsylvania, King George, and Stafford Counties. Students may apply for admission for all grades 9 through 12.

Program Structure

Enrolled students take all of their core classes at one of the five Governor's School sites. (Spotsylvania High School, Riverbend High School, Colonial Forge High School, Stafford Senior 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 four courses. [1] However, they are considered students of their neighborhood high schools where they take their non-core courses. Ultimately, students graduate from their "base" school with special recognition for completing the Governor's School curriculum.

The curriculum is specifically integrated within core classes and involves tele-broadcasting technology between Commonwealth Governor's School sites.[2]

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.[3]

Curriculum

Ninth Grade: Honors English 9, Honors Algebra II, Honors Earth Science, Advanced Placement European History

Tenth Grade: Honors English 10, Honors Math Analysis with Discrete Topics -or- Honors Geometry with Trigonometry, Dual Enrollment 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 [4]

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.

External links

• Official website