Summer Regional Governor's Schools

Up to twenty Summer Regional Governor's Schools are in operation throughout the state. The Summer Regional Governor's Schools exist in a variety of formats. Most often, groups of school divisions design these programs to meet the needs of their local gifted elementary and middle school students. These schools provide exciting opportunities in the arts, sciences, and humanities. The Department of Education approves each Summer Regional Governor's School and evaluates each program as funding permits.

Summer Regional Governor's Schools typically are housed at a public school or on the campus of a college, community college, or university. The lengths of programs vary, with some lasting a week or less while others may last four or more weeks. Most students return to their homes at the end of each day's activities, however some programs may be residential.

Gifted students may apply for the regional summer school in their area. The Summer Regional Governor's School director and the planning committee with representatives from the participating school divisions at each regional site establish nomination and selection procedures. Program topics and grade levels vary among the sites and change from year to year in response to annual local evaluations and changing concerns in the localities sponsoring the Summer Regional Governor's Schools.

1.  Appalachian Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus: Arts and Sciences
Director: Jason Morris, jason.morris@wythek12.org
Location: Wytheville Community College
Dates: July 13 -17, 2026
Grades Served: rising 10-12
Participating School Divisions: Bland, Carrol, Galax, Grayson, Smyth, Wythe

2.  Blue Ridge Environmental Studies Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus: Environmental Studies
Director: Amanda Harrington
Location: Signal Knob Middle School
Dates: June 15 - 25, 2026
Grades Served: 5-8
Participating School Divisions: Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren, Winchester 

3.  Converge Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus: Interdisciplinary Project-Based Learning
Director:  NaKita Lee, nlee@gsgis.k12.va.us 
Location: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
Dates: July 20 - 23, 2026
Grades Served: 7- 9
Participating School Divisions: Colonial Heights, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Hopewell, King and Queen, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George, Richmond City

4.  Eastern Shore Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus: Forensics Science 
Director: Teresa Ibarra, Teresa.Ibarra@accomack.k12.va.us
Location: Nandua High School
Dates: July 6-17, 2026
Grades Served:  rising 6-8
Participating School Divisions: Accomack,  Broadwater Academy, Northampton

5.  Fredericksburg Summer Regional Governor’s School

Program Focus: Technology and Science
Director: Rebecca Slominski,  slominskirw@staffordschools.net  
Location: James Monroe High School
Dates: June 8–18, 2026
Grades Served: 6-11
Participating School Divisions: Caroline, Fredericksburg, King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford

6.  Hanover Summer Regional Governor’s School for Career and Technical Advancement

Program Focus: Career & Technical Education
Director: Ben Saunders, BSaunders@hcps.edu
Location: Randolph-Macon College
Dates: July 9–18, 2026
Grades Served: 11-12
Participating School Divisions: Region 1 and Region 3

7.  Meherrin Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus: Geology, Oceanography, Environmental Science, & Space Exploration
Director: Gail Staton, gstaton@gcps1.com
Location: Greensville County High School
Dates: June 15 - 25, 2026
Grades Served: 5 - 7
Participating School Divisions: Brunswick Academy, Brunswick, Greensville, Mecklenburg, Southampton Academy, Sussex

8.  Middle Peninsula Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus: Project-based Learning
Director: Adrienne Barker, AdrienneBarker@gmail.com
Location: Mathews Elementary School
Dates: June 22–26, 2026
Grades Served: rising 4 - 8
Participating School Divisions: Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, West Point

9.  Mountain Empire Community College's Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus: Career Exploration and Degree Attainment
Director: Angie Lester, ALester@mecc.edu
Location: Mountain Empire Community College
Dates:  May 26 - July 29, 2026
Grades Served:  rising 10-12
Participating School Divisions: Dickenson, Lee, Scott, Wise, Norton

10.  Northern Neck Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus:  Humanities and Arts
Director:  Amanda Preston, apreston@cbschools.net
Location: Northern Neck Technical Center
Dates: June 1 -5, 2026
Grades Served: 4 - 7
Participating School Divisions: Colonial Beach, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond County, Westmoreland

11.  PAVAN Summer Regional Governor's School for the Arts

Program Focus: Visual & Performing Arts
Director: AJ Van Zandt,  PavanSA@gmail.com
Location: Sherando High School
Dates: July 6 –17, 2026
Grades Served:  rising 9-12
Participating School Divisions: Frederick, Loudoun, Warren

12.  Piedmont Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus: STEAM
Director: Cedric J. Hairston,  Cedric.Hairston@pcs.k12.va.us
Location: Chatham High School
Dates: June 15 - 25, 2026
Grades Served: 4-7
Participating School Divisions: Bedford, Campbell, Danville , Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Martinsville, Pittsylvania

13. Reflections Summer Regional Governor's School for Central Virginia

Program Focus: Visual Arts
Director: Aaron Eichorst, Eichora1@charlottesvilleschools.org 
Location: Charlottesville High School
Dates: June 8 - 24, 2026
Grades Served: 6-8
Participating School Divisions: Albemarle, Charlottesville, Greene and Nelson

14. Southside Summer Regional Governor’s School

Program Focus: Health Sciences 
Director: Paula Leach, leachpk@longwood.edu 
Location: Longwood University
Dates: June 8 – 12, 2026
Grades Served:  8-10 
Participating School Divisions: Amelia, Buckingham, Cumberland, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Prince Edward, Nottoway

15. Southwest Virginia Community College's Summer Regional Governor's School for Science and Technology

Program Focus: Engineering and Cybersecurity
Director: Margaret Dye, Margaret.Dye@sw.edu
Location: Southwest Virginia Community College
Dates: July 13 – 31, 2026
Grades Served: 11-12
Participating School Divisions: Tazewell, Russell, Buchanan, and Dickenson (partial)

16. SummerQuest! 2026 Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus: Humanities, Math, Technology, & Science
Director: Tiffany Richtarski,  tiffany.richtarski@fcps1.org
Location: Emerald Hill Elementary School
Dates: July 15 - 25, 2026
Grades Served:  6-8
Participating School Divisions: Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock

17. UVA Wise Summer Regional Governor's School in STEM-H

Program Focus: Natural Sciences
Director: Terri Brown, tlb9fd@uvawise.edu
Location: Breaks Interstate Park, UVA Wise Campus
Dates: June 7 –21, 2026
Grades Served: 10-12 
Participating School Divisions: Bland, Bristol, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Galax, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Norton, Patrick, Pulaski, Radford, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe

18.  Valley Ridge Summer Regional Governor's School

Program Focus: Journalism
Director: Valerie Kibler, VKibler@harrisonburg.k12.va.us
Location: James Madison University
Dates: July 19 - 22, 2026
Grades Served: rising 7 - 9
Participating School Divisions: Augusta, Bath, Harrisonburg, Highland, Lexington, Page, Rockbridge, Rockingham & Shenandoah, Staunton, Waynesboro