The Chesapeake Public Schools interest forms and application for the 2026 Summer Residential Governor's School (SRGS) are now available! This exceptional opportunity provides current high school sophomores and juniors with an intensive, four-week educational experience in specialized areas of study, hosted on college campuses across Virginia.
What is the Summer Residential Governor's School?
The SRGS programs are sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and are designed to provide highly motivated students with in-depth, focused study in a field of interest. Students live on a college or university campus for up to four weeks, engaging in a variety of rigorous activities, including:
Classroom and laboratory work
Field studies and research
Individual and group projects and performances
Seminars with noted scholars and professionals
The experience is fully supervised by a director and student-life staff, ensuring a safe and enriching environment. Best of all, these programs are free for students!
Who is Eligible?
The SRGS programs are open to current 10th and 11th grade students who demonstrate a strong interest and intensive educational background in one of the following areas:
Visual and Performing Arts
Humanities
Medicine and Health Sciences
Mathematics, Science, and Technology
Mentorships in Marine Science or Engineering
Agriculture
Program Opportunities and Locations
Each program focuses on a distinct area of interest, often hosted by a different Virginia university or partner organization:
Humanities | Radford University
Program offerings:
Anthropology, economics, history, literature, philosophy, political science, and sociology.
Visual & Performing Arts | Radford University
Program offerings:
Instrumental music, vocal music, visual art, dance, or theater. Requires an audition.
Medicine & Health Sciences | Radford University & Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Sciences Careers (in Roanoke)
Program offerings:
Integrated study of medicine and health sciences for highly motivated science students.
Agriculture | Virginia Tech
Program offerings:
Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering, Animal Science, Food Science, and Plant Science.
Mathematics, Science, and Technology | University of Lynchburg
Program offerings:
Anatomy, astronomy, computer programming, geology, hydrology, physics, and upper-level mathematics.
Marine Science | VIMS, The College of William & Mary
Program offerings:
Coastal law, fisheries, marine resources management, and wetlands ecology. Requires prior research experience. Please note, this residential summer school program is hosted by the Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary and the students are housed at Christopher Newport University.
Engineering | Jefferson Lab Particle Accelerator (The College of William & Mary)
Program offerings:
Accelerator operation, computer science, electrical/mechanical engineering, materials science, and physics. Highly competitive, selection by mentors.
Application Timeline and Process
The application process for the 2026 Summer Residential Governor's Schools (SRGS) is now underway!
Please note: Due to the additional requirements for the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) program, the VPA timeline differs significantly from the Academic programs. Please follow the instructions for your desired track carefully.
1️⃣Phase 1: Indicate Interest (Mandatory Pre-Application)
Action Required: All students must submit the appropriate interest form below by Friday, November 7, 2025. This is a mandatory pre-application step to confirm your commitment.
About this phase:
By submitting an interest form, you are confirming:
You are prepared to complete the full application process.
You are available for the summer dates of your preferred program(s).
Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Interest Form
Students interested in VPA must act immediately! Submitting the VPA form is the first step toward the virtual adjudication process. Once you submit this, your name will be forwarded to Radford University on or before November 19, 2025, to initiate your state review.
Review and submit our district arts interest form on or before Friday, November 7, 2025!
Interest Form for Academic Programs
For all other programs—Humanities, Medicine & Health Sciences, Agriculture, Math/Science/Technology, Marine Science Mentorship, and Engineering Mentorship—please review and submit our district academic interest form on or before Friday, November 7, 2025!
2️⃣Phase 2A: SRGS Academic Programs - Complete Application
(for Humanities, Medicine, Agriculture, Math/Science/Tech, Marine Science, Engineering)
Action Required: Students must submit and complete the full application packet to their school’s SRGS counselor by Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Questions about the application should be directed to your school’s SRGS counselor.
Application documentation includes:
A resume
Two recommendations (letters)
Two original essays
Academic records (transcript/grades)
2️⃣Phase 2B: SRGS Visual and Performing Arts Adjudication and Application
(for Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, Visual Art, Dance, Theater)
Action Required: In addition to submitting applicant information, a resume, and two recommendations, VPA applicants will participate in a rigorous virtual adjudication process managed by Radford University via the Opus Platform.
Application documentation includes:
A resume
Two recommendations (letters)
Two original essays
Completion of the Virtual Adjudication process
Note: This adjudication is a rigorous process. For example, students applying to Visual Arts must submit a portfolio of 10 artifacts and two 20-minute videos demonstrating the student drawing specific items.
Imporant dates for the VPA Application process:
Radford University will contact nominees after November 19, 2025, with submission instructions.
Virtual Adjudication Window: Submissions are due between December 3, 2026, and January 14, 2026.
3️⃣Phase 3: District Review (February 2026)
About this phase:
Submitted student applications will be reviewed by the Chesapeake Public Schools District SRGS Selection Committee. Consideration is given to students’ academic records, test scores, extra-curricular activities, honors, awards, creativity, original essays, and teacher recommendations. The district committee will identify nominees from all district submitted applications for state review.
4️⃣Phase 4: State Review (March 2026)
About this phase:
The VDOE (Virginia Department of Education) selection committee will review all applications for student nominees to determine final admission decisions.
5️⃣Phase 5: Final Decisions & Notification (April 2026)
Students are notified of final admission decisions.
Learn More
If a student has questions about the Summer Residential Governor’s School, they should ask their school’s SRGS counselor in the school counseling office:
Deep Creek High - Darlene Jackson-Jones
Grassfield High - Baylor Lubelski
Great Bridge High - Pierre Durant
Hickory High - Stephanie Ruth
Indian River High - Timothy Hargrove
Oscar Smith High - Joanna Buonviri
Western Branch High - Dianna Ransom
To learn more about Summer Residential Governor’s Schools, please visit the VDOE website. This is a highly competitive and rewarding opportunity—we encourage all eligible and interested students to apply!