Regional High School Programs

September 12th: HCPS Specialty Center & Regional Program Information Session at Highland Springs HS 11 am-2 pm.

September 24th: HCPS Specialty Center & Regional Program Information Session at JR Tucker HS 6:00-8:30 pm.

October 17th: Maggie Walker In-Person Information Forum at 1000 N. Lombardy St. Richmond, VA 23220; 1:00 pm.

Eighth-grade students are eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria:

1. Enrolled in Algebra I or a higher-level mathematics course for high school credit when they apply.
2. Have a B average on the core subjects for the seventh-grade year*

Eligible HCPS students will be contacted directly by the HCPS Gifted Programs Office in early October.  Other HCPS students interested in applying should contact their school counselor for more information.

*Students who do not have a B average but would like to be considered as an applicant due to special circumstances must see their HCPS school counselor by Oct. 15, 2026, to discuss a waiver form.

Only eligible eighth-grade HCPS students and their parents will have access to the online application. If you have questions about the application process, please consult your school counselor.

For additional information, visit the Maggie Walker Governor’s School website.

The Governor's School SchoolMint application link will be available to eligible HCPS students through Schoology beginning Oct. 1.Please note, the Specialty Center SchoolMint and Governor's School SchoolMint Application servers are two different links and logins.

The 2026-2027 HCPS MLWGS Application Information Packet provides students and families attending an HCPS middle school with comprehensive application information. It is a live document, and will be updated as necessary.

This packet includes:

1. An admissions handbook from Maggie Walker
2. Eligibility Information
3. The student application timeline*
4. Recommendation and assessment information
5. A student application checklist
6. Instructions for accessing the application
7. Rigor & GPA Calculation information
8. Scoring Information
9. Selection information

*The dates and information on Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School may differ from those on the HCPS Application Timeline and Protocols. Be sure to follow the HCPS Student Timeline within the Application Information Packet.

Application Packet

Selection Process

The HCPS Office of Gifted Programs administers MLWGS selection using the criteria and process established by the Regional Planning Committee. Seats are then allocated to HCPS applicants through the regional selection process approved by division leadership and the HCPS School Board. 

192= # of grades 9-12 HCPS slots approved by MLWGS Regional Board and HCPS School Board

35-60= range of available slots for incoming freshmen annually

To ensure regional representation, HCPS’s internal selection process consists of two phases. Henrico resident home-school and private school applicants will be considered in Phase Two of the selection process.

Phase One

1. The number of Phase One seats allocated per middle school is determined annually based on the total number of seats available in the rising freshman class. For the 2026-2027 application year, the top 3* qualifying applicants from each middle school will be offered admission (a total of 36 seats). 

1. Students are grouped by the middle school of current attendance (students attending HVA are grouped with their zoned middle school; IB, GYSA, and Center for Innovation students are grouped with the middle school they are currently attending).
2. Applicants are ranked numerically by their composite scores (refer to the Calculations & Scoring Information in Application Information Packet for details on how composite scores are calculated).
3. The top 3 qualifying applicants from each middle school are offered admission (a total of 36).

*The Phase One allocation per middle school is determined annually based on total seat availability and may change each year.

Phase Two

1. Remaining applicants, (including private and homeschool), are grouped into a single pool.
2. Applicants are ranked numerically by their composite scores.
3. Phase two slots are filled by numerical rank on the composite score from highest to lowest.

Waitlist

1. There are separate waitlists for Phase One (by middle school) and Phase Two (general pool) applicants. These waitlists are ranked according to composite scores. Waitlist numbers are not provided. 
2. Declined slots are filled from the corresponding waitlist to maintain the selection protocol. 
3. Students who accepted a Specialty Center seat are removed from the Maggie Walker waitlist after appeals/ final slot placements, allowing Specialty Centers to finalize their rosters (see date in Application Information Packet timeline). 
4. Though uncommon, unforeseen openings will be filled from a single rank-order waitlist comprised of non-specialty center students through the first semester of the 9th-grade school year.

Students living in Henrico County but not attending an HCPS middle school, but attending a Private School or Home School, please read the checklist below:

• STEP 1:  Read the eligibility document to determine eligibility.

*Students who do not have a B average but would like to be considered as an applicant due to special circumstances may provide a letter of explanation to the HCPS gifted specialist by 10/15.  Letters can be submitted to hcpsgifted@henrico.k12.va.us.

• STEP 2:  Download and carefully read the application information packet for private school/homeschool families. 
• STEP 3:  Submit a “Request for Private School Application” 

(Form Opens 10/1; Form Closes 11/18). The LAST Residency Verification appointment will be held on 11/19.
(You will need the email and phone number of the school registrar or secretary to complete the form.)

• STEP 4:  Review, print, and complete the Residency Verification Form.
  (This document outlines the required paperwork needed to obtain an application from HCPS.)
• STEP 5:  On your scheduled day and time, arrive at your appointment at 1001 N. Laburnum Ave. with the appropriate documents to receive access to the online application.

• How many available student slots for MLWGS does Henrico County Public Schools have?

HCPS has a total of 192 allocated student slots in grades 9-12 at MLWGS. The number of rising seniors, juniors and sophomores subtracted from the total number of HCPS student slots determines the number of entering freshmen. HCPS averages 35-60 slots each year. This number will vary as student enrollment fluctuates, and slots may be redistributed at the School Board’s discretion.

• Who determines the total number of MLWGS student slots allocated to Henrico County?

The MLWGS Regional Board and the HCPS School Board establish the number of slots allocated.

• What does waitlist status mean?

There are separate waitlists for Phase One (by middle school) and Phase Two (general pool) applicants. Declined slots are filled from the corresponding waitlist to maintain the selection protocol. Please review the Application Packet for important waitlist dates.

• If I’m waitlisted, can I find out my position on the waitlist?

No, unfortunately, waitlist positions are not disclosed due to the maintenance of multiple waitlists (Phase 1 & Phase 2) within the process.

• Do I need a special computer?

 MLWGS has transitioned to 1:1 Student Devices, students do not need to provide a computer.

• My student hasn’t received Schoology access for the MLWGS group–who can help?

The school counselor in your student's Middle School can help provide application and technical support for your student.

• If a student who is offered admission declines the offer, can the student enter MLWGS at a later time?

No, the available position will be offered to a student on the waitlist.

• May students reapply for admission?

No, applications are only accepted from a student during their eighth grade year according to the timeline stated in the Admissions Handbook.

• Where can I get information on bus transportation to MLWGS?

HCPS provides bus transportation to and from the MLWGS. Students offered admission will register and receive information through the HCPS Transportation Department.  More information can be found here.

• Who should I contact with questions about the admissions and selection process for HCPS specialty centers?

Please visit the comprehensive information available on the HCPS Specialty Center page.

• Where can I find more information about MLWGS?

The MLWGS website provides information on the opportunities offered at the school.

• How do private school students submit their applications?

Please see the above “Private & Homeschool Information" section.

• Are students' extracurricular activities and talents evaluated in the selection?

No, extracurricular activities are not included in the evaluation, scoring or selection process. The only items reviewed are those specific items which formulate the student composite score.

• I was accelerated, do I get extra rigor or GPA points?

No, you do not receive extra points for acceleration or taking advanced coursework like Early Bird. Please see Calculations & Scoring within the Application Packet for more information on how these calculations are obtained.

• Are SOL scores considered in the application process?

No, SOL scores are not a part of the composite score. Please review the Scoring Information section in the Application Packet to see the five items that make up a student composite score.

• What calendar do we follow if we attend Maggie Walker?

MLWGS students follow the Maggie Walker academic calendar. Transportation is provided to students on dates that Maggie Walker is in session. 

• Is it possible for MLWGS students to also attend a specialty center or ACE program?

No, MLWGS students can not participate in HCPS Specialty Center programming.

• For Recommendation A, does it have to be a world language/social studies teacher, or can it be any teacher from grades 7-8 who taught English, math, social studies, science or a world language? 

Recommendation A must be completed by a seventh or eighth grade English, math, science, social studies or world language teacher.   

• For teacher Recommendation B, should it be a middle school teacher? Or can it be any adult that is not a relative and knows the student's potential? 

Recommendation B must be from a teacher or other adult who is not a relative, who knows the student’s ability and potential for success. 

• How do families know if the recommendations have been filled out and turned in? 

Families may check Recommendation status in the SchoolMint platform. It is the student /family responsibility for following up with their selected individual. As a reminder it is critical that email addresses are entered accurately, as recommendations are auto-sent by the application system.

• If a current eighth grade student in HCPS completed seventh grade outside the U.S., how does it affect the assessment process?

Eligible students enrolled in HCPS for Grade 8 will follow the same application and assessment procedures. Transcripts will be reviewed based on completed coursework.

• What does the aptitude test consist of?

Please refer to the Admissions Handbook on the Maggie Walker website. This is the only information provided by MLWGS and HCPS regarding the assessment. 

• Is having a teacher as Recommendation B better than having another adult?

Both recommendation forms are scored equally.

• For the purpose of GPA calculation, what is the weight for A-, B-, etc.?

There are no point differences between + or - grades; for example, A+, A, A- all have a weight of 4.0. The GPA calculations are detailed further in the Application Information Packet.

• How many students from each school get into Maggie Walker's Governor's School?

Please refer to the Selection Process information in the current year Application Information Packet.

Additional Questions?
Use this form to submit questions not answered in the Application Information Packet or FAQ. We will update our website FAQ periodically. Some frequently asked questions will be addressed during our HCPS information session.