ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 24, 1995                   TAG: 9508250020
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-30   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL TO BEGIN SCEOND DECADE OF LEARNING

A regional school for gifted and academically talented students in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding counties will begin its second decade of operation in September.

The Roanoke Valley Governor's School for Science and Technology is a specialized center for the study of science, mathematics, computers and technology.

It is one of only 40 schools in the country that offer a highly competitive curriculum in science and mathematics for precollege students.

The school serves 200 high school students from seven participating school systems: Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke counties, and Roanoke and Salem.

The school was established in 1985 by the school divisions and the Virginia Department of Education.

Richard Shelly, director of the school, said that several new courses will be offered this year.

Students must apply for admission and are chosen competitively by independent selection and screening committees. The number of slots allocated to each school system is agreed on by them before the students are chosen.

Students attend half-day sessions during two semesters in the academic year. In addition, there is a January intersession, when students can spend full time on an elective course or compete a research project.

In each semester, students in all grades are required to take one mathematics and one science course. New students also take a full year of computer technology.

School officials said the science and mathematics curriculum is the most challenging in the region.

Students at the Governor's School spend a half-day at their home high school or in other specialized programs such as CITY School in Roanoke.

Shelly said the times for the morning and afternoon sessions have been revised slightly. The morning session will begin at 8:20 and end at 11. The afternoon session will begin at 12:25 p.m. and end at 3 p.m.

The Governor's School is located on the grounds of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke.

The school is funded by the state and tuition paid by the participating school systems. Students are not required to pay tuition.

The Governor's School does not provide transportation for students. Each school system has its own transportation policy. Some localities require the students to provide their own cars or make other arrangements to get to the school.

The school is overseen by a board that is composed of the superintendents of the participating school divisions.

The CITY School (Center for Instructionally Talented Youth) is another program for academically talented students.

The school, located in downtown Roanoke, provides motivated seniors from Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools advanced placement or honors seminars in English and U.S. government.

Students at CITY School receive comprehensive high school course work. They attend lectures by community leaders on topics ranging from community planning to folk music. They can also do internships in career exploration.



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