Any Virginia gifted tenth- or eleventh-grade student may apply for the Summer Residential Governor's Schools. Applications are made available in October through a Superintendent's Memo, and copies are sent to high school guidance departments of public and private schools, as well as each school division's gifted education coordinator. Each school division has a specific number of nominations it may send to the Virginia Department of Education. Nominations may be made by teachers, guidance counselors, peers, or by the students themselves. A school or division selection committee chooses the nominees from each school or division and forwards the nominees to a state committee. Consideration is given to students' academic records, test scores, extra-curricular activities, honors, and awards, creativity, original essays, and teacher recommendations. Students applying for the Visual and Performing Arts Summer Residential Governor's School participate in a statewide adjudication where they audition or present portfolios for review before a pair of professionals in the specific arts field. Because of the limited number of residential placements available, not all students who are nominated by their schools can be accepted for participation.

Washington & Lee High School students may apply to attend the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School.  This is a highly competitive selection process, so great care should be taken in completing the application accurately and thoroughly.  Applications are generally submitted in the spring of a student’s freshman year.  Once accepted, students attend as sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Westmoreland County participates in the Northern Neck Summer Regional Governor’s School.  Identified gifted students in grades four through seven may apply.  This is a one-week enrichment program, generally offered the first week in August.  Information regarding the Summer 2012 program, including an application, will be mailed directly to identified gifted students and their parents when the information becomes available in the spring.  It will also be posted to this site.