2. High School Gifted and Accelerated Programs (GAP) The Focus program on the high school level is different from what students experienced on the middle school. In high school, Focus transitions into GAP and is not a pull-out program since students’ high school courses should meet their academic needs. The role of the GAP teacher is to serve as a resource for students, teachers, and parents on the academic programs, enrichment activities, and college information available to students. Individual students should be proactive in how involved they wish to be in GAP.

3. Have you ever wished that you could study a topic of your own choosing? AnthropologyForensic SciencePsychology ZombiesEquine Studies Animal BehaviorJazz MusicAmish Culture PiratesPhotography Foreign LanguagesThe PyramidsCreative Writing ArtMusical Theater IS allows students to create their own plan of study on a topic of interest to them.

4. Independent Study In May of each year, students submit a proposal that includes why they want to study this topic, how they would proceed in a year long study (short- and long- term goals), the materials they would need, and how they can present their knowledge in a product by the end of the year. IS is a one-credit elective course with a Pass/Fail grade.

5. Independent Study IS students are assigned to one block with the GAP resource teacher and may work in other parts of the school building depending on the chosen topic. IS students schedule quarterly meetings with the GAP resource teacher to review their goals and objectives, to trouble-shoot, and to discuss further avenues of research. Currently, approximately 100 Stafford County high school students are completing an IS.

6. Independent Study Students must complete at least 150 hours of study time. Students are expected to be self- motivated and self-disciplined with an intense curiosity for learning. Ideally, students should connect with an expert in their field of study for mentorship support.

7. Independent Study Students

8. Virtual Virginia Online Courses Students may opt to enroll in a Virtual Virginia course. Among the 48 offered courses are AP classes in Art History, Biology, Calculus AB/BC, Chemistry, Chinese, Computer Science, English, European history, French, Government, Latin, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Physics, Psychology, Spanish, Statistics Other available classes: Chemistry, Chinese, Creative Writing, Earth Science, French, Pre-calculus, Spanish, World Mythology

9. Virtual Virginia Students

10. Virtual Virginia Online Courses Students should be recognized as Governor’s Early College Scholars (agree to complete an Advanced Studies Diploma with a Governor’s Seal; earn at least 15 transferrable college credits while enrolled in high school; apply and be accepted to a college or university). Students must have a 3.0 GPA and must provide two teacher recommendations. Because of the nature of the courses, students must be self-motivated and self-disciplined. Courses are graded by the online instructor and are tabulated within the students’ GPA. Students do not pay any AP testing costs. Generally, students are juniors or seniors. Currently, close to 100 students are enrolled in VV online courses.

11. Virtual Virginia Students

12. Enrichment Opportunities

13. Summer Residential Governor’s School Summer Residential Governor's School for the Arts, Humanities, Math, Science, and Technology, Agriculture, and mentorship programs and the Summer Immersion Language Academy Month-long summer programs held at various colleges or universities across the state. For sophomores and juniors Application process begins in the fall and selections are made in April Highly competitive; limited number of places Application process may involve auditions, writing samples, teacher recommendations, competitive academic record, statement of intent.

14. Fredericksburg Regional Governor’s School Short term summer program for ninth through eleventh grades. Applications available in April. Grades 9-11 may sign up for the Chemistry Lab or Forensic Science programs. Students work in teams to investigate analytical techniques used to identify unknown substances in the lab (college chemistry level). Grades 10 and 11 may sign up for one of the Mentorship programs. Students are paired with professional mentors on-the-job for two weeks.

15. Accelerated Courses

16. Commonwealth Governor's School Conceived as a community of learners, CGS offers a rigorous academic program for grades 9 through 12. Students begin the application process in January. This includes standardized test scores, teacher recommendations, evident academic success, a timed writing, and an interview. There are three sites in Stafford County: Colonial Forge High School, North Stafford High School, and Stafford High School. Students from Brooke Point and Mountain View travel from their base school to the CGS location. These sites are technologically connected to CGS sites in Spotsylvania County CGS offers only the core subjects—many of which are AP level. Students also complete a culminating project at the end of each year.

17. International Baccalaureate Mountain View and Brooke Point offer students the opportunity to earn an IB diploma or enroll in individual IB courses. Courses include the core areas and also several electives—foreign languages, art, theater, anthropology, psychology, business (MV), music(BP). Diploma candidates are required to complete a 4,000 word extended essay and at least 150 hours of service (CAS). Students are required to take end-of–course tests. Like Advanced Placement, students may earn college credit for successful course work. Teachers receive specialized training.

18. IB Class

19. Advanced Placement All of the high schools offer some number of Advanced Placement classes. These include courses in English, history, psychology, government, French, Spanish, calculus, human geography, chemistry, biology, Latin, physics, and computer science. Students take an end-of-course test to earn possible college credit. Teachers receive specialized training.

20. Colonial Forge, North Stafford, and Stafford High

21. C.L.A.S.S. Palmer Hayden Arts and Humanities Scholar Sir Isaac Newton Science and Math Scholar (STEM) James Farmer Global Studies Scholar Thomas Jefferson Linguistics Scholar EnglishScienceMathematics Social Studies World Languages Fine Arts

22. Aligned with the College Board’s nationwide Advanced Placement Program The Advanced Placement Distinguished Scholars program will offer 4 content specific areas for AP concentration APDS Advanced Placement Distinguished Scholars Global Studies STEM Arts and Humanities Linguistic Studies

23. Extracurricular Enrichment Activities Model UN National Honor Society Academic Team Literary Arts Magazine Young Democrats/Republicans Interact Foreign Language Clubs Mu Alpha Theta FBLA Art/Band/Chorus/Theater Journalism/newspaper

24. Other Enrichment Opportunities Destination Imagination Odyssey of the Mind Knowledge Masters Open Field Experiences American Legion Girls’ and Boys’ State

25. College Scholarships and Applications Check GAP resource teachers’ and school counselors’ Fusion pages for information about scholarship programs and college planning. These pages will also have dates posted for SAT, PSAT, and other standardized testing dates. GAP teachers often provide college and scholarship recommendations. Other academic and essay contests may be found on the Fusion pages.

26. GAP Resource Teachers Brooke Point—Julie Stemple-Hoover stemplehooverje@staffordschools.net Colonial Forge—Jessica Dieffenbacher dieffenbacherjm@staffordschools.net Mountain View—Greg Feducia feduciaga@staffordschools.net North Stafford—Feli Cardenas cardenasfh@staffordschools.net Stafford—Helga Purnell purnellhj@staffordschools.net