What is a Specialty Center?

Henrico County Public Schools has several programs for high school students that allow them to focus on a specific area of interest while attending an academicaly rigorous college-preparatory program. Through a competitive application process, students resident anywhere in Henrico County, Virginia are able to attend the Center for the Humanities which is located at Hermitage High School.

What are the humanities?

The humanities are the study of history, literature, philosophy, the arts, and the various cultural, religious, and folk traditions – past and present – that define and express humanity. 

What is the Center for the Humanities?

The Humanities Center is one of the Specialty Centers of Henrico County. Our program provides students with an opportunity to pursue a rigorous interdisciplinary academic experience in the humanities while fulfilling graduation requirements for an advanced diploma with a Specialty Center seal. Our students thrive in our discussion based classes with academically focused peers, and because the center is located at Hermitage High School, students can also take advantage of all the sports, clubs, and resources of a large high school.

The History of the Center

The Center for the Humanities was founded in 1995, and is modeled after St. Johns College in Annapolis, Maryland where the Great Books are studied in small interdisciplinary class discussions.

New Initiatives at the Center

The following is a list of some of the new ideas and programs we are currently implementing at the Center for the Humanities. After 10 years as a specialty center, we are adding to our long tradition of academic excellence.

• The Global Curriculum Initiative seeks to provide students with exposure to and in-depth study of certain key global areas culturally, historically, economically, and politically. These new curriculum units will be formatted within our current academic program and will allow our students to become well-rounded global citizens active in their local communities
• The Institution of a Center Wide Focus each year on a relevant contemporary topic or theme designed to guide four socratic discussionsat each grade level and center activities for the year
• The designation of our 11th grade U.S. History and English courses as AP courses in light of their long standing academic intensity, allignment with the current AP curriculum, and our students strong performance on those AP exams
• The addition of center affiliated electives in AP Art History, AP Human Geography, and AP Psychology to the official Center for the Humanities academic program
• Senior Humanities Center Trip to New York City to study modern art and contemporary culture as part of the Level IV (12th grade) program
• Senior Independent Projects in the Humanities course as a culmination of their independent creative work in their humanities courses
• College Night at the Center for the Humanities and more thorough guidance through the college application process from the center faculty
• The Center for the Humanities has re-designed our community service requirement to be a more meaningful service-learning experience