Information about the 2010-2011 school year application process will be available soon.

2009 - 2010 Information Sessions and Open House

To learn more about the application process and the Specialty Centers of Henrico County please consider attending a Information Session. Information Sessions are held at four area high schools and provide a general overview, along with the opportunity to attend 3 smaller meetings of about 20 minutes about specific centers. Information Sessions will begin at 7pm at each of the following locations:

Varina High School - Tuesday October 13, 2009

Freeman High School - Wednesday October 14, 2009

Godwin High School - Thursday October 22, 2009

Tucker High School - Monday October 26, 2009

Open House

The Center for the Humanities will hold an Open House on Thursday Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. The Open House will be held at the Center which is located at Hermitage High School, 8301 Hungary Spring Road. This will be an opportunity for parents and students to meet current center faculty and students, and to learn more about the program.

At any time, for more information about the program please contact the center director.

Admission

Application

All Specialty Centers in Henrico County use the same application. The applications will be available online and from middle and high school guidance departments in late November.

For admission to the Center for the Humanities, students must submit a completed application packet, including letters of recommendation from English and Social Studies teachers, transcripts and completed forms, before the January 2010 deadline.

Assessment

All students applying to the Humanities Center should take the Reading and Writing section of the Specialty Center Assessment. Every student should take the Assessment at their home high school (the school they would be zoned to attend). The Reading and Writing section of the Assessment will be given at each high school from 9-10:30am. More information about the Assessment is in the application packet on page 13.

Selection Criteria

Rising ninth grade students are selected on a competitive basis that evaluates academic motivation; self-discipline; independent thinking; effective communication skills; an ability to work with others; an interest in history, literature, philosophy, and the arts; transcript; personal essay; teacher recommendations; and the Specialty Center Assessment. Applications are reviewed by an independent selection committee composed of teachers, administrators and counselors who give priority to students who demonstrate evidence of the above criteria.

Shadowing

Due to the small class size and the discussion-based nature of our courses, the shadowing program at the Center for the Humanities takes place after acceptance. Once students are notified of their acceptance to the program, families can call to arrange a day of shadowing (visiting the center for a day, hosted by a current student). This will give students an opportunity to make sure the Center for the Humanities is the right fit for them, before they notify Specialty Centers of their plans for the following year. After notification of acceptance to the program, please call the center director to schedule a day of shadowing. We have a limited number of slots available for shadowing which are open on a first come first served basis. Shadowing takes place after acceptance offers have been made.