About the Governor's School @ Innovation Park
General Information
The Governor's School @ Innovation Park (GS@IP) is a partial-day Academic Year Governor's School program with a focus on Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. GS@IP serves the school divisions of Manassas City, Manassas Park City, and Prince William County and is housed on George Mason University Prince William Campus. Students attend science, mathematics, engineering, research, and computer science classes at GS@IP in the mornings then return to their base high schools in the afternoons to take courses in social studies, language arts, and electives as well as to participate in extracurricular activities.
GS@IP has been in operation since 2010 and serves 166 gifted and talented students from 15 high schools in the three participating school divisions. Most classes are dual enrollment options through George Mason University. GS@IP classes meet Monday through Friday from 7:30-11:15 a.m.
GS@IP has eight full-time faculty members, a counselor, a Director, and an Administrative Bookkeeper.
Watch a video overview of the Governor's School @ Innovation Park program.
Program Focus
The mission of The Governor's School @ Innovation Park is to engage students in rigorous academic study, challenge them to acquire knowledge, develop understanding, think reflectively, and take intellectual and creative risks in problem solving. The purpose of our program is to educate students in the related fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in order to prepare them to contribute to the global community of the 21st century. The vision shared by our faculty and participating school divisions is to allow students to encounter a range of opportunities encouraging intellectual and academic excellence.
Goals of the program
- To provide an integrated, problem-based exploration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics commensurate with the abilities of its students and based on the core, conceptual knowledge and skills of each area.
- To extend students' exploration and engagement into original research and application through mentorships and collaboration with experts in their selected fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
- To enrich students' interest in the problems facing Earth and its environment through support of their endeavors, respect for their discoveries and insights, and encouragement of their personal goals and inspirations in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Rigorous Academics
The Governor's School @ Innovation Park provides an alternative learning environment in a university-setting designed to meet the needs of academically talented and highly motivated learners. The STEM program provides a uniquely designed integrated science, math, engineering, and technology curriculum with real world research and application opportunities.
Students attending The Governor's School will be engaged in multiple opportunities to develop their leadership skills and potential by applying their intellectual design based on research into action proposals.
Students attending the partial-day program at The Governor's School will have opportunity to continue being involved in the social and extracurricular activities offered by their base schools. By providing a dual enrollment program, The Governor's School @ Innovation Park enables college-bound students to be challenged with college level content while earning both high school and college credits in science and math. Students will also be awarded opportunities to interact with science researchers and learn about possible career opportunities.
Course offerings below are all dual enrollment options through George Mason University with the exception of Inventions and Innovations:
Mathematics
- Pre-Calculus
- Honors Calculus I through III
- Linear Algebra
Science
- Biology I/II
- Chemistry I/II
- Physics I/II
- Microbiology/Anatomy
- Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
- Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
Engineering and Technology
- Introduction to Engineering
- Geomatics and Engineering
- Practicum in Engineering
- Statics
- Thermodynamics
- Computer Science I/II
- Inventions and Innovations
- Computing for Scientists
- Bioengineering
Research
- Research I/II
Unique Programs and Traditions
Students at GS@IP have the opportunity to choose a particular science strand so that they are able to gain college-level knowledge and experiences in their area of scientific interest, yet in an environment that supports differentiated instruction and risk-taking for gifted and talented students.
The research experience at GS@IP offers opportunities for students to explore their career interests and collaborate with experts from the field or industry. The location of GS@IP offers opportunities for our students to focus real-world research with possibilities for mentors from area engineering firms and scientists from the university.
Students also have multiple opportunities to showcase their research including at GS@IP's Annual Research Symposium held every May, Science Fairs, and Engineering Fairs.
GS@IP students also participate in multiple programs of their choice each year.
Read information about all 19 of Virginia's Academic Year Governor's Schools.
View a presentation about the Governor's School Program (PDF).
Watch a video overview of the Governor's School @ Innovation Park program.