This is a response from my sister who lives in the Richmond area. She said you may email her with more specific questions if you would like, so please send me a PM if you want me to put you in touch with her!!
Maggie Walker's Governor's School is a regional school for the gifted, and students are selected from various school systems in the region to attend. Each school district has a certain number of slots available for freshman/transfer students, depending on two factors: 1) the size of the school system, and 2) the number of anticipated graduates in the senior class (which determines the number of slots from each school system). It is my understanding that school systems pay for the number of slots; therefore, larger counties generally have more slots. Henrico County and Chesterfield County has more slots for students at MWGS than Hanover County, for example. I am also guessing that transfer students must rely on available openings in the appropriate grade.
My son has been enrolled in the gifted program in Hanover County since 1st grade. He did not get into Maggie Walker, but we are extremely pleased with the accelerated programs offered at Hanover High School, which include AP and IB programs. They also offer dual enrollment classes with local colleges.
Although I am partial to Hanover County, Henrico County also has excellent schools (especially in the west end of the county). We have lived in Hanover for 13 years, but we have lived previously in Henrico. I taught in Henrico County for two years, but we moved to Hanover BECAUSE of the school system. In my opinion, Hanover excels in providing quality education, including the advanced levels.
