Since 1979, the Delaware Governor’s School for Excellence has offered rising high school juniors an exceptional opportunity to spend a week at the University of Delaware focused on academic, artistic and leadership development. This tuition-free program is sponsored by the Office of the Governor of the State of Delaware in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Education. Principals and/or school counselors manage the nomination process and should ensure all eligible 10th-grade students have access to apply.

Program Tracks

• Academic Program – approximately 70 students
• Visual Arts Program – 10 students
• Dance Program – 10 students
• Music Program – 40 students (choral, brass, percussion, piano, flute, woodwinds/reeds, strings)

Please review submission deadlines carefully. Schools can submit questions via the contact form at the bottom of this page.

About the Program

Governor’s School activities are designed to empower and motivate students to strive for personal excellence, broaden their horizons, interact with other talented students and professionals and explore ideas and philosophies. Opportunities include:

• Learning new approaches to sophisticated concepts such as censorship, leadership, diversity and global conditions.
• Investigating current issues from the perspective of government and law, the humanities, social sciences, science and the arts.
• Exploring options for personal growth and development.
• Working with premier faculty, professionals and peers in small master classes and diverse, interdisciplinary groups.

Participants will live in University of Delaware residence halls beginning Sunday evening. Programming runs Monday through Friday and concludes with a closing ceremony Friday evening. This tuition-free program is sponsored by the Office of the Governor of Delaware and the Delaware Department of Education. There is no cost to students or families. 

Who Can Apply

The Governor’s School is open to gifted academic and visual/performing arts students who reside in Delaware.

• Must attend a selected Delaware high school
• Must live in Delaware
• Must be selected by the high school
• Must currently be a sophomore (10th grade)

Academic students will explore topics in humanities, business and economics, leadership and the physical and social sciences, taught by University of Delaware faculty and instructors. Visual and performing arts students will engage in intensive study and practice in their chosen discipline, also led by University of Delaware faculty.

Students interested in the program must contact their high school principal or counselor for the application. Students with additional questions can complete the contact form below.

Questions?

Please use the form below to contact Governor’s School via email: