Applications and Forms

GHA State Deadline is March 5

The application process is two-pronged, and it includes Part I which is submitted on line  and Part II, a paper document that is completed as a pdf fillable form. 

All applications are submitted to the student's school by the date announced by the school counselor. A committee from each school reviews the applications and forwards them to the county coordinator.  A county-wide selection committee then selects one male and one female as superintendent's choices and submits names and applications of other worthy students to the statewide selection team. Because applications are reviewed at both the school and county levels, the local deadline may be considerably earlier than the state deadline.

 This page is still under construction. The 2020 classes as well as the principal and superintendent selection forms should be published by January 15. 

GHA 2021 Application, Part I
This section of the application, which will take about five minutes to complete, must be completed by the time you are to submit your application to the school counselor. 

GHA Application Part II --Part II of the application is a paper copy that will take some time to complete. Read the directions carefully.

Part II is to be submitted to your guidance counselor by the date set at the school. 

Class Descriptions  for 2020 The descriptions of the classes from 2020 can give you a hint of the kinds of courses that will be offered in 2021.

 Faculty applications are due February 1, 2021.

 Faculty Application 2021

There is no need for residential staff since the academy is being held virtually, but there will be a small number of positions for intern or activities managers. Applications will be available by February 1.

 

For schools and county coordinators

County coordinator responsibilities

1. The first thing the county coordinator should do is read through the entire website, looking for appropriate forms and making note of important information. For example, the Superintendent's Selection form is found in a link in item # 8 below.
2. County coordinators should contact each high school to let the counselor or principal know the central office due date. This includes both public and private schools.
3. Each county has the privilege of choosing one male and one female to attend GHA. If there are suitable applications from both genders, counties may NOT submit the names of two students of the same gender as superintendent's choices. On the other hand, those names and applications may be submitted for consideration in the statewide pool.
4. The county selection team shall consist of the superintendent's designee (usually the county coordinator), one teacher of honors or advanced classes from each represented high school in the district, a counselor, a teacher of gifted students, and a representative from career/technical education.
5. Plan your selection meeting early enough so that if school is cancelled you will still have time to reschedule and meet the deadline.
6. When selecting students, try to be equitable across schools unless there is a serious breach in the quality of applicants.
7. Check to see that the pages are stapled and ordered numerically, with the essay and transcript/test record at the end. Fasten with staples; do not send photographs; and do not put each application in a separate folder.
8. Submit names and applications postmarked by March 5 to Sherry Keffer, WVDE, Building 6, Room 221, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East; Charleston, WV 25305. The address is also on the bottom of the Superintendent's Selection Form.

Principal or counselor responsibilities

Inform all qualifying students of their eligibility. Speak with students about the merit of GHA. If a student from your school attended last year, have him/her speak to prospective students. Inform students that the application is available at  govschools.wv.gov, and guide them to it.

1. For students who do not have home Internet access, provide an opportunity for the student to complete the application using a school computer.
2. Set a due date for students to submit applications at the school level. Remember that the county must submit superintendent's selections and alternates to the state office no later than published deadline, so you must check with the county coordinator to see when he/she must have the applications from your school.
3. Be certain to include first-semester or first-term grades. If they have not been transcripted, a copy of the most current grade card will suffice.
4. Check to see that online application confirmation sheet is on top of the application.
5. Establish a selection committee composed of the principal or designee, a teacher of gifted or high level courses, the counselor, a technical education teacher, an alumnus of GHA if possible, and others at the discretion of the principal.
6. Meet with selection committee to review all applications and rank the recommended applications for the county selection team.
7. Send applications and rankings to county selection coordinator, using the Principal's Recommendation Form.  Check to see that the pages are stapled and ordered numerically, with the essay and transcript/test record at the end.
8. Fasten with STAPLES; do not send photographs; and do not put each application in a separate folder.

Principal's Selection Form 

Superintendent's Selection and Recommendation Form