History
The Academy at Virginia Randolph is named for Virginia Estelle Randolph. Ms. Randolph started teaching in 1908 at the site where the current Virginia Randolph Museum and The Academy at Virginia Randolph reside on Mountain Road. The current building was not in existence in the early 1900’s, but the site has been the home of a series of African-American schools, the first being the old Mountain Road School. It was during this time period that the works of Ms. Randolph began to attract the attention of other educational communities for her work with vocational education.
The old Mountain Road School was typical for African-American schools of this time period. It was a basic one-room structure that sat on a patch of cleared ground with very few amenities. The curriculum of the African-American schools was largely left to the individual teachers.
Visit the following sites to learn more about Ms. Randolph’s educational legacy:
Library of Virginia, Women in History
Our Programs
The Academy at Virginia Randolph (AVR) is a high school program that provides an alternative approach to education. This program is designed for HCPS students who want or need an educational setting that is personalized and engaging. Along with traditional core content classes, AVR offers twelve Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that provide our students with the necessary skills for higher education or the work-force. Students have the opportunity to earn both a High School Diploma and a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certificate.
Our Program for Academic and Career Empowerment (PACE) offers a hybrid of middle and high school coursework opportunities for eighth graders. Students are provided with an environment where each and every student is given the attention necessary to achieve his/her individual success, exposure to several vocational programs, and an instructional program that promotes twenty first century readiness.
How can I apply?
There is an application process that must be submitted by the home school’s counselor in order to be considered for enrollment to either PACE or AVR.
What separates us from a comprehensive high school?
At AVR, we offer smaller class sizes than you might find in a comprehensive high school. This allows teachers to provide instruction that is more individualized to the student’s needs. Further, this also allows students and teachers to form a positive and professional relationship that increases student interest in learning.
We also offer twelve vocational programs that provides students the necessary skills to be independent and positive contributors of society.
AVR and PACE, in partnership with a supportive community, provides an outstanding and intensive mentoring program that exposes students to positive relationships and experiences.
Although we do not offer VHSL athletics on our campus, students may participate in athletics at their designated home school. Student-athletes must meet the same eligibility requirements as all other HCPS students.