View source for Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts and Technology

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2021}}
 
{{Infobox school
 | name                    = Appomattox  Regional Governor's School for the Arts and Technology
 | image                   = ARGS_Sign.jpg
 | imagesize               = 175px
 | motto                   = Create. Lead. Inspire. Achieve.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.args.us/1/Home|title = Home - SchoolPointe Template}}</ref>
 | motto_translation       = 
 | streetaddress           = 512 West Washington Street
 | city                    = [[Petersburg, Virginia|Petersburg]]
 | state                   = [[Virginia]]
 | zipcode                 = 23803
 | country                 = United States
 | coordinates             = {{coord|37|13|32|N|77|24|41|W|type:edu|display=inline, title}}
 | url                     = {{URL|http://www.args.us/}}
 | district                = 
 | affiliation             = 
 | superintendent          = 
 | trustee                 = Chesterfield County
 | principal               = Meagan Tenia <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.args.us/staff/42|title = Dr. Meagan Tenia - Appomattox Regional Governor's School}}</ref>
 | principal_label         = Executive Director
 | staff                   = 
 | fundingtype             = [[Public school (government funded)|Public]]
 | schooltype              = [[High school#United States|Magnet high school]]
 | grades                  = 9–12
 | language                = [[American English|English]]
 | campus                  = Urban, Historic
 | mascot                  = Dragon (Argy D'Dragono)
 | colors                  = {{Color box|green|border=darkgray}} Hunter Green, {{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Gold and {{Color box|800020|border=darkgray}} Burgundy
 | founded                 = September 7, 1999
 | enrollment              = 350 to 380 <ref name="MLWG01">[https://www.args.us/Content2/about-args "Why choose ARGS?"] ''Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts And Technology''. Retrieved on 2021-10-23.</ref>
 | enrollment_as_of        = 
 | free_label_1            = Focus Areas
 | free_1                  = Dance, Literary Arts, Instrumental and Vocal Music, Musical Theatre, Theatre, Technical Theatre, Technology, Visual Arts
 | free_label_2            = 
 | free_2                  = 
 | free_label_3            = 
 | free_3                  = 
 | box_width               = 25em
}}

The '''Appomattox''' '''Regional Governor's School for the Arts and Technology''' (locally and colloquially sometimes known as ARGS,  Appomattox, or the Governor's School) is a public regional [[magnet school|magnet high school]] in downtown [[Petersburg, Virginia|Petersburg]], [[Virginia]], United States. One of 18 Virginia [[Governor's Schools (Virginia)|Governor's Schools]], it draws students from 14 localities: [[Chesterfield County, Virginia|Chesterfield]], [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Petersburg, Virginia|Petersburg]], [[Dinwiddie, Virginia|Dinwiddie]], [[Colonial Heights, Virginia|Colonial Heights]], [[Hopewell, Virginia|Hopewell]], [[Prince George County, Virginia|Prince George]], [[Powhatan County, Virginia|Powhatan]], [[Sussex County, Virginia|Sussex]], [[Surry County, Virginia|Surry]], [[Charles City, Virginia|Charles City]], [[Amelia County, Virginia|Amelia]], [[Southampton, Virginia|Southampton]], and [[Franklin, Virginia|Franklin City]].

==Organization==
Formerly fiscally run by the [[Petersburg, Virginia|Petersburg]] school district, ARGS is now under the fiscal control of [[Chesterfield County, Virginia|Chesterfield County]]. It receives approximately $7000 for each student from their home districts. The other primary sources of funding are private grants, federal grants, state money, and individual donations. The school has a Governing Board, composed of representatives or [[Superintendent (education)|superintendents]] from each participating district, that functions in much the same role as a school board but also rules on admissions and other school-specific issues.

==History==
Its official opening as the Petersburg high school, slated for 1918, was postponed and was tasked as an auxiliary morgue during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. The school closed in 1974 and sat unused from the mid-1980s until it was extensively renovated and opened as the Appomattox Regional Governor's School, located at 512 W. Washington Street in downtown [[Petersburg, Virginia]].

The building first opened its doors as ARGS on Tuesday, September 7, 1999. For the first operating year, the school was home to nearly 90 students in the ninth and tenth grades. Currently the school serves approximately 350 students in grades 9–12, with an ever-increasing student population.

==Academics==
Once accepted into the school, students must maintain a [[GPA]] of 2.5 and conform to all of the standards of the regional board. The student is required to maintain good academic standing and may remain in the school as long as they reside in a participating school district and funding school. The school also teaches dual enrollment.

===Specialized classes===
In addition to the common core classes, ARGS offers specific "Courses" in specialized classes for a student's focus area. These include:
* '''Performing Arts''': [[musical theatre]], [[theatre|theatre arts]], [[stagecraft|technical theatre]], [[modern dance]], [[jazz dance]], [[ballet]], [[vocal music]], [[music|instrumental music]], and [[piano performance]].
* '''Visual Arts''': [[sculpture]], [[painting]], [[drawing]], [[graphic design]], [[photography]], and [[filmmaking|film studies]].
* '''Literary Arts''': [[poetry]], [[fiction]], and [[non-fiction]].
* '''Technology''': [[computer programming]] and [[engineering]].

==Athletics==
ARGS offers its students seven sports with nine teams. Fall sports include: golf (coed), volleyball (girls), and cross country (girls/boys). Winter sports are basketball (girls/boys) and cheerleading (coed). ARGS offers two spring sports: soccer (coed) and tennis (girls/boys). ARGS is a Virginia 1-A school. Part of the Tri-Rivers District, ARGS competes in conference 41 eastern region.

==Selection process==
All students who are accepted into ARGS are required to have at least a B average in the seventh grade. They are also required to have completed [[Algebra|Algebra I]] by their ninth-grade year although occasionally exceptions will be made and an Algebra course outside of school will be assigned. It is highly recommended that applicants have completed a course in [[Dance]], [[Art]], and/or [[Music]], [[Computer Science|Basic Computer Science]], and a [[Foreign Language]]. Students are required to apply and go through an adjudication process. This process consists of an interview with the department head of the focus area in which the student is applying and possibly an audition, depending on the department.

==ARGS Residency==
The Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the arts and technology offers a singular opportunity to emerging and established writers a one-of-a-kind experience through ''The Alumni House''.

== Notable Alumni ==
*[[Sam Pinkleton]] (class of 2005), [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]] nominated director and choreographer
*Kris Roberts (class of 2005), [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] performer
*[[Matt Garstka]] (class of 2007), drummer
*Colin Pastore (class of 2007), music producer
*Mary Page Nance (class of 2008), [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] performer
*[[Claire Sullivan]] (class of 2012), [[Fashion design|fashion designer]]
*Arianna Moore (class of 2016), executive director of the Latin Ballet of Virginia
*Dexter Moses (class of 2017), saxophonist
*Carrie Brockwell (class of 2024), [[American Idol]] alum and award winning [[singer-songwriter]]
*Hollie Hammel, musician
*Sidney Nicole Rogers, [[Lifetime (TV channel)|Lifetime]] actress

==See also==
* [[Governor's Schools (Virginia)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.args.us}}
{{VHSL Region 1B}}{{Governor's Schools (Virginia)}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Public high schools in Virginia]]
[[Category:Magnet schools in Virginia]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1999]]
[[Category:Schools in Petersburg, Virginia]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Virginia]]