History of SWVGS

The Southwest Virginia Governor's School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (SWVGS) began in 1990 with 45 students and was originally housed in a six classroom building behind Pulaski County High School. In 2006, the school was relocated to 100 Northwood Drive in Pulaski, Virginia, where the Governor's School was housed in a renovated former elementary school. In the summer of 2023, SWVGS was relocated to New River Community College.

The first Director of the school stayed for one year and the second, Ms. Margaret Duncan, remained for 17 years. Throughout Ms. Duncan's tenure at the school, the enrollment grew significantly and the program was expanded.

Rebecca Phillips, a SWVGS alum, is the current Director. More than a dozen semester courses have been added to the SWVGS curriculum since Mrs. Phillips began as Director in 2008.

The number of participating school districts has increased over the years to the current total of nine (Carroll County, Floyd County, Galax City, Giles County, Pulaski County, Montgomery County, Radford City, Smyth County, and Wythe County). Bland and Grayson Counties have each sent students to SWVGS in the past, but currently are non-participating divisions. The Governor's School utilizes the combined resources of the participating school divisions to provide programs which facilitate the acquisition of scientific and technical knowledge through laboratory investigation and research.