The North Carolina Governor’s School takes place every summer and is recognized as the oldest statewide summer residential program in the United States for high school students who are both academically strong and deeply interested in learning. It was founded in 1963 by Governor Terry Sanford at Salem College in Winston-Salem. Today, the program is hosted on two campuses: Governor’s School East at Meredith College and Governor’s School West at Greensboro College.
This year marks the 62nd session, held from June 22 to July 19, 2025, and it brought together 792 students. North Carolina has 115 school districts and this year 108 of those districts submitted student applications to attend the NC Governor’s School. Students are nominated in a variety of disciplines: English, Mathematics, Natural Science, Social Science, and Spanish on the academic side, and Choral Music, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, and Visual Art on the arts side. The Governor’s School not only values strong performance in these areas, but also seeks students who demonstrate curiosity, thoughtful insight, and a genuine passion for learning in all its forms.
One of the program’s most distinctive features is its curriculum. While students are selected for a particular discipline, they are encouraged to broaden their perspectives beyond conventional boundaries, exploring contemporary and experimental dimensions of their field. They also have opportunities to collaborate across disciplines—for example, instrumental music students may work with poets to create spoken-word performances accompanied by live music.
In addition, all students participate in courses that promote critical and creative thinking. These include philosophy-based discussions that challenge them to reflect on the nature of thought itself and to consider new perspectives on society and the world. Daily seminars further enrich the experience, covering a wide range of topics from career exploration to unique skills such as sword fighting. The program also brings together more than 120 faculty and staff from across the United States, many of them graduate or college students, creating an environment where participants can interact with inspiring mentors as well as peers.
Author’s Note: Personal Experience
As a student who had the opportunity to attend Governor’s School in the instrumental music discipline, I found the experience to be eye-opening and deeply rewarding. In our music classes, we explored contemporary works and unconventional techniques that challenged my assumptions about what counts as “music.” One activity even had us build instruments from natural materials like grass, branches, and leaves, and then use them to mimic sounds from the environment. These moments pushed me to think about sound and creativity in completely new ways, far beyond the boundaries of a typical classroom.
From talking with my peers in other disciplines, I learned that they too were encouraged to re-examine the definitions of their fields and to experiment with them in unexpected ways. Whether it was theater students reinventing performance styles or science students approaching experiments from new angles, everyone seemed to be expanding the boundaries of what their subject could mean.
Beyond our core areas, the philosophy-based classes were equally thought-provoking. We debated questions such as how we define what is “real,” and why an idea might be considered more lasting than a mythical creature, even though both are intangible. One memorable exercise simulated a nuclear fallout, where groups had to decide which six out of fifteen people with different traits and backgrounds should survive. It sparked difficult but fascinating discussions about morality, values, and the kind of society we want to build.
Compared to shorter summer camps, the four-week program felt long enough for friendships to grow and for conversations to go beyond surface level. There are a bunch of activities throughout the day that could completely fill up your schedule, but there is also a flexibility built in. For example, other than our main classes, there are seminars that you can go to if you’re interested, but you can also allocate the time as you want—perhaps instead spending it socializing with your newly met friends.
Looking back, I believe this experience was truly meaningful because it pushed me to explore ideas I would never have encountered otherwise and gave me the chance to connect with an amazing community of people. The Governor’s School broadened not only my musical horizons but also my perspective on learning, values, and relationships—and that is what made it unforgettable.
All photos in this article are used by permission of the North Carolina Governor’s School.
