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One of the elite 'Governor's Schools' sees uptick in diversity

The Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond accepted more Black and Latino students for the upcoming school year than it has in five years.

Credit: AP

FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2010 file photo, Del. Roslyn Tyler, D-Sussex, right, gestures during a speech on the budget as Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, center, and Del. Betsy Carr, D-Richmond, left, listen during the House session at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. A push to reform admissions policies at Virginia's selective “Governor's Schools” to increase Black and Hispanic representation has failed, despite the support of Gov. Ralph Northam's administration. Tyler, the bill's sponsor, singled out Majority Leader Dick Saslaw and Chap Petersen for blocking it, but said in a statement that she considers the effort a success “because it allowed students, alumni, teachers, administrators, elected official and other stakeholders to have a public conversation on racial biasness, inclusion and lack of diversity at the governor schools.” (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

RICHMOND, Va. — One of Virginia’s “Governor’s Schools” has accepted more Black and Latino students in the wake of a push to increase diversity at the selective institutions.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond accepted more Black and Latino students for the upcoming school year than it has in five years.

One-third of the students from its feeder school divisions are Black, and about 14% are Latino.

The 23 Black and 13 Latino students who’ve been accepted are still under-representative of the school districts.

But the school’s director said it’s a step in the right direction.

At total of only 14 Black and Latino students were offered slots last year.