Application Information
Start Your Application Today: What grade are you in?
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The application window opens at 9 a.m. on September 28, 2026, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on November 13, 2026.
This application is for entry in SY 2029-2030
Visit the application portal at henricoschools schoolmint website
Support & Questions
24/7 support, please visit SchoolMint Support Families
Please direct any SchoolMint application questions to applicationquestions@henrico.k12.va.us
Middle School Timeline 2026-27
- September 28th – 8th grade application is available online on the Specialty Center and CTE websites
- November 5th - Open House for all ACE Centers (Hosted by the ACE Center at Hermitage, 6:30-8:00 pm)
- November 13th – Application deadline for 8th grade applicants
- February 12th – Middle school students notified of acceptance status through SchoolMint
- February 19th - Deadline for applicants to declare intent online at 11:59 PM. Students may only select one specialty center/ACE Center program.
- Spring 2027 - Previously accepted 8th-grade students, currently in 9th grade, will make selections for program placement with ACE Center Counselors.
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High School Applicants (new applicants)
The application window opens at 9 a.m. on September 21, 2026 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on November 13, 2026.
This application is for entry in SY 2027-2028
Complete the application at Advanced Career Education (ACE) Center Application, 2027-2028Student Application Directions
- Students will complete the application above using their HCPS credentials to complete their application.
*NOTE: Students accepted in 8th grade should make a selection for their ACE Center program when ACE Center Counselors visit in the spring of 9th grade, and you will be notified when we visit.
- Once you are ready to begin, click on the application link above. Be sure that you are logged into your HCPS Google account. NOTE: If you were accepted as an 8th grade student to the ACE Center, there is no need to reapply. Tenth grade students previously accepted should have designated program selection for the upcoming school year in the spring of 9th grade. If you have any questions, please contact the ACE Center.
- Complete your personal contact information and school information. Take your time and double-check your email address and contact phone numbers for accuracy. Your notification letter will be sent to the email address you entered. Students should use their HCPS email for contact.
- Select the program you want to apply for on the next page.
- In the last section of this application, you will answer a series of questions that are intended to communicate your interests and goals.
- Once you are satisfied with your responses, you will submit your application. Remember, there is only ONE submission per student, and we cannot accept changes until rolling admissions begins.
- Congratulations, you have now officially applied to the ACE Center! Be sure to check your email for a copy of your application.
Timeline:
- September 21st – 10th & 11th grade application is available online on the CTE websites
- October 26th - 30th - High school visits to the ACE Centers during the school day
- November 5th - Open House for all ACE Centers (Hosted by the ACE Center at Hermitage, 6:30-8:00 pm)
- November 13th – Application deadline for 10th and 11th grade applicants
- November 23rd – Application for current 10th graders reopens. All applications submitted on or after this date will be placed on a waiting list and will be reviewed/notified on a rolling basis as openings become available after January 25th. Students who have already applied do NOT need to reapply; they should contact their home school counselor to learn about which programs have openings. First-time applicants should apply for consideration to the open programs.
- December 15th - Practical Nursing Application closes, and both the ACE application (linked above) and St. Mary’s Application (ADMISSION PROCEDURE CHECKLIST) must be submitted.
- January 8th – High school students notified via email of acceptance status. Practical Nursing students will be notified by the end of January 2027
- January 22nd - Tenth grade students submit acceptance notification to ACE Centers. Details of how to do so are explained in the acceptance email letter. High school students (10th or 11th grade) must notify their home school counselor of their intent to attend the ACE Center next school year.
- January 25 - May 28 - Students who applied after November 21st will be considered for openings on a rolling basis as they become available. During this time period, priority for remaining openings is given to students who applied by the initial deadline who were originally not selected.
NOTE: New applications will NOT be accepted after the first week of the school year. Students enrolling after the first week have typically missed the equivalent to 15 class periods of a standard course and have a difficult time catching up.
ACE Center Application Process 2026/27
We are thrilled that you are interested in attending the Advanced Career Education (ACE) Center! If you are not familiar with our programs, click here to view them.
Read the directions and timeline below to get your ACE Center application started! If at any time you need assistance, please contact any of the ACE Centers for assistance. (Contact numbers are listed below.)
Selection Process:
ACE Centers use a lottery selection process where eligible students will be randomly selected to fill our program openings. Eligible students must have earned enough credits to qualify as a Junior (10+ high school credits) prior to the start of the 26-27 school year. Current 10th or 11th grade students accepted in their 8th grade year, and Allied Health Specialty Center students are prioritized for placement into the program of their choice. In a two-year program, juniors have priority for open seats. High Tech Academy, Practical Nursing, and Teacher Apprentice will follow their separate admissions process as required by the accrediting outside organization and noted on the application.
In the lottery, after students have been classified as eligible, students are randomly selected using a random number generator with multiple staff members reviewing the selection. We will select 2 applicants for each high school per program, unless no applicants from a school are in the pool. Remaining seats are then assigned at random to the next lottery selection.
NEW for the 26-27 School Year:
In addition to the programs noted above, several programs have additional requirements for acceptance as noted in the table below. At the time of application, to be eligible for acceptance or conditional acceptance, you must have either completed the course requirement with a "C" or better OR be currently enrolled in the course with a "C" or better. Students currently enrolled in the course requirement may be offered conditional acceptance with the understanding they must meet the requirement below by the end of the course to be eligible the next year for the ACE program. Failure to meet this requirement will result in ineligibility for the program.**
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Course |
Science Prerequisite |
Math Prerequisite |
Additional Requirements |
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Cosmetology |
Biology "C" or better |
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Dental Assisting |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
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EMT |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
Must be at least 16 years old |
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Home & Mental Health Aide |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
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Master Barbering |
Biology "C" or better |
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Medical Assistant |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
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Nurse Aide |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
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Pharmacy Technician |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
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Physical Therapy |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
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Sports Medicine |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
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Surgical Technology |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
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Sterile Processing |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
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Vet Science |
Biology "C" or better |
Algebra 1 "C" or better |
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Students who want to make an application change PRIOR to the application window closing can communicate this request with their home school counselor, who will collaborate with the ACE Center counselor to process the change. After the initial window closes, changes cannot be processed until AFTER the first round of applications have been reviewed.
All applications submitted before the deadline are processed first and letters are forwarded to the provided email using the timeline above. After January 26th, we will begin reviewing the applications that were submitted during the rolling admissions process on a first-come, first-serve basis. When the application re-opens for rolling admissions, programs that had a high number of applicants will no longer be available to select.
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Yes, If you are a Henrico County resident and plan to enroll in Henrico Schools in the upcoming school year, you may apply to the ACE Center.
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In instances where a 2nd application has come through, we will use the last submitted application as your application. Therefore, it’s imperative that you only submit ONE application and consult your counselor when you feel you made a mistake.
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The application will automatically send a copy of your responses to the email provided .(HCPS email)
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Yes, you must complete the ACE application (linked above) AND you must complete the St. Mary’s Application (ADMISSION PROCEDURE CHECKLIST)
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If you are applying to the High Tech Academy, this is a dual enrollment program with Virginia Commonwealth University and Reynolds Community College. Upon acceptance into the program, there will be additional steps that must be taken in order to be eligible for VCU and Reynolds. The dual enrollment program requires students to maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA and students must have passed Algebra II or higher with a 'C' or better. Students may be required to complete a math placement test during the summer as required by the institution. Students and families will be invited to an important information meeting in early spring to review all the requirements and paperwork required.
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Applicants must have an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher to be eligible for the TAP.