Virginia Governor's Schools provide gifted students with educational experiences that are otherwise unavailable in their local school divisions. Governor's Schools (previously called Magnet Schools) include 5 academic year schools, 5 summer residential schools, and 20 summer regional schools. This report, produced in response to a request from the Virginia Senate Education Finance Committee, describes critical events that have shaped the development of Governor's Schools, describes development of the evaluation system, reviews the results of 1986-1988 evaluations, presents the results of the 1989 evaluation, provides a description of major accomplishments of Governor's Schools, and provides recommendations for continued improvement. The evaluations indicated that Governor's Schools are generally accomplishing their stated mission and have made significant progress in providing appropriate educational experiences for gifted students. Recommendations presented by the 1989 evaluation teams indicated that four primary areas should be improved: curriculum and instruction; staff recruitment, selection, and development; student recruitment and selection; and Department of Education administration of Governor's Schools. A list of Governor's School programs, with locations, directors, grade levels, number of students' served, and dates of operation, is included. (JDD)