HENRICO, Va., July 14, 2026 — Twenty-two Henrico County Public Schools programs have been recognized with the 2026 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
Among Henrico Schools’ award-winning initiatives are a mock interview series for workforce preparation; a paid internship program for autobody students who spent three weeks during the summer making repairs to county vehicles; an elementary enrichment initiative that provided grants and coaching to 11 schools to launch new clubs in robotics, chess and other activities; and a community school hub that offers free mental health counseling services to youth through a partnership with Henrico Area Mental Health and Development Services.
The NACo Achievement Awards recognize programming in 18 categories, including children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, health and more. Across all departments and agencies, Henrico County earned a combined 56 awards, the most of any county in Virginia.
For more information on NACo’s achievement awards, click here.
Below is the full list and brief description of each HCPS 2026 NACo Achievement Award recipient. Programs are listed by department but often involve collaboration across multiple departments and schools.
First Impressions, Lasting Careers (Workforce & Career Development): Approximately 1,500 juniors and seniors at HCPS’ three Advanced Career Education centers participated in mock interviews with 100 industry professionals, who then provided professional feedback, guidance on communication skills and insight into employer expectations.
Living Lab: Raising the Roof (Workforce and Career Development): The Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals spoke to more than 100 middle and high school students about the roofing industry, and students participated in a hands-on experience repairing a retrofit metal roof at the ACE Center at Highland Springs.
The Oak Avenue Complex (Student Support and Wellness): HCPS partnered with Henrico Area Mental Health and Development Services to provide free mental health counseling services to youth at The Oak Avenue Complex, a community school hub.
Manufacturing Inclusion (Workforce and Career Development): Students in manufacturing programs at Hermitage and Varina high schools were tasked with creating custom athletic gear, like bowling ramps and soccer plows, for students who need adaptive physical education equipment.
Collaborative Fabrication (Workforce and Career Development): The Advanced Career Education (ACE) Center at Virginia Randolph welding program partnered with Henrico County Government stakeholders to design, fabricate and install custom interpretive signage for the Lake Hening nature walk. The project provided real-world fabrication experience for 20 welding students.
Teacher Leader Ambassadors (Teaching and Learning): This program trained nearly 150 math, science and social studies teachers on effective content design, delivery and assessment. These ambassadors then led school-based professional learning, shared instructional resources and updates, and served as liaisons between schools and content specialists.
The Autobody Pipeline (Workforce and Career Development): This innovative paid summer internship program paired autobody students from the Advanced Career Education Center at Highland Springs with Henrico County’s Central Automotive Maintenance Department. The students spent three weeks repairing seven county cars and trucks.
Manufacturing for Community Housing (Workforce and Career Development): Students in the manufacturing program at Douglas S. Freeman High School worked with the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity to mass-produce components in ready-to-assemble kits for 30 Adirondack chairs for a community fundraiser. They then assembled the furniture along with community volunteers.
Governor’s Workforce Summit (Workforce and Career Development): The ACE Center at Hermitage hosted the Governor’s Workforce Summit, providing students with hands-on experience to apply their technical skills to a high-profile professional gathering. Students from numerous programs, including hospitality and service, media and communications, and criminal justice, participated in running the event.
The Cube (Workforce and Career Development): The Cube is an innovative, student-led retail enterprise at the ACE Center at Hermitage designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world business application. Serving as a live lab for the Entrepreneurship & Digital Marketing course, The Cube provides a professional platform for 40 students to showcase and sell original products alongside traditional retail items.
SchoolMint (Technology): SchoolMint is a centralized application portal that consolidates multiple systems to allow families to use one platform to apply for any of Henrico County Public Schools’ 16 high school specialty centers. The initiative expanded access and streamlined the application experience for families.
FBLA Middle School Conference (Workforce & Career Development): This innovative, student-led event builds leadership capacity and career readiness among middle school students. High school Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members facilitated interactive stations introducing middle school students to competitive events, professional skills, and real-world applications of business and leadership concepts. This peer-led model not only strengthened leadership skills for middle school participants but also empowered high school students to serve as mentors and facilitators.
Event ID Scanning (Technology): The Event ID Scanning program enhances safety and accountability at high school athletic events by using student smart cards to verify attendance and manage event access. The program enables real‑time visibility, rapid identification and early intervention, thereby improving event security.
Student ID Cards (Technology): The Student Smart ID Card initiative enhances school safety, streamlines operations, and supports student access to essential services across the division through a single, standardized credential that works across multiple software systems. Each student receives an ID card that can be used for buses, meal service, library circulation, event entry, clinic check‑ins, technology access and attendance‑related processes. It also plays a critical role in emergency reunification by enabling rapid and accurate student identification during controlled release procedures.
All Henrico Reads Meet the Author (Empowerment, Development & Opportunity): The HCPS All Henrico Reads Meet the Author event promotes a culture of literacy for all. It expands the annual All Henrico Reads program by offering students, families and community members the opportunity to engage with the featured author.
Opportunity Fest (Empowerment, Development & Opportunity): Opportunity Fest is an annual resource fair held during the last quarter of the year, aimed at providing students and families with meaningful resources and materials while promoting authentic learning opportunities and connectedness in preparation for the summer break.
Preparing Children, Empowering Families (Early Learning Preschool): This program works with families to promote Early Learning Preschool and kindergarten readiness while also strengthening families through intentional relationship-building, meaningful engagement, and connections to community resources. Enrollment liaisons work closely with families beginning at acceptance into the program, offering individualized support, connecting families with services, and providing family workshops.
Go ALL In (Innovation): The Go ALL IN initiative expands equitable access to countywide elementary enrichment opportunities by addressing participation gaps in academic competitions and STEM programs. The county targeted 11 elementary schools with historically low engagement and provided grant funding, coaching and county coordination to launch new school-based clubs in robotics, chess, Rubik’s Cube, esports and engineering design. The initiative culminated in the inaugural ALL In Expo in February, where 900 students from 11 schools participated in hands-on STEM challenges and competitions.
Beyond the Four Walls (Innovation): This program created an immersive learning space through transforming surplus inventory. By repurposing unused overhead projectors and re-mounting them in the center of available spaces, HCPS created 360-degree video environments that turn standard classrooms into "museum-like" exhibit spaces. Complemented by surround sound and thematic elements, these “Immersion Rooms” allow students to physically step into their curriculum to engage in meaningful and memorable learning experiences.
New Teacher Ambassadors (Professional Learning and Leadership): Teacher Ambassadors serve as a first connection for newly hired teachers and school counselors, offering practical support and a personal connection. Ambassadors make initial contact during the summer and begin supporting new hires as they transition into their roles. This early outreach helps new educators feel valued, appreciated and connected to their new community before they even arrive.
Assistant Principal and Support Teacher Professional Learning Series (Professional Learning and Leadership): This professional learning series is a comprehensive leadership development program designed to strengthen leadership capacity and elevate instructional quality. The series provides purposeful, job-embedded learning that is directly connected to the daily work of leading schools.
Classified Employee Career Ladder (Professional Learning and Leadership): This program provides support staff with structured opportunities for career and salary advancement through job related professional learning. The Career Ladder was built to reflect the responsibilities, schedules and strengths of support roles. Learning occurs during contractual hours, is led by staff across the division, and focuses on skills that translate directly into daily practice.