The Virginia House of Delegates included in its budget $66,000 in additional funding for Thomas Jefferson High School in Fairfax County to help offset the costs of the school’s expanded enrollment. Jefferson is one of 19 “governor’s schools,” which provide specialized programs for students in areas such as the performing arts, marine and environmental science or, in the case of Thomas Jefferson, science and technology. But Jefferson, with 1,805 students, is the only one that exceeds the state enrollment limit of 1,600 students, forcing the county to pay the additional expense. Del. Mark Keam, D-Fairfax, introduced the amendment that would expand enrollment at governor’s schools to 1,650, providing $66,000 for Thomas Jefferson in the 2012 budget year.

The ultracompetitive school has been ranked as the No. 1 public school in the country by U.S. News & World Report for four straight years.