[4] Dr. Gallagher's work emphasized the need for different educational methods for gifted students that were not available in public schools, and the importance of creativity and leadership as aspects of giftedness.

Governor's School was funded by the Carnegie Corporation and local business for a second year, but received support from the NC Legislature beginning in 1965 and continuing (with a single exception) to this day.

The early curriculum was expressed in a document entitled Opening Windows to the Future, written by H. Michael Lewis with input from GS instructors.

[5] In 1968, actor, educator, and playwright James Lee (Jim) Bray became Director of the Governor's School, a position he would hold until 1995.

Organized by long-time campus activities director JoAnne North Goetz, several hundred alumni met in 1987 to show their support for the program.

[8] The Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that supports the mission of Governor's School through direct financial donations.

With the economic issues of the 2008 financial collapse, the North Carolina legislature began a series of cuts to the Governor's School program.

In 2009, the legislature passed a general cut to the Governor's School budget, forcing the program to drop from 800 students to 600, and also began charging a $500 tuition to attend.

Citing continued budget issues, the NC Legislature cut all funding for Governor's School in June, 2011.

[10] At the same time, an outpouring of support from alumni and business leaders across the state urged legislators to restore GS funding.

In June 2012, the Legislature voted to restore sufficient funding to keep both GS campuses open with 600 students for a five-week session.