Appomattox Regional Governor's School? Worth it in the end?

Hey all,

Title pretty much lays it out there. Oldest child got accepted into ARGS for performing arts. She loves the idea of having that be the focus of high school. Also loves the small, close-knit environment, the vibe from the students at the open house she went to, and the departure from the conventional high school experience (football games, etc.).

My concerns are twofold:

-We're up in Bon Air, and that's a beast of a commute for four years of high school.

-I'm not sure about the academics, and the reputation among college admissions officers. I'm not a tiger parent, and I don't want her orchestrating her whole life to get into the "right" school. But I can't tell how seriously they take it over there. They offer AP calculus, but I'm not sure about English, hard sciences, how high the languages go, etc. She has options at Chesterfield Specialty Centers so I'd hate to think she's sacrificing a rigorous education.

I can get answers from administrators on all this, but I'm wondering if anyone in this sub has relevant experience. Did you or your kids thrive there? Disappointed? How did it affect your college choices, etc.

Thank you in advance.