Valerie L. Thomas was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to parents who, while not scientists themselves, fostered a home environment that encouraged intellectual curiosity.

As a young girl, Valerie Thomas displayed a strong aptitude for science. At the age of eight, she discovered a science book at the local library that ignited her interest in scientific principles and exploration, despite the lack of hands-on science education opportunities available to her at the time.

Valerie attended an all-girls high school where she was one of only two women studying physics. This experience, although potentially isolating, strengthened her resolve and prepared her for navigating male-dominated fields later in her career.

Thomas excelled in her studies at Morgan State University, a historically black university. She majored in Physics, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to a field where African American women were significantly underrepresented. She graduated with honors.

Following her undergraduate studies, she obtained a master's degree, further solidifying her knowledge and skills in physics and preparing her for advanced research and development roles. The details of the institution are absent in the available records.