About
Head of School Welcome
Imagine a school where all students are encouraged to be their authentic selves and learn with reckless abandon, a place where their passions are embraced while they are inspired to discover new strengths, where multiple perspectives are actively pursued and respected, and where girls are at the center of all learning. This is GMS.
When I first visited GMS…
- Why did you choose GMS?
- What stood out on your first visit?
Guided by our mission and inspired by the vision of our founder, Kathleen Benett, GMS has, for more than 25 years, fostered a joyful and inclusive community where students are known, supported, and encouraged to grow. We intentionally cultivate a culture in which students learn not only to think critically but also to lead with empathy and integrity.
I see this every day in our classrooms…
- Add a short classroom moment or observation
As a school dedicated to these three pivotal years, we deeply understand the middle school girl experience, including the excitement and uncertainty that can come with this stage of growth. At GMS, we create a learning environment that is both challenging and supportive, one that empowers each student to learn who they are and what they are capable of, build confidence, and voice. And while we know each student will have a unique path, we will meet them where they are, challenging and supporting them so that all can thrive.
I invite you to learn more about our community and what makes GMS such a special place for girls to shape their futures. I hope you’ll visit us and experience the school in action to fully understand the magic that is GMS!
Sincerely,
Christine Fairless
Head of School










I attend GMS events because it’s always fun to see old familiar faces and to hear what amazing things they are up to, which are usually so different from my day-to-day life as a high school teacher. I speak to two girls from [GMS] on a weekly basis and love that we share a history that stretches back to sixth grade. I don’t know that many other people who still talk to their middle school best friends.
I have always been proud to be a part of the GMS community. GMS events are a great source of insight into what GMS has been up to since my own graduation. They also offer me the opportunity to take time out of a busy Silicon Valley lifestyle and reconnect with the people who are a part of that beloved community.
These three years—in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades—are a crucial time to invest in a child’s education and to build fundamental skills. At GMS, students find their people, they learn to self-advocate, and they gain the confidence to raise their hands.
The academic rigor at GMS is purposeful and meaningful. The program is designed to help students continue growing through high school and college. We want our daughter to love learning all her life, and not get burned out, as is happening with so many children these days.
Our students learn through seeing that everybody does things differently and understanding that there are a lot of right ways to do something. It’s about respecting those differences, learning from them, and learning from each other. That way, we build community as well as self-confidence.
The Entrepreneurial Program in seventh grade was a big factor in our decision to come here. Letting girls be leaders and change makers is very important to us.
I attend GMS events because it’s always fun to see old familiar faces and to hear what amazing things they are up to, which are usually so different from my day-to-day life as a high school teacher. I speak to two girls from [GMS] on a weekly basis and love that we share a history that stretches back to sixth grade. I don’t know that many other people who still talk to their middle school best friends.
I have always been proud to be a part of the GMS community. GMS events are a great source of insight into what GMS has been up to since my own graduation. They also offer me the opportunity to take time out of a busy Silicon Valley lifestyle and reconnect with the people who are a part of that beloved community.
These three years—in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades—are a crucial time to invest in a child’s education and to build fundamental skills. At GMS, students find their people, they learn to self-advocate, and they gain the confidence to raise their hands.
The academic rigor at GMS is purposeful and meaningful. The program is designed to help students continue growing through high school and college. We want our daughter to love learning all her life, and not get burned out, as is happening with so many children these days.
Our students learn through seeing that everybody does things differently and understanding that there are a lot of right ways to do something. It’s about respecting those differences, learning from them, and learning from each other. That way, we build community as well as self-confidence.
The Entrepreneurial Program in seventh grade was a big factor in our decision to come here. Letting girls be leaders and change makers is very important to us.
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Welcome to GMS!
We are delighted you are taking a moment to explore The Girls’ Middle School and hope that our website conveys the joy, dynamism, and engagement that characterizes our school.
Imagine a school where all students are given permission to be their authentic selves and learn with reckless abandon, a place where all are embraced for the passions they already possess while being encouraged to discover other strengths, where multiple perspectives are respected and actively pursued, and a place where the experience of girls is at the center of all learning.
We are so happy that you are taking the time to learn more about The Girls’ Middle School which embodies all of this and so much more! Our dynamic, student-driven, and joyful learning community is guided by its enduring Mission, rooted in the vision of Kathleen Bennett 25 years ago: The Girls’ Middle School educates girls at a crucial time in life. We create an inclusive environment where academic growth is nourished. A GMS girl discovers her strengths and expresses her voice while respecting the contributions of others.
The Middle School years are paramount in creating and opening up future possibilities. We validate and empower every student in learning who they are as people and students by providing a nurturing environment for them to explore their identities, build their confidence as students and learn in an intentionally inclusive community. As a school focusing on three important years, we deeply understand the middle school girl experience. And while we know each student will have a unique path, we will meet them where they are to challenge and support them so that all can thrive.
We are so happy that you are here and hope that you dig deeper to find out more about who we are and why we are such a unique and special place for girls to shape their futures. I encourage you to come visit the school in action as that is how you will more fully understand the magic that is GMS.
I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on campus!
Sincerely,
Christine Fairless
Head of School
Mission & History
The Girls’ Middle School was founded by educator Kathleen Bennett in 1998 to provide a school that would nurture and empower a diverse group of girls* during their critical adolescent years. Today we are still guided by the vision she articulated in her original prospectus for GMS, and it remains at the heart of our mission:
The Girls’ Middle School educates girls at a crucial time in life. We create an inclusive environment where academic growth is nourished. A GMS girl discovers her strengths and expresses her voice while respecting the contributions of others.
The founding faculty and staff first taught classes in September 1998 in our original location in Mountain View, California, to a pioneering sixth grade class of 35 girls. In 2011, GMS moved to our new home in Palo Alto. Today we enroll approximately 200 girls from more than 45 elementary schools around the San Francisco Bay Area.
*At GMS, girls refers to gender expansive youth (cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender non-conforming youth, gender queer youth, and any girl-identified youth).