Why GMS
Middle school is an invaluable time for your child to expand their intellect, discover hidden strengths, and become more authentically themselves. That’s why we focus intentionally on middle school and purposefully center girls—promoting curiosity, confidence, and a deep understanding of oneself and the world. GMS students recognize their future isn’t limited by what others tell them they should do or who they should be – their future is theirs alone to shape, and it’s one filled with endless opportunities.
Why a Girls’ School?
The Girls’ Middle School belongs to the girls. 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).
GMS students are offered three remarkable years to learn how to advocate for themselves, how to collaborate, how to mentor one another, and how to lead. The combination of classroom, community, and culture makes a GMS education a transformative experience.
At GMS, girls take center stage:
- every raised hand in a math classroom is a girl’s,
- every student in computer science is a girl,
- every child learning to skateboard and surf is a girl, and
- every leadership position is filled by a girl.
Being a student at an all-girls school has a powerful influence on a girl’s sense that her voice matters. In a girls’ school, she feels comfortable during an often awkward time. We want each girl to learn to be happy with who she is, and also question and be curious. A GMS girl is supportive and kind to others, playful and silly, uninhibited and strong.
At The Girls’ Middle School, girls thrive.
At a girls’ school, a girl occupies every role. Not only does she have a wealth of avenues for self-exploration and development, she has a wealth of peer role models.
National Coalition of Girls’ Schools
To learn more about the benefits of attending a girls’ school, visit the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools website or download the study on this topic, commissioned by NCGS.
Why Middle School Only?
The middle school years mark a significant time in a girl’s life. It is when she develops – physically, emotionally, and intellectually – at a pace rivaled only by her first few years of life. At GMS, we celebrate this exciting age and make it our exclusive focus.
During this time, growth is dynamic, both across peer groups and within each student. Middle schoolers learn and develop at their own pace, following a schedule that cannot be rushed. We embrace this, striving to meet every student exactly where she is on any particular day.
As a middle school, we offer engaging, developmentally appropriate instruction that consistently places realistic demands on our students. We fold that within an encompassing framework of social and emotional support. The result: Our students are encouraged and empowered to make tremendous intellectual and personal advances.
At GMS, we believe in the distinctive value of the middle school experience and have made the positive choice to work solely with students in sixth through eighth grades. Our teachers possess subject area expertise yet are middle school specialists first, motivated by an interest and enthusiasm for working with students at this age.
By choosing to be a middle school only, we are able to support lasting, healthy growth for our students during these important years.
