The GAMS Experience: Student Perspectives on Preparing for High School and Beyond

Within the walls of Gilbert High School, Gilbert Accelerated Middle School (GAMS) offers a distinct educational experience designed to foster future-ready learners who are well-equipped for high school and beyond. GAMS fully immerses 7th and 8th-grade students in an honors and accelerated curriculum, providing them with access to high school-level resources, all within a supportive cohort that encourages a deep love of learning – an experience brought to life through the voices of current GAMS students.

Beyond the curriculum, this student also acknowledged a smoother transition with other components of high school. "We are already on the same schedule as the high schools," they explained. "We won’t have to get used to waking up earlier. By the time we get to high school, you already know what you’re doing, where you’re going, and who you’ll be with – it makes the whole idea of moving up more comfortable."

Another 8th-grade student at GAMS also recognizes the school's unique offerings. Having participated in the dual language program at Gilbert Elementary, this student was eager to maintain and enhance their Spanish skills. "GAMS offers Spanish to 7th-grade students," they explained, "That was a big reason why I chose this school. I’ve been able to grow my Spanish speaking skills, and I’m becoming more proficient with my conversational skills.”

Recognizing the desire for sports opportunities at GAMS, two students took the lead in creating a proposal for a sports partnership with Gilbert Classical Academy (GCA). GAMS now partners with GCA to offer a range of athletic opportunities to students. Any student attending GAMS can compete in athletics at GCA. As a result, one of the students participates in cheerleading and volleyball while the other plays baseball, basketball, and football.

Another 8th-grade student at GAMS speaks about their positive experience at the school. “Everyone here is welcoming. You have the chance to form close friendships and everyone looks out for each other.” The 8th-grader acknowledges that accelerated and honors coursework is challenging, but they also cite the school’s small class sizes and individualized learning approach as reasons why the coursework doesn’t “feel hard.”

This supportive environment has also helped this student to come out of their shell. “I’ve met so many people at GAMS,” they added. “I used to be really shy and afraid of public speaking. Now I volunteer to speak at all of the GAMS Family Information nights!”

A freshman at Gilbert High School is already seeing the lasting impact of their time at Gilbert Accelerated Middle School. As they set their sights on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at Gilbert High, this student recognizes the values of the foundational skills and educational mindset that began at GAMS. "I'm planning to go into the world of Business," they shared. "At GAMS and in my Pre-IB courses now, we take ownership of our learning and we focus on exploring concepts, thinking critically, and making our own interpretations of things. That will really help me in business later on.”

Adam Strock, the Dean of Students at Gilbert Accelerated Middle School, highlights a key aspect of the GAMS experience - personalized 6-year plans for every student. "From the moment students arrive at GAMS, they create a 6-year plan to design their academic pathway through high school. This helps them understand what they need at each stage of their education." He further emphasizes the ongoing support students receive at GAMS and Gilbert High, saying, "Students meet with counselors regularly to ensure they're on track and to adjust their plans as their goals evolve."

GAMS is currently an IB Middle Years Programme candidate school, meaning the school uses an approach to teaching and learning that allows students to make meaningful connections to their education and the real world. With Patterson Elementary’s recent IB Primary Years Programme authorization and Gilbert High’s Diploma Programme, GPS students will soon have a K-12 IB pathway with GAMS’s authorization. To learn more about GAMS, visit GilbertHigh.GilbertSchools.net/Gilbert-Accelerated-Middle-School.