Curriculum
Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Service Learning, and Fine Arts are all subjects that are taught at our school. Our curriculum is strongly focused on developing literacy and math skills. Although not strictly a project-based curriculum, our teachers frequently develop projects, or work with their students to develop projects, which allow for the practical use of academic skills.
Much of our learning is rooted in a sense of place, encouraging students to honor and serve their local community as they learn. Students are often out of the classroom, on research trips or involved in projects that require them to use academic skills in hands-on settings. In our striving for excellence, we believe that talent can be developed, success begets success, quality requires feedback, the best decisions result in win/win decisions, less is more, and commitment to excellence requires time.
Assessments
Assessments are valuable tools for helping teachers, students, and parents understand academic progress. GCCS utilizes a variety of assessment methods.
- Lesson testing. The usual tests and quizzes we all remember from school, integrated into the curriculum, often designed by our teachers, and typically part of determining student grades.
- MAP testing. This is a testing service the school subscribes to, which provides teachers and parents with rich data on student performance, and particularly growth over the years. It covers math and reading for everyone, and science for some. MAP tests are administered three times a year on computers or tablets.
- CMAS testing. These are the tests required by the state for evaluating both student and school performance. These tests are administered in math and language arts for everyone, and science and social science for some grades. More information is available from the state here. GCCS administers all CMAS testing on computers, although paper tests are available for students requiring special accommodation.