Gates Chili Middle School makes a large school smaller, friendlier, and safer for students by creating learning communities of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students. This model is used in many middle, high schools, colleges, and universities across the country. There are numerous advantages for our students and families. One of the most significant advantages is that communities provide an opportunity for stakeholders to form relationships that lead to increased success for students.

The creation of communities serves our students well. We try to keep students in the same community throughout their middle school experience. Parents find it easier to talk to a common core of staff members. Our students report a sense of belonging, along with a connection with teachers who have an understanding of their students’ unique learning needs.

Our students enjoy the best of both worlds (small community and big school). Students participate in school-wide theme weeks, clubs, socials, performing groups and athletic teams. Although students have core classes within their community, they are mixed with other communities for their exploratory classes. This helps to foster new friendships and rekindle old ones with students who are assigned to any one of our communities.

Providing optimal learning environments to teach and inspire excellence has been an essential goal of the school district. The middle school communities help to make this goal a reality.