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What does the research say about single-gender schools?
What is an Expeditionary Learning School (ELS)?
Why is the word “athletic” in the name of the school?
What does a typical school day look like at GALS?
What does an “individual learning plan” mean?
What if a student needs additional support?
How will you prepare my student for college?
How does GALS incorporate community into the school?
Q: What is a charter school?
A: A charter school is a tuition-free, public school that has certain freedoms a traditional public does not (most often in the
areas of governance, policy-making, education plan, and hiring of staff) but is held to the same (or higher) level of
accountability.
Q: What does the research say about single-gender schools?
A: In single-gender environments, students produce test scores, attendance rates, graduation rates, and college acceptance rates
well above district averages. Research shows that the performance of minority students in single-sex schools is stronger on all
tests, on average, almost one academic year above that of their peers in coeducational settings. Single-gender schools have the
unique ability to identify how girls learn and succeed and, as a result, create an environment where girls develop unparalleled
self-confidence, positive self-image, and broader interests.
Q: What is an Expeditionary Learning School (ELS)?
A: ELS is a comprehensive school design model that promotes rigorous and engaging curriculum; active, inquiry-based
pedagogy; and a school culture that demands and teaches compassion and good citizenship. The ELS approach is experiential
and project-based. ELS utilizes learning expeditions and is aligned with state and district standards.
Q: Why is the word “athletic” in the name of the school?
A: GALS is not a school based on competitive athletics. Rather, GALS understands that issues of health and wellness, like
nutrition and exercise, greatly contribute to academic success and personal development. The GALS philosophy begins with the
belief that if you have a body, you are an athlete. What follows is the development of care for yourself and your family,
leadership in the community, and responsibility and awareness of the issues affecting the world.
Q: What does a typical school day look like at GALS?
A: A student’s experience at GALS will be based on individual learning plans as part of a structured, rigorous, academic
curriculum. Every student and staff member will begin the day engaged in physical activity or movement. Her class schedule
will include five 70-minute blocks of core subject classes (humanities, math, science, literacy, electives) as well a period for
either small-group, peer advisory or a school-wide community meeting.
Q: What does an “individual learning plan” mean?
A: All students at GALS take a full course load that aligns with district and state content standards. At the same time, GALS
fully believes in knowing each student well and providing the individual support necessary for her success. Accordingly, over
the course of the year, every student follows an individual learning plan (created in collaboration with her advisor, family
members, and other teachers) that tracks her particular learning goals and needs.
Q: What if a student needs additional support?
A: GALS identifies and addresses every student’s individual learning needs through frequent assessment and data-driven
instruction. We provide differentiated support in the classroom and additional support through after-school tutoring, literacy
blocks, and targeted interventions. Staff members work every student to ensure she receives the support necessary for success.
Q: What electives are offered?
A: GALS offers electives in the areas of art, technology, and world language (Spanish) as part of the core academic schedule.
Additionally, GALS operates on trimesters, and in between trimesters offers 5-7 day periods called intensives where students
have the opportunity to explore a subject area not typically addressed during the school year in depth. Sample intensives might
be: History of Art and Architecture, Women in Film, or World Politics.
Q: Does GALS offer AP courses?
A: Our curriculum is designed to challenge and develop the learning needs of every student. Individual learning plans and
differentiated instruction provide support and opportunities for students accelerating beyond the curriculum. Students will have
the option to participate in GALS Honors Extension program and will be able to choose among independent curriculum
extension projects linked to their learning expeditions, service-learning opportunities in the local community, college course
participation, and discussion seminars. Additionally, the structure of intensives will also provide opportunity for GT students to
self-select enrichment experiences.
Q: How will you prepare my student for college?
A: GALS models its college prep program off of the Collegebound Initiative run out of the wildly successful Young Women’s
Leadership Network in New York City. The Initiative is a comprehensive, year-round program that prepares students for
enrollment in their college of choice. It provides early college awareness activities starting at the middle school level and during
high school years helps students complete applications and explore financial aid options. It provides enrollment support
including SAT and ACT prep, counseling on resumes and essay writing, and parental education and outreach.
Q: How does GALS incorporate community into the school?
A: GALS expands the boundaries of learning by using the city of Denver and the world-at-large as an extended classroom.
GALS has created opportunities through which community partners can enter the lives of girls as supplemental educators and
girls can enter “real world” settings for complementary, educational experiences such as internships.
Q: How does GALS incorporate families into the school?
A: GALS provides many opportunities for participation from parents/guardians. Parents/guardians meet with teachers and
faculty continually throughout the year in order to help plan and assess their student’s learning progress and determine goals.
They can also take part in student exhibitions, participate in school and staff evaluations, and volunteer within the school. In
addition, all news and relevant information will be provided to families in three ways: posted in the building in both English
and Spanish, sent out through monthly newsletters available in both print and on the web, and communicated through the
Parent Council, which will serve as a direct link to all parents and community members.
Q: What kind of after-school programs will GALS offer?
A: GALS will work closely with its community partners to provide a wide variety of extracurricular sports, activities, and
internships. We will also offer academic support through an after-school tutoring program.
Q: What sports will GALS offer?
A: GALS will offer one competitive sport per season and will formally decide which ones with input from the Parent Council
as well as students. In addition, GALS will offer intramural and recreational opportunities like swimming lessons and outdoor
adventure. For those students who are competitively involved in sports that GALS does not offer, we will facilitate their
involvement in club teams throughout the city. As per DPS policy, all students can opt to play on their district school teams.
Q: What is GALS’ dress code?
A: All students and staff at GALS will follow the same dress code: any shirts, pants, shorts, or skirts are acceptable as along as
they are one color. No insignias, pictures, or patterns will be allowed. Shoes must be flat-soled. The GALS dress code is not
meant to be prohibitive. It is meant to keep the focus of our school day on academics while allowing space for personal identity
and expression.
Q: What is GALS’ transportation policy?
A: Typically, charter schools do not provide transportation for their students. GALS is planning on providing students with
RTD and/or light rail passes at partial school expense. We are also working on carpools through RideArrangers.
Q: What will my student eat for lunch?
A: The GALS food policy is an important part of the school experience. We look at food as a way to nurture the body in order
to optimize academic opportunities. GALS will work with Revolution Foods to provide hot meals for breakfast and lunch as
well as healthy snacks throughout the day. Rev Foods partners with food providers such as Whole Foods to ensure high-quality,
healthy options.
Q: What time does school start and end?
A: The formal school day runs from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm at which time, after-school sports, clubs, activities, and internships
begin.
Q: What are the qualifications of teachers?
A: As stated by law, all teachers must be highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. Additionally, it is of particular
importance to GALS that teachers are highly passionate and committed to the success of girls. GALS is actively recruiting both
male and female candidates from a large local and national pool.
Q: Will there be field trips?
A: As an Expeditionary Learning School, GALS regularly incorporates fieldwork into learning expeditions. Fieldwork
provides the distinct opportunity for students to do research in the real world that inspires their curiosity and builds their
knowledge about a subject.
Q: What kind of social activities will be available, and will boys be involved?
A: GALS will entertain ideas brought from both the Parent Council and the student body regarding social activities such as
field trips, special events, and dances. These activities will include family members, community members, and friends.
Q: How can my child enroll at GALS?
A: Admission is based on a random lottery. GALS does not administer pre-admissions screening or testing. Students must fill
out an application form (available on our website at www.galschools.org) and mail it PO Box 7048 Denver, CO 80207 by
January 29, 2010. Please note that filling out an enrollment form ensures your daughter a spot in the lottery. Participating in
the lottery is not a commitment to attend GALS.
Frequently Asked Questions
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FAQs
