Gettysburg Area Middle School

Gettysburg Area Middle School aspires to be known as a great learning institution. However, the staff does not seem to support this. Rampant bullying of students, teachers ignoring gifted students who are not sociable, and an overally sense of apathy from the principal's office leave much to be desired from GAMS. The school places a lot of emphasis on the children that they do not want to be 'left behind', and does nothing to promote those who can 'excel beyond'. Meanwhile, average students are left to continue being average, because that does not require any extra effort from the teachers. There are a few teachers in the school that try to create a better learning environment for all children, but their efforts are blunted by the indifference of the majority of their fellow faculty. The wealth of extracurricular activities save this school from a 1-star rating, in my opinion.

I think this school is way to easy in all grades, and is not a good learning expirience. At lunch you have assigned seats, which is terrible. You don't even get to sit with kids from another team. One good thing though is sports, we have mostly good coaches, and that it a good expirience. I just think we should learn more things, all we do is review review review.
--Submitted by a student

Gettysburg Area Middle School, GAMS, has well rounded coverage with Quality academic programs, lots of extracurricular activities and a good level of parent involvement. The music and sports programs are very good, but the art program needs help. Artists with even a shred of talent will feel pretty lonely or even squelched at good 'ole GAMS. But as middle schools go, GAMS is hard to beat in the area of kids not hating school (dare I say even liking their school). My children were glad to have a break from Maryland's pressure cooker school systems. GAMS is practically a healthful retreat compared to anything in Frederick or Montgomery counties, MD--no bullying, backstabbing, nor the cutthroat competition of the ivy league wannabe. So if you want regular middle school for your kids, and not pre-pre-Harvard, then GAMS is great!
--Submitted by a parent

No quality technical programs, no advanced math, science and tech classes. Class work at least one year behind other schools. Gifted program is regular grade level for other schools.
--Submitted by a parent

The quality of the academic program is good. In 6th grade the teachers really pushed the students if they felt as though they were capable of doing the work. The sixth grade outdoor education program (A.K.A. 6th grade camp)was enjoyable for my son, but the selection of camps was poor. But to save a buck and to allow more students to attend at one time, it was chosen. My child is currently in the 7th grade there and has a wonderful group of teachers which I communicate with via e-mail almost weekly on my son's progress. The extracurricular activites are plentiful. It almost seems like a big club rather than a school because of all of the opportunities for the students to do things with the school outside of school hours. Parent involvement is at an all time high, due to the easy access to the teachers vie e-mail.
--Submitted by a parent

Gettysburg Area Middle School (GAMS) is a great schhool, but would be evan better if six grade students were included more. They don't get to join sports teams of any school kind. They also don't get to enter the samecontest as older grades. They also don't get to use the showers after gym. Students feel nasty, smelly and uncomfortable. This is unfare. Also, students should get to sit with different grades at lunch. This helps students meat new peolple and learn about the school. Some students friends are a grade higher, and they don't get to see them. Students at least should get to sit in different places in their grade section. They need to meat more people. The school should also be decorated better. Don't get me rong though, I love GAMS, but it does have a few faults. What school doent. Keep doing a great job with GAMS.
--Submitted by a student