Curriculum
The Gow Method of Reconstructive Language, our Orton-based approach to reading, writing, and spelling, sits at the heart of everything we teach. Every student takes it, and its methods shape how English, math, science, and history are taught too.
Around that core, students follow a full academic program designed to prepare them for college. The difference is how it is delivered: in very small classes, with structure built into every day and plenty of time to practice.
What's Typical at Gow
- 3 to 7
- Students in a class
- 6 days
- Classes each week, including Saturday
- 6+
- Academic courses, including The Gow Method
- 30 min
- Tutorial every day
- Small classes. Classes of three to seven students meet six days a week.
- A full course load. Each student takes at least six academic courses, one of which is The Gow Method.
- Daily tutorial. A 30-minute tutorial each day gives students time with teachers for extra help.
- Evening study hall. A supervised study hall each evening, including a reading period, turns homework into a habit.
- Assistive technology. Students use tools such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech software in their daily work. More on technology.
Course Areas
Courses are offered at the middle school and upper school levels, with some open to all grades.
Applied Technology
Hands-on courses in engineering, computer graphics, photography, and other digital tools, building skills students use in every class.
Art
Painting, drawing, sculpture, pottery, and art history at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. More on fine arts.
English
Separate middle school and upper school English courses develop reading comprehension, writing, and discussion, with Gow Method strategies built in.
Health
A health course that supports students' wellbeing and counts toward graduation.
History
History courses build knowledge of the world along with the reading, note-taking, and writing skills that college demands.
Math
Math taught step by step in small groups, so students can work at the level that fits them and move forward with confidence.
The Gow Method
Required throughout a student's time at Gow. Students are grouped by skill and work through phonics, spelling, vocabulary, and fluent reading.
Science
Lab sciences taught in the Wolbach Science Building and the Alice R. Gow Science Center, including biology, chemistry, and physics.
Keeping Families Informed
Families hear about academic progress eight times a year. At the end of each of the four marking periods, every teacher writes a one-page class report. In the middle of each marking period, the student's advisor sends comments too, so there are no surprises.
A School Day
- 45-minute classes on a seven-period rotating schedule
- Six classes per day, Monday through Friday
- Saturdays rotate between on and off-campus Academic Experiences and a half-day of classes
- Weekday tutorial at 3:00 p.m.
- Weekday study hall from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. (grades 5 to 8) or 8:30 p.m. (grades 9 to 12)
Sit In on a Class
The best way to understand our classrooms is to visit one.
Inquire (opens in a new tab)