Gaston
Middle School
Academic Program of Excellence
Gaston has an academic program of excellence that matches the excellence of our state-of-the-art facility.
Gaston Middle School
Why should you send your student to Gaston?
- Gaston offers an excellent and unique educational program that will prepare your student for future success.
- Gaston has a state-of-the-art facility which opened in 2014.
- 35 classrooms
- 3 state of the art CTE classrooms
- Presentation Room
- High school size gym
- Full array of athletic fields including lighted fields
- Full support for student health needs with an onsite clinic ran by our partner Clinica Sierra Vista
- Gaston has a diverse teaching staff that matches the diversity of our student population.
- Gaston offers a safe environment with:
- Single points of entry for safety
- Interior classrooms
- 3 Campus Safety Assistants
- 1 School Resource Officer
- Re-engagement Center Teacher, Tier II Intervention Specialist, Restorative Practices Counselor, and Social Worker
- Gaston’s Guidelines for Success are Centered on Respect, Optimizing Opportunities, Attitude Matters, and Resilience Rewards (R.O.A.R.).
- Learn more about Gaston in the news by clicking here
How does Gaston compare to its neighboring middle school?
| Gaston (Edison Region) | Computech (Edison Region) | |
| # of periods in the day | 7 (Tuesday – Friday) with 8 periods on Monday for Advisory | 8 periods |
| Type of schedule | Traditional Schedule (with periods around 51 minutes in length) | Block schedule |
| Start time | 8:05 | 8:30 |
| Number of Elective Courses Students can choose | 2 | 2 |
| Offers elective courses that feed into Edison High Pathway offerings | Yes | Yes |
| Offers GATE Classes | Yes | Yes |
| Offers Algebra 1 for High School Credit | Yes | Yes |
| Offers Spanish courses for High School Credit | Yes | Yes |
| Offers Hmong course for High School Credit | Yes | No |
| Offers Ethnic Studies | Yes (5 sections) | Yes (1 section) |
| Offers Men’s and Women’s Alliance | Yes | Yes |
| Offers array of Band/Music courses | Yes | Yes |
| Offers array of CTE courses | Yes | Yes |
| Size of student population | 825 | 826 |
| Magnet School | No | Yes (application process to enroll) |
| Diverse student population | Yes African American = 13.2% American Indian or Alaska Native = .4% Asian = 6.3% Filipino = 0% Hispanic or Latino = 75.5% Pacific Islander = .4% White = 2.2% Two or more races = 2.1% |
Yes African American = 5.1% American Indian or Alaska Native = .7% Asian = 10.5% Filipino = 1.2% Hispanic or Latino = 67.4% Pacific Islander = .5% White = 11.9% Two or more races = 2.7% |
7th and 8th Grade Programs
Gaston has a unique academic program in order to ensure that the students of Southwest Fresno have the greatest amount of opportunities open to them during middle school to set them up for success in high school. As a part of our program ALL Gaston we offer:
- 7 courses each day, with 5 core classes and 2 elective offerings. Having 2 elective offerings allows students more options to take classes that peek their interest and opens up the possibility to earn more high school credits while in middle school.
- Gate Classes similar to those found at other middle schools and our sister middle school Computech.
- High school level courses for high school credit – Algebra 1, Spanish 1, Spanish 2, Spanish for Native Speakers, and Hmong for Native Speakers.
- A wide array of Electives:
- Leadership
- Ethnic Studies (we are the ONLY middle school in Fresno that offers 5 full sections of this course!! – great opportunity to enrich your student’s understanding of others)
- Full Music Program: Beginning Band, Intermediate Band, Orchestra, Exploring Music, and Choir
- Folklorico
- Information Technology
- Arts and Media
- Engineering and Design
- Art and Advanced Art
- Women’s and Men’s Alliance
What classes will Gaston students have?
| Course | 7th Grade | 8th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| English | English 7 / English 7G | English 8 / English 8G |
| History | World History | US History |
| Math | Math 7 / Math 7 Accelerated | Math 8 / Algebra 1 |
| Science | Science 7 | Science 8 |
| Physical Education | Physical Ed 7 | Physical Ed 8 |
| Elective 1 | Information Technology (ALL 7th Graders) | Choice Elective 1 |
| Elective 2 | Choice Elective 2 | Choice Elective 2 |
| Advisory Period |
More Information about courses offered:
Performing Arts
Beginning Band: Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of reading music, performance with band instruments, and basics of music theory.
Intermediate Band: Students will build upon their previous knowledge and playing abilities. Students will advance their understanding of grade level playing techniques as well as develop advanced techniques of musical blending, balance, and intonation.
Beginning Orchestra: Students will be introduced student to stringed instruments, the fundamentals of music reading and performance and orchestral instruments, as well as the basics of music theory.
Intermediate Orchestra: Students will build upon their previous knowledge and playing abilities. Students will advance their understanding of grade level playing techniques as well as develop the more advanced techniques of musical blend, balance, and intonation.
Explo Music: Students will be introduced to music, fundamentals of music reading, performance of instruments, and basics of music theory.
Chorus: Choir presents opportunities for students to develop their singing ability and to build skill in reading music.
Folklorico (Listed as Explo Fitness/Health on Atlas): Folklorico is a class designed to introduce students to the rich and diverse world of Mexican folk dance.
Arts / Humanities
Art: Students will learn the basics of art, develop drawing skills and learn to work with many kinds of art material.
Ethnics Studies: This course uses assigned readings, class lectures, discussion, and popular media to offer a broad introduction to the major periods and themes in a variety of cultures, history, languages, foods, etc.
Leadership
Leadership: Student will be introduced to principles of leadership taught in a collaborative group setting, plan school wide engagement activities for the purpose of promoting a positive campus culture and climate.
Men’s Alliance: Student will develop personal behavior & academic skills that will lead to success in and outside of the classroom.
Women’s Alliance: Student will develop personal behavior & academic skills that will lead to success in and outside of the classroom.
Foreign Language
*Spanish I: This course is an introduction to the language through vocabulary and grammatical structures presented through thematic units with an emphasis on oral, listening, reading and writing expressions.
*Spanish II -8th Grade Only: This class is an intermediate level Spanish course that builds on the content learned in Spanish I.
*Spanish for Native Speakers I – 8th Grade Only: This course is designed for students whose home language is either exclusively Spanish or bilingual Spanish/English. Emphasis is on acquisition of academic Spanish as well as advancement in reading comprehension and writing ability.
*Hmong for Native Speakers I -8th Grade Only: This course is designed for students whose home language is either exclusively Hmong or bilingual Hmong/English. Emphasis is on acquisition of academic Hmong as well as advancement in reading comprehension and writing ability.
STEM Pathways:
Exploring Information Technology: This class is offered to introduce, refresh and enhance basic computer skills. Keyboarding and use of Microsoft programs will be emphasized. This course prepares students to apply technology expertise in all of their school subjects and beyond.
Exploring Arts & Media: This course will introduce students to basic video production, digital photography, website design, video game design, and creation of multimedia presentations.
Exploring Engineering & Design: Students trace the history, development, and influence of automation and robotics as they learn about mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems.
Intro to Computer Science: Computer Science introduces students to computer science with fundamental topics that include problem solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data, algorithms, analysis of potential solutions.
Exploring Health & Medical Technology: This course is for Gaston students interested in the medical field. Students investigate various health conditions, determine contributing factors, and investigate lifestyle choices and medical treatments. This course is in alignment with Edison High School’s Biomedical Pathway
Gaston Middle School (Images)
