Mid-South Gifted Academy is a mastery-based school for intellectually gifted students in in the Memphis area. We are committed to partnering with families to develop individualized learning goals that allow for challenge, acceleration, and enrichment. Our focus on engaging, integrated, project-based learning prepares our students for their future by developing creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. At MSGA, gifted learners are empowered to reach their fullest potential within a community of learners who support each other’s academic and social/ emotional growth.
Mission
The mission of Mid-South Gifted Academy is to develop innovators and world changers by creating opportunities for children to discover and use their gifts, talents, and passions.
Vision
Our vision is to create a dynamic, joyful, and challenging school experience for gifted learners that honors individual strengths and abilities, prioritizes strong relationships, and grants children the freedom to learn in order to fully develop their potential.
Beliefs
Given that intellectually gifted children require differentiated educational opportunities beyond those typically provided by the regular education program, we believe:
- Our students thrive when given opportunities to learn at a personalized pace.
- Our students’ academic, social, and emotional growth are of equal importance.
- Our students flourish in a joyful learning environment that fosters a sense of belonging, significance, and fun.
- Our students’ abilities to create and innovate will positively impact their future and the world.
Our Promise
At Mid-South Gifted Academy, your child will
- Be loved
- Be empowered to learn
- Experience joy and purpose in learning
- Learn to set and achieve goals
- Be appropriately challenged
- Have a sense of belonging as part of a collaborative learning community
- Have time to wonder, dream, think, and create
- Pursue passions and interests
- Learn to be a critical thinker and creative problem solver
- Develop grit and resilience by taking healthy risks
- Build confidence and self-efficacy
Our Academic Focus
The academic focus of Mid-South Gifted Academy is the incorporation of standard school subjects (language arts, reading, mathematics, science and social studies) into personalized and project-based learning opportunities. Methods such as Reading, Writing, and Math Workshops, student blogging, personal goal-setting, Academic Choice, and Socratic discussions reinforce key concepts and allow for demonstration of mastery. With support from guides (teachers), our students also use the latest adaptive technologies for personalized learning at their own pace.
At MSGA, we believe learning should be active, relevant, and transferable. We strive to create a learning environment where kids have an abundance of time for reading, writing, researching, thinking, questioning, exploring, goal-setting, reflecting, designing, creating, drawing, painting, building, experimenting, wondering, collaborating, discussing, presenting, playing, coding, problem-solving, and persevering.
Utilizing the concept of Journeys and Explorations, students work on specific projects in 3 to 6 week blocks. Projects ask students to solve real-world problems incorporating aspects of past and future innovations and discoveries to help students understand that solutions happen within a social framework based on society’s needs. Each academic quarter, students complete a project presentation in front of parents and community members to demonstrate their learning. The project-based curriculum follows a historical progression of innovation and discovery beginning in the ancient world all the way to the modern world.
Students choose from a variety of methods during each project to fit their academic needs. Projects also involve community leaders, innovators, scientists, and real-world practitioners where appropriate. This reinforces the need for discovery and how it applies in solving problems in people’s daily lives.
Mid-South Gifted Academy uses an evidence-based approach to education called Responsive Classroom that focuses on the strong relationship between academic success and social-emotional learning.
“The opening of MSGA could not have been more timely for our son who had been identified in his public elementary school as gifted but was still experiencing frustration arising from the limitations of the typical classroom setting. The passion that the school’s founders and staff have for this concept is evident and this helps to foster the love of learning that our son had started to lose. They are addressing his academic as well as his social/emotional needs by allowing him to progress at his pace while fostering his willingness to try new things.
MSGA also provides resources and support to parents who are learning what it means to be the parents of a gifted learner and all that encompasses. We are very grateful to have this option for our son and have enjoyed getting to know the other families in this new venture.”
-Shannon H.
“Enrolling my son, Andrew, in Mid-South Gifted Academy has been the best decision we have made as parents. MSGA has given him the opportunity to explore his creativity and tap into potential in a way that he was unable to do in the typical classroom. Andrew has re-gained his self-confidence and eagerness to learn.
MSGA teaches independent learning with the student directing his own path all the while incorporating the fundamentals. My son thrives in this environment where he holds the reins to his own success. MSGA provides an environment that truly nurtures, encourages, and celebrates each student, and this is why I can drop Andrew off at school knowing with certainty that he couldn’t be in a better place both academically and socially.”
-Ana F.
“Joining the ‘disruptive and reimagined education’ at MSGA has been life changing for our son. We have seen his joy in learning return and he is benefiting daily from the personalized approach that meets him where he is and stretches him to achieve mastery. He loves school now. He loves being responsible for his own education and having hands-on opportunities as well as having guides who listen and support his goal-setting and problem-solving. Mid-South Gifted Academy is an answer to years of prayer and we are infinitely grateful for this life-changing, soul enriching experience. Every afternoon is now full of childhood and a recap of the amazing day’s activities instead of homework and detoxing from the day. MSGA’s focus on mindful, purposeful learning has created an environment where freedom of expression, curiosity, and even failure are all valuable ingredients for success.”
-Lauren U.