About us

Education Reimagined

MSGA is a school specifically designed to engage and challenge gifted learners, igniting their curiosity and awakening a lifelong love of learning.

Who we are

Mid-South Gifted Academy is a mastery-based school for gifted learners in grades K-9. We are committed to partnering with families to develop personalized learning goals that link to student interests and allow for challenge, acceleration, and enrichment.

what is giftedness

Is MSGA the best choice for your children? Click here to view our "Traits of Giftedness" checklist. After you've completed it, please review the text about next possible steps.

the msga difference

MSGA is not your traditional school. Our curriculum, instruction, and classrooms reflect our desire to create a joyful, purposeful, and challenging learning environment.

Our Story

As gifted teachers and parents of gifted learners, we watched as standardization stole the joy of learning from our children. After years of searching for a full-time gifted program that would challenge them academically and develop them creatively, we created what we couldn’t find anywhere else – a school designed to engage and challenge gifted learners.

Developing Innovators & World Changers

Our 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.

Dynamic, Joyful, & Challenging

Our 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.

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

Who We Are

Our Beliefs

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 thrive when given opportunities to learn at a personalized pace.

Our students’ abilities to create and innovate will positively impact their future
and the world.

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.

"I wish I could put into words how much we love MSGA. We chose this school for our two boys and could not imagine them anywhere else. MSGA gives children the ability to learn at their own pace instead of at their grade level standard, which is so crucial for gifted learners. In addition to their core subjects, they get to delve into topics of their own interests. This environment creates such a zest for learning. Both of our children have shown tremendous academic and social growth since August. They LOVE going to school now, and every single day they come home saying their day was amazing. We love MSGA!"

Bert and Kami S.

"This school is a perfect fit for my daughter. We love how she feels comfortable bringing her full range of abilities to the classroom and how the teachers encourage her unique gifts and are constantly challenging her further. The best part though is that they know her and see her truly. The teachers and administration are sincere and aligned with their mission. This is the real deal."

Janette K.

"We could not be happier with our son's experience at MSGA! The guides truly get to know each student and inspire each child's love for learning. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves, be problem solvers, and are taught important social/emotional skills that foster a collaborative environment."

Shannon and Mark H.

"I cannot say enough great things about Mid-South Gifted Academy and the positive effect it has had on my daughter. At last there is an alternative to the “one size fits all” education offered in traditional schools. Daily interaction with students of all ages, Socratic discussions, personalized curriculum, low student/teacher ratios, and a nurturing environment exist at Mid-South Gifted Academy. It is apparent that the dedication and commitment shown by all in this exceptional and unique environment is destined to ensure both academic success and the emotional and social growth of each student."

Debbie E.

"Our son is excited to go to school everyday now that he attends MSGA. He is allowed to follow his passions (math and computer programming) and really focus and refine those skills daily. He is constantly challenged in all subjects, and enjoys the challenge because the guides at MSGA spend a tremendous amount of effort finding how each student works and learns best."

Jennifer D.

"My daughter has grown so much as a learner at MSGA! She loves talking about the amazing projects that she is working on. She is able to reach her full potential and strives to learn new things every day. She really loves the friends she has made at MSGA. Her teachers truly care about her as a person."

Stacy H.