Gilbert Middle School (GMS) remains dedicated to offering outstanding, real-world experiences that help all students in cultivating the attributes defined by the Lexington One Graduate Profile. Grounded in our core mission to Belong, Grow, and Serve, educators at GMS prioritize establishing learning environments based on effective teaching methods and the development of genuine connections with students and their families to promote a true sense of community.
World-Class Knowledge
Instructional practice at GMS focused on student success and growth. Our faculty remained committed to fostering academic progress. Teachers engaged in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) across grade-level content areas and vertical district teams, using continuous improvement cycles to build and align high-quality common formative assessments.
In the classroom, teachers consistently use digital formative assessment tools such as Blooket, Pear Deck, Schoology and interactive notebooks to check student understanding in real-time. Through targeted Tier 1 and Tier 2 small-group interventions and individualized student data conversations during Huddle time, GMS saw consistent academic growth. This growth is reflected in double-digit percentage-point increases from fall to spring in students scoring at or above grade level on i-Ready Math across sixth grade (+22 points), seventh grade (+17 points), and eighth grade (+13 points), alongside 10 to 11 point increases across all grade levels in i-Ready Reading.
World-Class Skills
GMS engages students in meaningful activities that build a positive culture. Our dedicated Huddle time provides periodic, individualized check-ins to support students' academic and behavioral needs while reflecting on their growth in Graduate Profile competencies.
Students are empowered to pursue their interests through diverse exploratory offerings, including Spanish immersion programs and a newly instituted Broadcasting Huddle that produces student-led biweekly broadcasts for the student body. We also emphasize innovative skills, proudly receiving a robotics grant and an innovation grant this year.
Life and Career Characteristics
Preparing students for the future means developing character and leadership alongside academics. Through our mission, students actively participate in mentoring, student clubs and student government. This year, our GMS Student Council was awarded the Gold Honor Council by the S.C. Association of Student Councils at the state convention, and our student council president received the prestigious Terry McCoy Hall of Fame Award for outstanding leadership. Furthermore, our FFA chapter demonstrated national excellence by winning the 2025 National Superior Chapter Award and placing first in the state for the agriscience fair.
Our robust arts programs achieved significant accolades. Chorus and band both earned Superior ratings at CPA, with multiple students selected for state and district Honor ensembles Our Musical theatre department successfully produced Freaky Friday.
GMS also offers a wide array of athletic opportunities with high participation across fall, winter and spring sports—including football, volleyball, cheer, wrestling, basketball, track, golf, soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball. Notably, dozens of our athletes compete on Gilbert High School freshmen and JV teams, and our programs brought home multiple all-conference and all-tournament awards.
Community involvement remains a cornerstone of GMS, highlighted by events such as Donuts with Grown-ups, Career Day, and proudly hosting the Middle School Special Olympics for the district. We also take pride in our ongoing campus beautification efforts, which included a new gym mural, vibrant campus signage, and the reopening of our gym concession stand.
Dr. Stephanie Burgess, Principal
Harriet Coker, SIC Chair
