Gompers Charter Middle School was created in 2005 to establish a college preparatory urban school to prepare children, both academically and socially, for success in the UC / CSU college system and in the professional world beyond. The school has developed strong practices to ensure a climate of safety that is conducive to learning.

The mission of Gompers Charter Middle School, in partnership with the University of California, San Diego and our community, is to accelerate academic achievement for ALL students through a college preparatory culture and curriculum.

The process of becoming a charter school required intense commitment and involvement from parents, teachers, students, and staff. View a presentation that was given to the San Diego School Board by a GCMS student in support of the school reform efforts. Watch a video of Maryam's presentation to the San Diego School Board.

Sample Materials

• GCMS Planning Timeline 2004-05

  Download (.pdf 51.2 KB)

  This timeline shows the major steps that GCMS took in the charter school planning process.

  
  

• The GCMS Story: Successes and Goals

  Download (.pdf 68.6 KB)

  This chart shows their key strategies and planning for the first three years in becoming a charter school.

  
  

• Gompers-UCSD Partnership: Achieving Academic Excellence

  Download (.pdf 1.4 MB)

  This PowerPoint presentation outlines some of the support that Gompers received by working in partnership with UCSD.

  
  

• Girard Foundation Award Letter

  Download (.pdf 60.6 KB)

  This is the award letter to CCSA for start-up funding for two conversion charter schools.

  
  

• GCMS Professional Development Rules of Engagement

  Download (.pdf 56.6 KB)

  This document shows the norms developed for staff training to create a professional learning environment.

  
  

• Culture Camp Lesson: The First Two Weeks of School

  Download (.pdf 61.1 KB)

  This document outlines what is most important for GCMS students to learn during the first two weeks of school.

  
  

• Culture Camp Agenda

  Download (.pdf 86.4 KB)

  This agenda focuses on training staff using model lessons to discuss which behaviors teachers expect from students.

  
  

• Creating a School Culture at GCMS

  Download (.pdf 87.8 KB)

  This document shows the agenda for the GCMS professional staff meeting that focused on common classroom structures and procedures for creating a schoolwide culture.

  
  

• Culture Lessons Schedule
  

  This chart outlines the schedule for delivering school culture lessons to students during the first week of school.

  
  

• Staff Dress Code

  Download (.pdf 34.6 KB)

  This document specifies the dress code required for GCMS staff and campus security.

  
  

• GCMS Behavior Plan "The GCMS Way"

  Download (.pdf 291.9 KB)

  This document is from the student handbook outlining expectations, rules, and procedures for student behavior.

  
  

• Encore-Extended Day Program Schedule

  Download (.pdf 78.9 KB)

  This schedule shows the after-school program provided at GCMS, including electives such as arts and crafts, math tutoring, and ballet folklorico.

  
  

• GCMS Parent Volunteer Opportunities

  Download (.pdf 1.3 MB)

  This chart highlights volunteer opportunities for parents at the school.

  
  

• Parent Engagement Flow Chart

  Download (.pdf 44.4 KB)

  This chart shows specific times and assignments for parent volunteers.

  
  

• GCMS Family Support Center, Calendar of Direct Services

  Download (.pdf 129.6 KB)

  This chart shows the parenting classes offered by the GCMS family support center.

  
  

• GCMS Effective Parenting Classes

  Download (.pdf 267.2 KB)

  This is a flyer announcing GCMS parenting classes.

  
  

• Gompers Hiring Materials

  Download (.doc 33 KB)

  GCMS requires teacher applicants to complete a rigorous process, ensuring that staff are aligned with the school mission and vision.

  
  

• GCMS 2006-07 Leadership Roles and Responsibilities

  Download (.pdf 183.9 KB)

  This document outlines the roles and responsibilities of the executive and instructional leadership teams at GCMS. An organizational chart is also included.

  
  

• GCMS Workgroup Committee

  Download (.pdf 78.7 KB)

  The GCMS workgroup convened on October 21, 2004 for the first time to begin planning their "dream school." This documents their initial ideas for planning the school.

  
  

• GCMS Board Agenda and Minutes

  Download (.pdf 570.9 KB)

  This agenda is an example of a typical board of directors meeting for GCMS, including reports from the director, the finance committee, development, board affairs, and family community environment committees.

  
  

• GCMS 2007-08 Funding Priorities

  Download (.pdf 1.7 MB)

  This document outlines the funding priorities for GCMS and shows how they align with the goals for the school.

  
  

• GCMS Student Support Teams: A Problem-Solving Process

  Download (.pdf 503.3 KB)

  This document outlines an SST process used to develop an intervention plan and monitoring process for serving all at-risk students.

  
  

• GCMS Learning Contract

  Download (.pdf 57.9 KB)

  This document logs individual student academic results and selected academic interventions and supports.

  
  

• GCMS Saturday Academy

  Download (.pdf 1.1 MB)

  This flyer invites students to receive small-group tutoring in academic subject areas from teachers and college tutors.

  
  

• Distinctive Features of GCMS

  Download (.pdf 40.1 KB)

  This document describes how the school day can be expanded to allow for longer academic periods and after-school academic electives.

  
  

• Gompers and Keiller Foundation Proposal Request

  Download (.pdf 97.9 KB)

  This document provides an example of a foundation proposal from CCSA representing two schools to help them in their restructuring efforts.

  
  

Related Links

• Gompers Charter Middle School Website
  

  Check out the Gompers Charter Middle School website.

• Gompers in the News
  

  Article in the news about Gompers Charter Middle School, 9/6/2008.