The Natomas Unified Board of Trustees voted tonight for a districtwide realignment in which 6th grade students will attend middle school starting next year. Those students will choose among attending three campuses that will offer expanded programs, enhanced services, and unique academic options.
“The Board of Trustees’ action tonight gives parents and students the opportunity to choose whether students experience the International Baccalaureate candidate program at Natomas Middle or explore college and career options in Automation/Robotics (Pre-Engineering), Health, Visual Arts/Technology or Business at Natomas Gateways and Leroy Greene Academy,” Superintendent Chris Evans said. “Along with increased access to athletics, arts/music, and honors/accelerated access for GATE students, we’re excited about the opportunities this transition provides our students.”
Leroy Greene Academy, Natomas Gateways Middle School and Natomas Middle School will offer expanded peer mentoring, athletics, music and art programs, as well as class schedules to accommodate sixth-grade needs. GATE students will have options for taking acceleration and honors courses. Each campus also will provide unique academic or elective opportunities:
- Natomas Gateways Middle School is the only NUSD campus to assign every student a Chromebook laptop for use in class and at home. The school offers academic pathways in Health and Automation/Robotics, providing a solid foundation for students to participate in Natomas High School’s health or health-care or engineering programs in coming years. NGMS offers Spanish as its world language.
- Leroy Greene Academy has pathways for students to study Business Marketing or Visual Arts and Technology. It is a Bring-Your-Own-Device school, meaning it focuses on technology and students are asked to bring their own laptop or other computer device to class with them. Spanish is available as a world language.
- Natomas Middle School is in the process of qualifying as an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, which would prepare students for Inderkum High School’s IB Diploma Programme if they desire. NMS offers classroom Chromebooks, iPad carts, a renowned orchestra/chorus program, and it is the only NUSD middle school teaching both Spanish and Mandarin as world languages. As part of its IB program, NMS offers a Design course as well.
All three NUSD middle schools compete in interscholastic and intramural sports. Teams will be fielded for flag football, volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball, girls soccer, boys soccer and wrestling, although the latter will not be offered by LGA next year.
