Accelerated Programs

Additional Testing dates will be available by emailing Jimmie.Mckinley@gcpsk12.org before Friday, May 9th.

Berkeley Elementary will test students on April 25th, 2025.

B.B. Harris Elementary will test students on May 2nd, 2025.

Chesney Elementary will test students Thursday, May 1st at 9am.

No. Courses that earn a high school Carnegie credit at DMS will not be used in the grade point average (GPA) calculation for high school, which determines class rank, valedictorian, honor graduate, etc.

Courses than earn a high school Carnegie credit at DMS will not be used in GPA calculations for the HOPE scholarship acccording to current Georgia Student Finance Commission rules for HOPE.

Both semester grades (not yearly average) will be used to determine credit earned. If your student successfully passes both semesters a "P" will be placed on the transcript and not a grade. A "P" will eaual 1.0 unit of credit earned. 

If a Mileston EOC assessment is mandated by the State of Georgia, the student will be required to participate in the assessment to earn the Carnegie unit.

Parents will be required to sign the Carnegie Unit Credit Decision form at the end of the school year indicating whether the grade for the course(s) taken will be counted for middle school crdit or as a Carnegie unit towards high school graduation. Students may not earn 1/2 Carnegie creidt for courses.

No. Our 6th Grade courses are connections courses. High School Carnegie unit opporunities begin in the 7th Grade with Spanish and 7th Grade Spanish for Natives.

7th Grade Spanish and Wildcat Extension Spanish for Natives are both two year commitments. Students must complete 7th Grade and 8th Grade years of Spanish or Spanish for Natives to receive Carnegie Unit credit.

If no form is returned, the student will not receive the Carnegie unit credit for high school.

All students at DMS for the 2025-26 school year will be enrolled into Accelerated Science. There is no assessment for entry into this new course for our school.

The Accelerated Math pretest is free.

No, these classes take place during normal school hours.                        

No, 5th grade Gifted students will be automatically enrolled in Accelerated Math as long as their Georgia Milestones and iReady scores indicate that they have the ability to be successful in the class.

In our Foundations of Computer Programming class, sixth graders will learn the basics of how computers work and how to create with them. The class covers several areas, including understanding computer parts where students will get to see what's inside a computer and learn to identify the different pieces. We'll also focus on solving problems like a computer, teaching students how to think logically and break down problems step-by-step, which is a key skill in computer programming. Furthermore, students will learn the basics of creating software and explore how to make their own digital projects. Throughout the class, students will get hands-on experience by working with real computer parts and designing their own computer programs collaboratively. This class will also give them a first look at different careers in the world of computers, including computer science; MakeCode Robotics with the Finch Robot, where they'll learn to program robots using a fun and visual platform; and an introduction to Python programming, a popular computer language used to create many kinds of software. The intent of this class is to engage students in the exploding world of STEM education by making learning about computers engaging and understandable for all students, while also giving them a glimpse into future possibilities.

Spanish and Computer Science Academic Extension Interest Form

DMS students begin their Spanish learning experience in the 6th grade connections class where students begin to explore the Spanish language with emphasis on the cultures of Spanish speaking countries. At DMS, students exchange basic greetings, farewells, and expressions of courtesy orally and in writing; respond to classroom directions in Spanish; identify vocabulary and respond to simple questions on a variety of topics such as weather, time, family, home, school, and food and; develop an awareness of perspectives, practices, and products of the cultures where Spanish is spoken.

Spanish and Computer Science Academic Extension Interest Form

The SNS program at DMS is designed for heritage and native speakers of Spanish. Students develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, as they explore issues related to the identity of heritage speakers in the US and Hispanic cultures, including language variation, customs, geography, history, and current events.

SNS I at DMS is offered as a 2-year cohorted advanced course as follows: the high school semester 1 content taught in 7th grade and the high school semester 2 content taught in 8th grade. Rising 7th graders at DMS are identified from their PHLOTE and academic readiness.

We are excited to announce that Duluth Middle School will be providing a new opportunity for many of our rising 7th graders beginning in Fall 2025. Our Rising 7th Graders will have the chance to select an enriched experience beyond the academic day with our newly offered Spanish for Natives course.

Taking Spanish for Natives at Duluth Middle School will equip our students with essential skills for the future. This course will provide a unique academic opportunity to enhance language proficiency, cultural knowledge, and linguistic skills for students who are already proficient in Spanish and will contribute to the school’s overall goal of offering an accelerated curriculum. The course will span the entire school year, allowing students to strengthen their writing, reading, and grammar skills while also expanding their understanding of literature and cultural nuances. At Duluth Middle School we believe “Being Bilingual is Our Superpower." 

Interest Form for Fall 2025 Spanish for Natives Wildcat Extension Course

Biology is a foundational course covering fundamental biological concepts, theories, and principles, and experimental science projects. Our DMS students are engage in hands-on laboratory and field work to investigate biological concepts and learn about the relationships between organisms and their environment, including the flow of energy and matter in ecosystems.  Additionally, our DMS students explore the relationships between the structures and functions of living cells and organisms and the concept of biological evolution and the changes that occur in populations over time. 

We are excited to announce that Duluth Middle School will be providing a new opportunity for your rising 8th grader beginning in Fall 2025. Your child will have the chance to select an enriched experience beyond the academic day with our newly offered Biology course.

Taking Biology at Duluth Middle School will equip our students with essential skills for the future. This course will offer an advanced introduction to the biological sciences, laying the foundation for high school-level science education while supporting our broader goal of providing an accelerated curriculum for our students.

Interest Form for Fall 2025 Biology Wildcat Extension Course

Accelerated Learning:

Aligned with high school standards, preparing your child for advanced Spanish while earning a Carnegie Unit toward graduation

• 6th grade - Engage students through storytelling and visual support
• 7th grade – Introduce grammar concepts along with relevant vocabulary (cover the curriculum from 1st semester of high school)
• 8th grade – Continue introducing more advanced grammar concepts (cover the curriculum from 2nd semester of high school)

Real-World Relevance:     

Acquiring a second language helps a child improve cognitive abilities, enhance communicative skills, and broaden career opportunities. A second language is a mandatory requirement for colleges.

Why Start Learning Spanish Early?

Studies suggest there is a specific window in early life during which individuals can acquire language with native-like fluency, generally considered to be from birth to puberty. 
 

The SNS program at DMS is designed for heritage and native speakers of Spanish. Students develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, as they explore issues related to the identity of heritage speakers in the US and Hispanic cultures, including language variation, customs, geography, history, and current events.

Examining the Teaching Profession is a high school level course, offered for 8th grade students here at Duluth Middle School. This course provides students with an introduction to the field of education, exploring various aspects of teaching and learning.

Students will be introduced to the world of education of the past and today, teaching strategies, human growth and development, classroom management, public speaking, planning for instruction, technology in the classroom, and measuring whether learning has taken place. 

Students will have the unique opportunity to work closely with mentor teachers at the school, gaining hands-on experience and insights into the daily responsibilities and challenges of educators. Additionally, they will participate in the Play2Learn program, which emphasizes learning through play and interactive activities, fostering a deeper understanding of educational concepts and child development.

This course aims to inspire and prepare students who are interested in pursuing a career in education, while also developing valuable skills such as communication, leadership, and teamwork.

Teaching as a Profession Application

Biology is a foundational course covering fundamental biological concepts, theories, and principles, and experimental science projects. Our DMS students are engage in hands-on laboratory and field work to investigate biological concepts and learn about the relationships between organisms and their environment, including the flow of energy and matter in ecosystems.  Additionally, our DMS students explore the relationships between the structures and functions of living cells and organisms and the concept of biological evolution and the changes that occur in populations over time. 

We are excited to announce that Duluth Middle School will be providing a new opportunity for your rising 8th grader beginning in Fall 2025. Your child will have the chance to select an enriched experience beyond the academic day with our newly offered Biology course.

Taking Biology at Duluth Middle School will equip our students with essential skills for the future. This course will offer an advanced introduction to the biological sciences, laying the foundation for high school-level science education while supporting our broader goal of providing an accelerated curriculum for our students.

Interest Form for Fall 2025 Biology Wildcat Extension Course