10 Ways to Convince Anyone to Attend Goshen Schools

Question: Why would anyone want to attend Goshen Community Schools?

A better question is: Why wouldn’t they?!!

Goshen Community Schools serves more than 6,250 students and does so exceptionally well, offering a diverse learning community, dedicated educators, top-notch academic programs, and a wealth of extracurricular opportunities in athletics and the arts.

So if you’re looking for a school district — or maybe you’d like to explain to others why you’re more than proud to call GCS your educational home! — we’ve come up with a short list of reasons why Goshen Schools is the best district around.

You can register your child for kindergarten in Goshen Community Schools or learn more about registration at any Goshen public school online here.

Professionals Who Care

The teachers are among the best-trained in the country, committed to each student. GCS teachers offer the personalized learning of a private school, with the opportunities that only a large public school can offer.

10 Ways to Convince Anyone to Attend Goshen Community Schools • The Good of Goshen

Student Diversity: We Are the World

Our schools are rich with student diversity. Much like Goshen and the greater global society, the student demographics mirror the future of our nation and the world.

To encourage global awareness, GCS offers world language study for students beginning at the elementary level as well as a Dual Language Immersion (DLI) option for our youngest learners.

Honored for Excellence

Goshen schools have been recognized for excellence at all grade levels and for a variety of distinctions. GCS honors include:

• In 2023, Goshen Community Schools received a $50,000 award from the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET). During NIET’s national conference, GCS was surprised with the District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness.

• In 2022, Weigand Construction, Barton Coe Vilamaa Architects, and Goshen Community Schools were recognized at the annual Michiana Builders Association (MBA) “Excellence in Construction Awards” banquet for the Goshen Intermediate School project.

• In 2021, Parkside Elementary was named a U.S. News Best Elementary School by U.S. News & World Report. Ranked #126 (out of 1016), Parkside placed among the top 30% of all Indiana elementary schools.

• In 2021, GCS was recognized as “One of the Best Communities for Music Education”.

• In 2021, NIET announced that Prairie View Elementary had earned $10,000 for its selection as a NIET Founder’s Award finalist.

• In 2021, Goshen High School engineering technology teacher Jen Yoder was selected as a top ten finalist for Indiana Teacher of the Year.

• In 2019, GCS was among theU.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Awardees.

• In 2018, West Goshen Elementary was awarded the NIET Founder’s Award. Acknowledging the staff’s hard work and success with student improvement, the award came with $50,000!

Tech Ready

Students becoming tech-proficient is a top goal for GCS. Teachers integrate school-issued Chromebooks and iPads into classroom work as students learn and prepare for their futures.

Career and Academic Opportunities

Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, GHS will offer Early College, which blends high school credits and college courses in a rigorous, yet supportive, program. Students can complete a high school diploma and the first two years of college in just four years. When students earn college credits in high school, families can save significantly on college costs!

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program at GHS has been in place since 2008. IB is a worldwide curriculum aimed at developing knowledgeable, inquiring, and caring young people. In addition to Early College, GHS Students can earn college credits through IB, Advanced Placement (AP), Advance College Project (ACP), and Ivy Tech.

GCS also offers internships, a state-of-the-art manufacturing lab, apprenticeships, Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training, construction classes, and building trades. GHS students can earn industry-recognized credentials while still in high school!

Connections

Our elementary schools are “neighborhood schools” with smaller class sizes and a friendly, family atmosphere! They are home to innovative learning programs where student learning focuses on student engagement, top-quality student work, and character development.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go

GCS students learn both in and out of the classroom — sometimes way out of the classroom.

GHS trips include a marine biology trip to the Florida Keys, a theater trip to Stratford, Ontario, and language, art, and culture trips to Europe. GJHS trips include a P.E. trip to the Colorado Rockies and a social studies trip to Washington D.C.

Fine & Visual Arts

Goshen Community Schools believes in educating the whole child by offering them opportunities to express their creativity in the arts. Band, choir, orchestra, art, and drama are all offered at the elementary, intermediate, junior high, and high school levels, and are wonderful components of a well-rounded GCS education. Talented student musicians and artists consistently earn awards at both the state and national levels.

Something for Everyone

At GCS, we believe that students do better socially and academically when they are engaged in their school community. Goshen students of all ages have a range of extracurricular activities from which to choose. Activities include athletics, eSports, music, theater, chess club, academic teams and competitions, foreign language clubs, student publications, photography and art clubs, student broadcasting, student government, and service clubs.

GCS wants students to be involved, and there are definitely plenty of places for them to participate!

Updated Facilities

GCS wants to provide students with facilities that make them proud of their schools, so caring for and updating facilities is a priority.

Recent updates at GHS include a new music wing, a top-notch weight room, a turf football field, new bleachers and a press box for the football stadium, state-of-the-art science labs, and new, technology-rich classrooms, manufacturing labs, and an Alumni Plaza. GJHS updates include a natatorium, new cafeteria/kitchen spaces, updated music rooms, and a new welcome center.

A new intermediate school, for grades 5 & 6, opened at the start of the 2021-22 school year. In conjunction with that construction project, other GCS schools received safety and security upgrades, along with other minor cosmetic updates.

Goshen Community Schools is a place where people care – and they would love to welcome you there!

Read on!

This list is only the beginning. Learn more about the school system’s innovative extracurricular programs and empowering educational methods by clicking the stories and videos below.