We all remember the challenges of middle school and not many of us would be willing to repeat the experience. For girls especially, the middle school years are filled with social pressures, confidence and self-esteem challenges, and often, inherent bias in and out of the classroom. These challenges can cause middle school girls to stop aspiring for leadership positions and can harm their academic progress. But an all-girls middle school shifts the dynamic to help girls develop lifelong leadership skills and the mindset and drive required to become confident leaders.  

The Power of Environment: Where Every Leader is a Girl

In coed schools, leadership roles are often distributed between boys and girls, and as we see in the adult world, these roles are biased toward male participation. In an all-girls middle school, every leadership position, from student council to club presidency and team captain is filled by girls. Girls spend these formative years seeing the normalization of leadership by girls, and it empowers them to take initiative, raise their voices, and see themselves as capable leaders by default, not by exception. At GALS Denver, teachers encourage every girl to “take up space, own their power, and use their voice”—a philosophy that permeates the curriculum and day-to-day experience.​

Counteracting the Confidence Gap

Research shows that girls’ self-confidence typically drops starting at age 8. Lack of confidence reduces their willingness to take risks and can impact academic performance. However, this decline is not seen in all-girls middle schools, where the culture and curriculum are designed to foster girls growth and development. At GALS Denver, students report higher comfort speaking in class, exploring intellectual challenges, and supporting peers. Leadership is a part of their everyday experience, from small group projects to whole-school events.

I am so glad that my daughter has a supportive school environment during these formative years. She absolutely loves going to school every day!

~ Current GALS Parent

Leadership Through Curriculum: GALS Series

GALS Denver takes a very deliberate approach to leadership development. Every student participates in GALS Series, which focuses on core skills in mindfulness, wellness, voice, relationships and goal setting. From sixth to eighth grade, students progressively deepen their understanding of emotional intelligence and self-advocacy.

Movement Builds Confidence and Offers Leadership Opportunities

Physical movement is woven into the fabric of GALS Denver. Each day begins with forty-five minutes of physical activity, ranging from yoga and dance to team sports, helping girls build confidence in their bodies and develop resilience. Research shows that daily movement improves attention, mood, and executive function, further enabling students to step into leadership with energy and self-assurance. Girls also take on leadership roles in team sports, giving them an opportunity to practice and improve their leadership skills.

“Movement helped my daughter focus—brought joy, energy, and confidence into learning,” says one parent.

Breaking Stereotypes and Inspiring Ambition

All-girls middle schools challenge stereotypes about what girls can achieve by removing the casual reinforcement of gendered roles. Girls in single-gender environments are less likely to internalize the idea that certain subjects or activities “aren’t for them.” At GALS Denver, failure is reframed as an opportunity for growth, not a sign that a girl “wasn’t meant” for a role. The culture emphasizes resilience and risk-taking, essential traits of effective leaders.

Our approach to inclusiveness extends to our affinity groups like Black Queens Alliance, LatinX, and Rainbow, where girls celebrate diversity, build community, and exercise leadership in unique, identity-affirming ways. Signature events like International Women’s Day and GALympics give students public platforms for leading teams, raising awareness, and celebrating one another’s strengths.

Social-Emotional Learning: Leadership Through Connection

Academic learning is only half of leadership. GALS Denver’s strong focus on social-emotional learning helps middle school girls+ cultivate self-awareness, empathy, and emotional strength. Students participate in guided mindfulness, reflection, and goal setting, tools that strengthen the capacity to organize, plan, and persist through challenges. Cultivating these executive skills during middle school lays a lasting foundation for leadership in high school, college, and beyond.​

In a recent article by Rowen Kennedy for Bucket List Community Café, Kennedy reports that “GALS’s framework and curriculum have proven to be more helpful for young girls than an average middle school experience, with soaring performance metrics. GALS has been awarded green for its performance framework by the state of Colorado for the past two years.”

GALS Denver Executive Director Timeri Tolnay explained to Kennedy,

“We believe that’s because of the model that we use. The purpose of the wellness is that we all know that middle school is a tough time, and being an adolescent girl is hard. And so we learned early on that if we could provide mental health support on campus, we could help address some problems before they happen or right when they happen and help students kind of build their skills around their own social-emotional development.”

Family Partnerships and Community Impact

The GALS Denver model doesn’t just shape individual students; it supports entire families. Many parents report that their daughters thrive after transferring from more traditional settings, transforming school into a place of excitement, and belonging rather than anxiety. For families, knowing their daughters are seen, heard, and empowered is foundational.

The success is measurable: 91% of students view themselves as smart, 96% believe they will graduate high school, and 92% plan to attend college. In 2025, GALS Denver Middle School students scored 52% higher than the state average in English Language Arts and nearly 20% higher in Math. These academic achievements reflect a system where leadership is nurtured alongside intellect.

Why Leadership Matters Now

The broader world continues to offer leadership roles to women at a slower pace. Globally, only 30.6% of leadership positions are held by women (PDF). By investing in leadership skills early, all-girls middle schools equip students not only to excel academically but also to advocate, innovate, and guide others. Graduates leave with resilient confidence, critical thinking, and the ability to lead teams, communities, and companies.

Creating the Leaders the World Needs

The intentional design and daily experiences at all-girls middle schools like GALS Denver are one key to closing the leadership gap. By centering girls, celebrating voice, and offering every opportunity for leadership, these schools produce graduates ready to shape the future on their terms.

At GALS Denver, leadership development is not incidental, but central. Through carefully crafted environments, robust curriculum, daily movement, and community-driven learning, girls grow up knowing their ideas matter, their voices are powerful, and their future as women leaders is limitless.