The Case for GALS in 2025

When one GALS parent thinks back to her daughter’s elementary school years, the memory is painful: constant tears, daily battles to even get her through the school doors, and weeks of missed classes because the anxiety was too much. Today, that same student wakes up excited to go to school. “She cannot wait,” her mom wrote. “So, I think you’re doing something really great there.”

Another parent described what it meant for their daughter to transfer to GALS after experiencing bullying. They called the school a safe haven. “From the moment she arrived, GALS became a place where she could be herself,” they reflected. “That has meant everything.”

These stories are not exceptions. They represent what GALS Denver delivers for families every day.

Why GALS Matters

Girls+ across Colorado face challenges that threaten their future potential:

Academic performance: Middle school is a pivotal moment when girls often experience declines in math and science. Research shows that in high school, exposure to high-achieving male peers can negatively affect girls’ STEM achievement. At GALS, 88% of students say they are good math or science students. Read more from the National Bureau of Economic Research here.
Mental health: Between 2017 and 2021, the rate of poor mental health among Colorado adolescents doubled. In 2021, ER visits for suicide attempts by adolescent girls rose 51% compared to 2019. At GALS, more than 70% of students report having the mental health support they need to focus on learning. Read more from the Colorado Health Institute here..
Leadership potential: Progress for women in leadership remains slow. Women hold 30.6% of leadership roles worldwide, despite representing nearly half of the workforce. GALS develops leadership early by creating space for advocacy, athletics, civic engagement, and identity-based belonging. Read more from LinkedIn here.

How GALS Works

GALS is the only all-girls+ school in Colorado. The model pairs rigorous academics with a whole-child framework that includes:

Daily physical movement
Social-emotional learning
Mental health services
Advocacy and leadership development
Affinity groups and enrichment opportunities

This environment ensures that girls+ are challenged academically while being supported as people. Families notice the difference immediately.

Our Impact

Since opening, GALS has served more than 1,700 students in the Denver metro area. Outcomes show the strength of the model:

91% of GALS students view themselves as smart.
96% believe they will graduate high school.
92% believe they will go to 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.
The school maintains a green rating on Colorado’s School Performance Framework.

Girls+ leave GALS with confidence in their intelligence, readiness for higher education, and the resilience to lead.