Academics

We believe that reading and writing are foundational skills for successfully accessing all other academic areas. We place priority on providing our students with strong literacy experiences within English Language Arts and across curricular areas, and we believe that these experiences will open a world of possibilities for them now and later in life.

The Gahanna-Jefferson mathematics program is structured to engage students in solving and discussing tasks that promote mathematical reasoning, problem solving, and perseverance.

Math instruction is designed to connect mathematical ideas, build understanding of the relationships of numbers, address misconceptions, and build computational fluency to deepen understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures as tools for problem solving.

• Students engage in concepts and skills that cycle and build developmentally over time, providing a variety of contexts that allow for work that moves between concrete and abstract representations.
• Mathematical discourse provides opportunity for discussion about ideas, notices, wonderings, and questions about mathematics.
• We utilize writing opportunities in mathematics to provide students with additional opportunities to process their learning and showcase ideas through a variety of activities that promote written elaboration.

Related arts allow opportunities for students to cultivate the types of essential thinking dispositions for life today, tomorrow and well into the future. Woven into Enduring Understandings, students are encouraged to express their own personal sense of discipline, creativity and perseverance. Through related arts, students will be prepared to engage in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Visual Arts:

The purpose of our Visual Arts programming is to lay the foundation for the lifelong learning and understanding of visual art. Through discovery, inquiry, analysis and application, our visual arts program promotes: 

• Critical thinking, personal expression and creativity; 
• Collaboration and communication skills; 
• Interdisciplinary connections; 
• The use of technology as a tool for artistic expression; 
• Appreciation for diversity; 
• Understanding the value and role of visual art in society.

Performing Arts:

Performing arts instruction provides a unique set of learning experiences that nurtures artistic literacy for students in a way no other subject can model. In our well-rounded music, drama, and theatre curriculum, students learn to: 

• Incorporate creativity in their daily lives; 
• Experience creating and performing with peers to develop leadership, team-building skills and musicianship; 
• Respond to music in a thoughtful, knowledgeable and appropriate way; 
• Understand that music can be a venue for cultural diversity and expression, a common thread that connects us all;
• Value the universality of the human experience using drama/theatre as a platform for expressing themselves and examining world perspectives; 
• Participate in drama/theatre to build critical life skills, including collaboration, problem-solving, creativity and innovation, self-discipline, cooperation, leadership and critical thinking. 

Wellness:

GJPS Physical Education programming teaches students the importance and value of a physically active lifestyle. There are a variety of benefits gained through physical education such as personal health, social skills, self-esteem, and motor skills. The philosophy of the physical education academic content standards is to ensure all  students can: 

• Develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions to live a healthful lifestyle; 
• Prepare to be physically active members of a diverse society; 
• Be equipped with the knowledge and skills to be physically active over the course of the lifespan; 
• Value physical activity and its contribution to a healthful lifestyle; 
• Foster joy in movement, an enthusiasm for physical activity and the development of skilled performance; 

GJPS Health education plays a key role in developing our students’ knowledge and skills for a healthy future. Our Health curriculum focuses on reducing health-risk behaviors and promoting healthy decision-making. Using the Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (OAHPERD) Health Education Model, our staff support their students in the development of the essential skills needed to adopt healthy behaviors.

Within our district, we have an emphasis on helping students develop the skills necessary to make informed and responsible decisions and to actively participate as a productive citizen in our community, state, and the world.

Social Studies instruction in Gahanna-Jefferson schools allows students to analyze historical documents and study people, places, events and issues from past and present. Students participate in work across four disciplines: History, Geography, Government and Economics.

The District is required to assess student achievement and needs in all program areas in compliance with State law and the rules adopted by the State Board of Education. The purpose of such assessments will be to determine the progress of students and to assist them in attaining student performance objectives and the educational achievement goals of this District.

A parent may request policies regarding student participation in state mandated assessments as well as information on each assessment required by the state.

Please read the full assessment policy here.

Learn about our high school academics offerings

Each year, Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools offers a wide variety of summer courses for students preschool through high school, as part of the “Journey to Learning” program. There are programs for intervention/remediation, high school credit and make-up classes.

Class descriptions and registration information will be available each spring.

2025 Summer School Information

Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards provide a clear and comprehensive set of expectations for content to guide early childhood programs and educators. They describe essential areas of learning and development organized into nine domains.

The standards help educators focus and align their locally selected curriculum, instruction, and assessment to provide appropriate, educationally beneficial opportunities for each child. These standards are aligned to Ohio’s Learning Standards (K-12) to connect learning and development prior to kindergarten with later school outcomes.

The writing and revisions of Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards were guided by the following principles of how young children learn and develop as supported by research:

1. Each child is unique. 
2. Relationships matter. 
3. Play is important to learning. 
4. Areas of learning and development are integrated. 
5. Children learn best with a whole-child approach. 
6. Development and learning are deeply rooted in family, home, early learning programs, and community.
7. Children develop on a continuum. 
8. Each child has the right to equitable learning opportunities.