The academic rigor of the Gatton Academy is meant to challenge students to excel at the highest levels, while drawing connections between the classroom and real-world research options. Students are engaged in a core of math and science university courses that are supplemented with additional coursework in arts, humanities, and other elective subjects. The Gatton Academy curriculum provides students with ground for future study in a variety of STEM areas. In addition, students are able to explore the academic offerings of WKU through other coursework. Students are required to attend the weekly Gatton Academy seminar, which offer rotating topics each semester and will be led by professors, Academy staff members, as well as distinguished community members and professionals.

Learning Environments

Though the majority of learning occurs in traditional classroom spaces, Academy students explore academic subjects through a variety of environments and learning styles.  STEM coursework is supplemented with classes in English, social studies, foreign language, and other areas to satisfy pre-college requirements set forth by the state of Kentucky.

Academic Performance

The Gatton Academy uses a number of academic success indicators to track the overall academic performances of students during their program of study.  Some of these indicators include student GPA, scores on the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System, and post-admissions ACT/SAT/PSAT scores.

Gatton Academy students generally outperform their high school peers in all categories.  Gatton Academy students received the highest average ACT score on the 2008 Kentucky state assessment of public high school juniors with a composite of 29.9–exceeding their peers by over ten points.  They also generally outperform their traditional college peers taking the same coursework.  This level of excellence occurs while the students participate in authentic college research as well as service requirements the students are required to perform.

Most students enrolling at the Gatton Academy bring with them very high grade points averages (typically 3.9 on a 4.0 scale) from their traditional high schools.  As expected with taking more rigorous coursework at WKU, their average GPA tends to drop by a small measure.  Gatton Academy graduates will compete with students from traditional high schools for admission (and scholarships) into four-year colleges and universities.  The Gatton Academy calculates an unweighted GPA based on a combination of a student’s prior high school grades and those grades earned while studying at the Gatton Academy.  A weighted GPA is also calculated, giving Gatton Academy courses in math, science, social studies, language arts, and foreign language an additional quality point.

Standardized Test Performance

ACT Scores                             Sophomore Admission            Junior Assessment       Senior Exit

Class of 2008                          27.1*                                               n/a**                                 29.2
Class of 2009                          26.5                                                 28.2                                    29.2
Class of 2010                          28.8                                                 29.9
Class of 2011                          28.8

ACT statistics are compiled using the best composite score reported for each student.

*Members of the Class of 2008 were admitted during their junior year.

**The State of Kentucky began administering the ACT to all public high school juniors in 2008.

National Merit Performance

Semifinalists                Finalists                       Winners

Class of 2008                          6                                  6                                  5
Class of 2009                          4                                  3                                  1
Class of 2010                          12

The merit status is based upon the PSAT, which students complete in October of the junior year.