REACH Enriched and Accelerated Program
The REACH program offers a specialized advanced and accelerated educational program for gifted learners.
Grades 4-5
Elementary school REACH students meet for one half-day each week for accelerated math and reading work at the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center, a state-of-the-art facility that draws expert teachers together with exceptional students of all ages from 15 school districts in Calhoun, Barry, and Branch counties. In these sessions, students experience hands-on learning and gain valuable problem-solving skills.
The program is available to students at Valley View, Verona, and Ann J. Kellogg Elementary schools. Families of students attending other BCPS schools may apply and be accepted, then complete an in-district transfer to one of these schools. Families not currently enrolled in BCPS who wish to participate in REACH must complete a schools of choice release from their current district and enroll at BCPS in order to attend the program
Please contact Luke Perry at lperry@bcamsc.org or 269-965-9440 with any additional questions.
Accelerated Options for Grades 6-8
Historically, Springfield Middle School has hosted the REACH program for students in grades 6-8. However, as Springfield continues its transformation as an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) Candidate School, the REACH program will be phased out as currently enrolled students complete middle school and move on to high school.
Those currently enrolled in the REACH program at Springfield Middle School have the opportunity to earn Algebra I or Spanish I credit before entering high school, preparing them to advance even more quickly to earn college credits in high school and preparing them for opportunities like Advanced Placement courses, college dual enrollment, and the Early-Middle College Program.
Even though the middle school REACH program is being phased out as Springfield Middle School transitions to an IB candidate school, there are plenty of incredible middle school options to meet your student's needs:
Write Your Middle School Success Story at BCPS: Options For Grades 6-8
- As an IB MYP candidate school, Springfield Middle School has begun transitioning its curriculum to align with International Baccalaureate standards. The MYP is a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. As part of the middle school experience at Springfield, students will learn about cultures around the world and within our own community while continuing to build on a service-learning focus that provides students with engaging, hands-on learning while connecting them with the Battle Creek community.
- Battle Creek STEM Innovation Center (BC STEM) is a STEM-focused magnet middle school offering a unique curriculum. At BC STEM, each student is seen as an innovator who is empowered to ask questions and explore new possibilities. BC STEM students develop critical thinking skills to help them create real solutions to the problems that matter to our community.
- Northwestern Middle School has also begun an exciting transformation. Thanks to the support of our community through the recent Middle School Transformation Bond, work is underway to transition Northwestern into an arts-focused school for grades K-8. We know students have different passions, and for those interested in the visual or performing arts, Northwestern will offer incredible opportunities to engage in learning while exercising their creative muscles and delving deep into music, art, theater, and more.