Gaming & Technology Academy of Saginaw, also known as GATA, is a K–8 public charter school opening in September 2026, with the first day of school being September 8. School Calendar

GATA is designed to give students a future-ready education that combines strong core academics with technology, gaming, creativity, and real-world learning.

Our mission is to prepare students through a hands-on, tech-driven curriculum that builds academic excellence, creativity, digital responsibility, and confidence. Students will learn through traditional teacher-led instruction, small-group support, project-based learning, and technology-integrated experiences.

Our Vision

GATA exists to empower students to explore, create, and succeed through technology, gaming, and real-world learning.

We believe students are most successful when learning feels meaningful, engaging, and connected to the world around them. At GATA, gaming is not just entertainment — it is used as a tool to build problem-solving, teamwork, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.

What Makes GATA Different

GATA will combine rigorous academics with a school culture built around exploration, achievement, and innovation. Students will participate in experiences such as coding, robotics, digital arts, game design, esports, media production, and technology-based projects.

The school model includes:

Tech Exploratorium: Hands-on technology learning for grades K–8, including coding, robotics, digital skills, game development, engineering, media, and creative design.

Gamified Learning Culture: Students will engage in “quests,” challenges, badges, progress tracking, seasonal themes, and project showcases that make learning more interactive and motivating.

Virtual Venture Time: Middle school students will have opportunities for independent projects, esports, coding, robotics, digital art, podcasting, video creation, and real-world problem solving.

Strong Core Academics: GATA will remain grounded in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies, using standards-aligned curriculum and teacher-led instruction.

Serving Saginaw County and Beyond

GATA is being developed to help meet a need for more innovative, high-quality public school options on Saginaw’s West Side. The school is planned for 500 S. Hamilton Street in Saginaw, with space for classrooms, labs, cafeteria areas, gaming spaces, and future growth.

In year one, GATA plans to serve approximately 200 students in grades K–8, with GSRP preschool onsite and room to grow over time.

Our Core Pillars

GATA is built around five core pillars:

1. Academic Excellence & Critical Thinking
2. Technological Fluency & Creativity
3. Social-Emotional Development
4. Gamified Learning & Competition
5. Future-Ready Career Preparation

A Supportive School Community

GATA will support the whole child through MTSS, special education services, social-emotional learning, digital citizenship, family communication, and student-centered supports. Families will be important partners through newsletters, parent events, surveys, family technology workshops, and student showcases.

Looking Ahead

GATA’s long-term goal is to create a strong K–12 pathway by 2030, helping students grow from early learners into confident, skilled, future-ready graduates.

Gaming & Technology Academy of Saginaw is more than a school concept — it is a new opportunity for students to learn, lead, create, and prepare for the future.