Decatur Gold Academy
What STEM means at Decatur Gold Academy
At Decatur Gold Academy, we envision a future where every student is empowered to grow academically, socially, and emotionally through meaningful STEM learning experiences that honor individual strengths, interests, and potential. Rooted in the MSD of Decatur Township mission of being Student Invested, Community Connected, Gold Academy is committed to creating a nurturing and relationship-centered environment where students feel safe, valued, and inspired to succeed. Through personalized learning pathways and hands-on exploration, students will develop the confidence, curiosity, and resilience necessary to become Tomorrow Ready learners and leaders.
At Gold Academy, STEM learning will provide students with opportunities to explore, question, design, and solve problems in ways that connect learning to their lives and communities. Through inquiry-driven instruction and real-world applications, students will strengthen critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity while building strong academic foundations. Our classrooms will encourage innovation and discovery while supporting the whole child through individualized instruction that develops both intellectual growth and social-emotional well-being.
Guided by Decatur Township’s core values of Respect, Teamwork, and Excellence, Gold Academy will cultivate a culture where relationships are at the heart of learning. Students and staff will work collaboratively to create an environment where every learner feels supported, celebrated, and empowered to take risks in their learning. Through positive interactions, restorative practices, and intentional community building, students will develop empathy, perseverance, integrity, and the durable skills needed for lifelong success in school, career, and life.
As a community-connected school, Decatur Gold Academy will partner closely with families and stakeholders to create authentic and engaging learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom. By connecting STEM learning to real-world challenges and student interests, Gold Academy will prepare students to become adaptable thinkers, compassionate problem solvers, and active contributors to their communities. We are committed to ensuring every student is known, challenged, and equipped with the tools to thrive in an ever-changing world.
What makes our STEM program stand out
Inspiring Future Innovators Through STARBASE
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Decatur Township elementary students participate in immersive, hands-on STEM learning experiences through the district’s partnership with STARBASE Indianapolis. Students engage in engineering design challenges, molecular modeling, scientific investigations, CAD activities, and collaborative problem-solving experiences that bring science, technology, engineering, and math to life in meaningful ways.
This partnership helps students build creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and confidence while connecting classroom learning to real-world applications. Through engaging STEM opportunities, Decatur Township is inspiring curiosity and preparing students with the durable skills needed for future success in school, careers, and beyond.
Cross-Curricular STEAM
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All students are engaged in STEAM experiences that connect science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through hands-on, cross-curricular learning. Students explore scientific concepts through creative design, build prototypes using a variety of tools and materials, investigate real-world problems through experimentation and data collection, and develop technology skills through collaborative projects.
These experiences encourage creativity, communication, critical thinking, and innovation while helping students make meaningful connections across subjects. By integrating the arts alongside STEM learning, Decatur Township empowers students to explore, create, and problem-solve in ways that prepare them for future success both inside and outside the classroom.
Robotics Club
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Decatur Township elementary students have opportunities to engage in hands-on robotics experiences that inspire creativity, innovation, and teamwork while building foundational STEM skills. Through robotics clubs, engineering activities, coding experiences, and VEX IQ competitions, students explore computer engineering, problem-solving, and technology in exciting and meaningful ways.
These experiences help students develop critical thinking, collaboration, perseverance, and communication skills while introducing them to future career pathways in STEM fields. By providing students with opportunities to design, build, program, and compete, Decatur Township’s elementary robotics programs empower young learners to become confident creators, innovators, and problem-solvers prepared for tomorrow’s world.
Decatur Gold Academy is part of MSD Decatur Township, located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school serves approximately 529 students in Kindergarten through 6th grade, providing a supportive and engaging learning environment focused on student growth and achievement. Decatur Gold Academy is dedicated to fostering creativity, collaboration, and academic success while empowering students to build confidence, explore new ideas, and develop the skills needed for future success.