About Us
HISTORY
WHO WE ARE Gowan Science Academy is a STEM school choice in the Crane School District. We offer kinder through 8th grade to 775 students. Students are enrolled through a lottery process. To be considered in the lottery, applications must be received by February 15th of each year. Parent involvement is an integral part of our success.
WE EXPLORE OUR COMMUNITY It's not only important for students to have meaningful and engaging lessons in the classroom based on real-world topics; we help students apply this learning through field trips around our community. Grade levels participate in at least one field trip per quarter. Some examples of field trips include: Wetlands Park to study native insects, Harrison Farms to understand how vegetables are grown in our community, Kartchner Caverns in Benson, Arizona, to learn about land formations, and many, many more.
GOWAN COMPANY SUPPORTS GOWAN SCIENCE ACADEMY Gowan Company, founded in Yuma over 50 years ago by Jon and Liney Jessen, is a locally owned family business that develops, markets, and sells agricultural inputs such as seed, fertilizer, and crop protection products in most of the world. Gowan Company’s success is dependent upon a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workforce. Among the employees are biologists, agronomists, chemists, accountants, and engineers. Talented professionals with training in the STEM fields have been in short supply in Yuma for many years. To address this shortage, Gowan Company partnered with Crane Elementary School District to provide the first STEM focused school in Yuma County. In 2013, Gowan Science Academy opened its doors to families across the county. At Gowan Science Academy, STEM education is fully integrated, standards-driven learning. This is achieved by having a STEM focus that requires inquiry learning, discussion, group collaboration, and critical thinking to solve real-world problems through community projects in an environment of kindness, trust, and support to increase everyone’s success. Gowan Science Academy’s curriculum is rooted in science. Students examine real-world problems, create solutions to these problems, and effectively communicate their ideas. In the eleven years Gowan Science Academy has been opened, student growth and enthusiasm have exceeded our expectations. This school is making a valuable impact on our community and preparing students for an ever-changing STEM workforce.
APS STEM FOCUS SCHOOL In 2017, Gowan Science Academy was selected as one of five APS STEM Schools for the Future. This is a professional development program that provides hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math to Arizona educators and school administrators. Teachers and administrators create community partnerships through the grant. Gowan Science Academy has paired up with the Yuma Community Food Bank to help make a difference in the community through Challenge Based Learning.
LOCATION We are located at 1020 S. Avenue C (on Avenue C behind the Professional Development Building).