The Gatton Academy was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of the nation's top five high schools.

The Academy admits 95–105 qualifying high school students (aiming for a total of 200 students attending) each year to spend their junior and senior years on the WKU campus taking classes at the university.

The students are selected on basis of grades, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, teacher and community leader recommendations, personal interview, and interest in a science, mathematical, or engineering career,[4] and focus their classes mainly on mathematics and sciences.

This dual-enrollment option allows students, in some cases, to remain eligible for services offered by their home high school (guidance, textbook funding).

The home schools benefit from this arrangement by receiving the test scores from their respective Gatton scholars.