Gateway School

My two kids are at Gateway and I cannot say enough good things about their education. The community that is present at the school fosters a tremendous sense of learning, not only traditional subjects, but social justice, citizenship and character development. The Life Lab is an incredible learning environment for science, and I am amazed at what my children know from just one or two sessions with Caprice, the amazing teacher who incorporates scientific method into getting dirty and having fun. I certainly wish that I had this type of schooling available to me when I was in elementary school.

Our oldest daughter has been at Gateway for five years and it has proven to be the best decision that we have ever made. She is entering middle school next year with a dream team of teachers and is so excited. Our younger daughter will be entering Kindergarten next year as well. The balance of emotional and socio growth is valued just as highly as the scholastics with their focus on the Whole Child. Gateway has helped our daughter achieve all of the most important aspects that we want for our daughter; confidence, courage to be challenged & make mistakes:), modern learning to prepare for the fast-​changing environment, comfort & nurturing, and a love for learning.
We feel so lucky to have such an amazing school in our backyard that I believe is comparable to the best private schools over the hill (at a much lower cost). I believe that there are actually a few families that commute from Los Gatos to Gateway for this reason. We look forwarding to watching our future Kindergartener grow here just as our eldest has.

My son has been a student at Gateway for 6 years now, and it has been a perfect fit. The curriculum is enriched and balanced and there is a real emphasis on fostering prosocial skills and development of character. The middle school program is challenging, with a group of highly qualified, dedicated teachers. Gateway creates a wonderful community of teachers, staff, students and families.

It was a bit hard for me as a student, but otherwise it was a great school for many different people. The teachers are devoted just like the students and is a great environment. I recommend this to anyone who does not want to face the dangers of public schools (see my mission hill middle school review for more detail). They also have great learning tools and are very helpful as a school.

I love this school. But more importantly, my son loves this school. One way (of the many) in which Gateway shines is in its specialist education. Music classes are held multiple times a week, taught by an outstanding teacher who won a county wide teacher of the year award when he taught in another district. His classes are fun! Kids learn music theory and the mechanics of music starting in kindergarten. They learn to play music together, as a group, which enhances their relationships with each other. This year the teacher has done a great job of incorporating many instruments from around the world like the truong from Vietnam and the Kpanlogo from Ghana, which the kids are always so excited to play.
Gateway also has a makers space and a technology specialist teacher who guides the children in becoming makers and inventors. Gateway is the only school in the county with a makers’ space. The curriculum is integrated with the regular classroom curriculum. For instance, in second grade the children study anatomy. In the technology class the children create a skeleton out of squishy circuits, allowing children to explore electronics as they reinforce what they learned in the classroom.

We came to Gateway initially for all the reasons the school is promoted: small classes (usually 14 – 17 kids per class), challenging academics, specialty classes such as art, music, Spanish, technology and the amazing Life Lab program. We have stayed at Gateway for 7 years for the above reasons, and also because of the supportive community for children and parents that is created by the Head of School and staff. Their goal of providing a top notch and nurturing education in a kind environment has been met every day my children have attended Gateway. Another bonus is the Mindfulness curriculum that Gateway has embraced. My children have developed a greater understanding of their emotions, giving them more control of reactions and ultimately better ability to concentrate, learn and self-​advocate. Gateway also demonstrated tremendous leadership by bringing Mindfulness and advanced neurological-​based educators to Santa Cruz, and make the workshops available at no cost to all educators in the area. After an exhaustive review of over a dozen schools, we couldn’t be happier with our decision.

Wonderful school with truly caring teachers and staff. Small class sizes, the most beautiful life lab, music, Spanish, character development and mindfulness in addition to strong academics, this school helps nurture the whole child.

Terrible experience there from the teachers to the kids. I noticed that when I got out of Gateway and into high school I was completely unprepared for the real world.

I went to elementary and middle school here and loved it.
The teachers were great and the campus is awesome. It’s less than a block to the ocean and lighthouse field as well.
Say hello to the surfer statue!