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Very Good

#509 of 1,787 private schools in CA

Top 28% of private schools

Gateway School

Elementary School

255 SWIFT ST, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Private

Enrollment

181

Student-Teacher

8.8:1

Score

7.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

California private schools

#509 of 1,787

In Santa Cruz

#4 of 8

public schools

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Gateway School

7.0/10

Elementary School in Santa Cruz · grades Kindergarten – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Pacific Collegiate Charter

9.4/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Bay View Elementary

6.1/10

1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Gateway School

Gateway School is a private elementary school in Santa Cruz, CA. Gateway School serves approximately 181 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 8.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Gateway School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #509 of 1,787 private schools in CA.

How it compares0.8 pts above CA schools
  • This school 7.0 · Very Good
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

At 181 students, Gateway School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 8.8:1 students to teachers, Gateway School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Gateway School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Gateway School compares to 23 public schools serving similar grades in Santa Cruz, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
8.8:1
This School
vs
20.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
181
This School
vs
297
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.0
This School
vs
6.8
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 58.6% vs 0%
Hispanic 8.8% vs 0%
Asian 8.8% vs 0%
Black 2.8% vs 0%
Gateway School Santa Cruz Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Gateway School (this school) 7.0
Pacific Collegiate Charter 9.4
Bay View Elementary 6.1
Mission Hill Middle 6.8
Westlake Elementary 6.2
Santa Cruz County Community 6.9
Santa Cruz County Special Education 4.8
Santa Cruz County Court
Alternative Family Education 5.8
Ark Independent Studies 4.9
Gault Elementary 6.0
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch 6.7
Branciforte Middle 7.4
Shoreline Middle 7.6
Del Mar Elementary 6.7
De Laveaga Elementary 6.8
Live Oak Elementary 7.5
Green Acres Elementary 8.1
Tierra Pacifica Charter 6.7
Ocean Alternative Education Center 7.4
Brook Knoll Elementary 7.0

Showing 20 of 23 schools. View all schools in Santa Cruz

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A- 7.6 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8.8:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,170
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 7.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 60%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 181
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 58.6%
Two or More 19.9%
Hispanic 8.8%
Asian 8.8%
Black 2.8%
Pacific Islander 1.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

255 SWIFT ST, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Gateway School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. HOLY CROSS SCHOOL (rated 7.0/10, 2.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch (rated 6.7/10, 2.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Westlake Elementary (rated 6.2/10, 1.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Santa Cruz, see our Santa Cruz schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Pacific Collegiate Charter Santa Cruz 0.8 mi 9.4
Bay View Elementary Santa Cruz 1.0 mi 6.1
SPRING HILL-ADVANCED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF SANTA CR Santa Cruz 1.2 mi 5.7
Santa Cruz High Santa Cruz 1.5 mi 7.9
Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz 1.6 mi 6.8
Westlake Elementary Santa Cruz 1.8 mi 6.2
HOLY CROSS SCHOOL Santa Cruz 2.0 mi 7.0
Holy Cross Santa Cruz 2.0 mi
Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School Santa Cruz 2.4 mi
Santa Cruz County Special Education Santa Cruz 2.5 mi 4.8
Santa Cruz County Court Santa Cruz 2.5 mi
Santa Cruz County Community Santa Cruz 2.5 mi 6.9
Alternative Family Education Santa Cruz 2.7 mi 5.8
Ark Independent Studies Santa Cruz 2.8 mi 4.9
Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz 2.8 mi 4.7
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch Santa Cruz 2.8 mi 6.7
Gault Elementary Santa Cruz 2.8 mi 6.0
Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz 3.1 mi 7.4
SANTA CRUZ CHILDRENS SCHOOL Santa Cruz 3.0 mi 4.5
Santa Cruz Children's School Santa Cruz 3.1 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 95060 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$106,040

Median Home Value

$1,189,300

Median Rent

$2,356/mo

Population

46,024

College Educated

55.2%

Homeownership

51.9%

Avg Commute

25 min

Poverty Rate

17.1%

Median Age

36.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Arturo Sanchez Elementary Norwalk, CA 7.0
Aspire College Academy Oakland, CA 7.0
Bridge Street Elementary Los Angeles, CA 7.0
COVENANT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Orange, CA 7.0
Del Rey Elementary Del Rey, CA 7.0
HOLY CROSS SCHOOL Santa Cruz, CA 7.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Gateway School

What grades does Gateway School serve?

Gateway School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Gateway School?

Gateway School has an enrollment of approximately 181 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Gateway School?

The student-teacher ratio at Gateway School is 8.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Gateway School rank in CA?

Gateway School ranks #509 of 1,787 private schools in CA.

What is Gateway School's MySchoolScout rating?

Gateway School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Gateway School a private school?

Yes, Gateway School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Gateway School a religious school?

No, Gateway School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
56 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
17 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
86 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
181
Gender Split
49% M / 51% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.5 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Small City
County
Santa Cruz County

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