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Very Good

#510 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 28% of private schools

Gateway School

Elementary School

255 SWIFT ST, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 25 schools in Santa Cruz. Learn more

Enrollment

181

Student-Teacher

8.8:1

Score

7.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Santa Cruz

#4 of 8

public schools

California elementary schools

#279 of 1,102

About Gateway School

Gateway School serves 181 students from kindergarten through eighth grade in Santa Cruz, offering a comprehensive elementary education with an impressive 8.8:1 student-teacher ratio. This regular public school benefits from a dedicated staff of 21 full-time equivalent teachers, providing students with personalized attention that supports their academic and social development. The school has earned a strong 9.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #742 out of 1,790 schools statewide, placing it in the 59th percentile among California elementary schools.

This solid performance reflects the school's commitment to educational excellence and student success across all grade levels. Gateway School is situated in the 95060 ZIP code area, where the median household income is $101,962 and 55% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, creating an educationally-minded community environment. The neighborhood's median home value of $1,147,700 reflects the desirability of this Santa Cruz location, though the area also maintains economic diversity with an 18.2% poverty rate among its 46,527 residents.

Located on Swift Street in the heart of Santa Cruz, Gateway School provides students with the advantages of small city living while maintaining close community connections.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 181 students, Gateway School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.8:1, Gateway School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Gateway School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$30,195
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$31,516
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.04x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
93%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$3.4M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 181 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

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
6.4
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 9.0
Bay View Elementary 7.3
Mission Hill Middle 5.4
Westlake Elementary 6.5
Santa Cruz County Special Education 7.4
Santa Cruz County Community 6.2
Santa Cruz County Court
Alternative Family Education 3.9
Ark Independent Studies 3.2
Gault Elementary 7.6
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch 7.3
Branciforte Middle 6.0
Shoreline Middle 6.7
Del Mar Elementary 5.8
De Laveaga Elementary 6.8
Live Oak Elementary 4.3
Green Acres Elementary 7.1
Tierra Pacifica Charter 3.9
Ocean Alternative Education Center 8.8
Brook Knoll Elementary 7.1

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

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. Gault Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 2.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Bay View Elementary (rated 7.3/10, 1.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch (rated 7.3/10, 2.8 miles away), with a very similar 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 9.0
Bay View Elementary Santa Cruz 1.0 mi 7.3
SPRING HILL-ADVANCED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF SANTA CR Santa Cruz 1.2 mi 5.7
Santa Cruz High Santa Cruz 1.5 mi 7.7
Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz 1.6 mi 5.4
Westlake Elementary Santa Cruz 1.8 mi 6.5
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 7.4
Santa Cruz County Court Santa Cruz 2.5 mi
Santa Cruz County Community Santa Cruz 2.5 mi 6.2
Alternative Family Education Santa Cruz 2.7 mi 3.9
Ark Independent Studies Santa Cruz 2.8 mi 3.2
Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz 2.8 mi 5.3
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch Santa Cruz 2.8 mi 7.3
Gault Elementary Santa Cruz 2.8 mi 7.6
Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz 3.1 mi 6.0
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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Gateway School has a median household income of $106,040. It is a well-educated community where 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,189,300, with a median rent of $2,356/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.1%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Arete Charter Academy Grass Valley, CA 7.0
Belle Air Elementary San Bruno, CA 7.0
COVENANT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Orange, CA 7.0
El Mirage Adelanto, CA 7.0
Enadia Way Technology Charter West Hills, 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 is ranked #510 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Gateway School's MySchoolScout rating?

Gateway School has a composite rating of 7.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. 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

City Safety
High (3,203/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Santa Cruz). Data >1 year old.

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
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Related reading

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