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Very Good

#32 of 131 private schools in MS

Top 24% of private schools

Gateway Christian Academy

School

908 FRONTAGE DR W, Wiggins, MS 39577

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on MS statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

91

Student-Teacher

8:1

Score

7.1

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

Mississippi schools

#17 of 76

About Gateway Christian Academy

Gateway Christian Academy serves 91 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade in Wiggins, Mississippi. This small school maintains an intimate learning environment with just 11 full-time equivalent teachers, creating an exceptional student-teacher ratio of 8:1 that allows for personalized attention and strong teacher-student relationships. The school has earned recognition for its educational approach, receiving a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranking 57th among Mississippi's 131 schools, placing it in the 57th percentile statewide.

This solid performance reflects the school's commitment to providing quality education in a close-knit setting where every student is known by name. Gateway Christian Academy operates in the 39577 ZIP code area, where the median household income is $44,329 and median home value is $129,800. The community has a poverty rate of 26.5%, with 12% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher.

Despite economic challenges in the broader area, the school's small size and low student-teacher ratio create opportunities for individualized support and mentoring. Located on Frontage Drive West, Gateway Christian Academy sits in a rural area near the town of Wiggins, providing students with a peaceful learning environment away from urban distractions while maintaining access to community resources and support.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 91 students, Gateway Christian Academy 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 8:1, Gateway Christian Academy 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 Christian Academy 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
$3,232
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$3,936
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.22x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
50%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$73,487

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 91 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Gateway Christian Academy compares to the 3 public schools in Wiggins, MS

Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
This School
vs
14.4:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
91
This School
vs
665
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
6.9
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 89% vs 0%
Black 6.6% vs 0%
Asian 4.4% vs 0%
Gateway Christian Academy Wiggins Public Avg

All Schools in Wiggins

School Rating
Gateway Christian Academy (this school) 7.1
STONE HIGH SCHOOL 6.9
STONE MIDDLE SCHOOL 6.4
STONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 7.5

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 MS.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,267.2
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B 6.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 20%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B 5.7 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 91
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 MS

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 89.0%
Black 6.6%
Asian 4.4%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

908 FRONTAGE DR W, Wiggins, MS 39577

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Gateway Christian Academy may also want to explore other schools in the area. SOUTH FORREST ATTENDANCE CENTER (rated 8.1/10, 14.6 miles away, in nearby Brooklyn), which scores slightly higher. Another option is LYMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 24.7 miles away, in nearby Gulfport), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, FORREST COUNTY AGRICULTURAL HI SCH (rated 7.8/10, 15.5 miles away, in nearby Brooklyn), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Wiggins, see our Wiggins schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 25.6 mi
School Distance Rating
STONE HIGH SCHOOL Wiggins 1.3 mi 6.9
STONE MIDDLE SCHOOL Wiggins 1.4 mi 6.4
STONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Wiggins 2.6 mi 7.5
PERKINSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Perkinston 4.4 mi 4.8
SOUTH FORREST ATTENDANCE CENTER Brooklyn 14.6 mi 8.1
SAUCIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Saucier 14.8 mi 6.8
FORREST COUNTY AGRICULTURAL HI SCH Brooklyn 15.5 mi 7.8
WEST WORTHAM ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE Saucier 19.4 mi 7.3
ST PATRICK CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Biloxi 22.0 mi 5.1
LUMBERTON ELEMENTARY Lumberton 20.5 mi 5.0
HARRISON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Gulfport 23.1 mi 6.3
LUMBERTON HIGH SCHOOL Lumberton 20.6 mi 5.7
LIZANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Gulfport 23.8 mi 7.8
BENNDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lucedale 21.1 mi 7.8
LYMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Gulfport 24.7 mi 7.9
BASS MEMORIAL ACADEMY Lumberton 23.3 mi 6.3
BASS CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lumberton 23.3 mi 6.4
NORTH WOOLMARKET ELEMENTARY AND MID Biloxi 24.4 mi 6.5
MIDDLE SCHOOL OF POPLARVILLE Poplarville 22.0 mi 4.7
THREE RIVERS ELEMENTARY Gulfport 25.6 mi 7.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 39577 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$49,081

Median Home Value

$112,800

Median Rent

$858/mo

Population

10,488

College Educated

12.6%

Homeownership

74.1%

Poverty Rate

23.5%

Median Age

39.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Gateway Christian Academy has a median household income of $49,081. It is a community where 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $112,800, with a median rent of $858/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.5%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
THE PENTECOSTAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Meridian, MS 7.2
AGAPE MONTESSORI CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Vicksburg, MS 6.9
CARES SCHOOL Jackson, MS 6.9
RESTORATION MINISTRIES CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Indianola, MS 6.8
THE READING NOOK ACADEMY Brookhaven, MS 6.4
AMORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Amory, MS 6.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Gateway Christian Academy

What grades does Gateway Christian Academy serve?

Gateway Christian Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Gateway Christian Academy?

Gateway Christian Academy has an enrollment of approximately 91 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Gateway Christian Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Gateway Christian Academy is 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 Christian Academy rank in MS?

Gateway Christian Academy is ranked #32 out of 131 private schools in MS.

What is Gateway Christian Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Gateway Christian Academy has a composite rating of 7.1 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 Christian Academy a private school?

Yes, Gateway Christian Academy is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination 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 Christian Academy a religious school?

Gateway Christian Academy has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
26 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
29 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,453/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
91
Gender Split
56% M / 44% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
Teachers (FTE)
11
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
7.2 hours
Days Per Year
176 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
STONE
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

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