Admissions:
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long has Gateway been in Santa Cruz?
- Is Gateway School accredited?
- Where do Gateway families live?
- What are the hours of Gateway’s before care and after care programs?
- Who makes admissions decisions at Gateway?
- How can I afford a private education?
- How can parents get involved?
- Can I work in my child’s classroom?
- Does Gateway use standardized testing?
How long has Gateway been in Santa Cruz?
Gateway has been serving students and families in Santa Cruz for 36 years. The school was founded in 1970 by Hannelore Herbig as an independent, non-denominational school. It has been at the present site since 1990.
Is Gateway School accredited?
Yes, Gateway is accredited by the California Association of Independent
Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
CAIS and WASC accreditation ensure that your child’s school is
meeting high standards of accountability. 
About
Gateway
Where do Gateway families live?
About 60 percent of our students live in Santa Cruz, with about 20 percent coming from the north county communities (Scotts Valley, Felton/SLV, Davenport, Los Gatos) and about 20 percent coming from the south county communities (Capitola, Soquel, Aptos, Watsonville).
What are the hours of Gateway’s before care and after care programs?
Before school supervision starts at 7:30 a.m. and is included in your
tuition. After school care and after school classes are available at
an additional fee, and the program goes until 5:30 p.m.
After School Program
Who makes admissions decisions at Gateway?
Admissions decisions are made by the admissions team, once all paperwork is submitted and all steps of the process are complete. The admissions team is made up of the Director of Admissions, the Head of School, the Assistant Head of School, the Resource Specialist, and appropriate faculty members.
How can I afford a private education?
Gateway’s financial aid program provides need-based aid to families
who qualify. About 20 percent of Gateway families receive financial
aid.
Tuition and Financial Aid
How can parents get involved?
The Gateway Parents Association (GPA) is happy to welcome all new families
as members upon enrollment. There are numerous volunteer opportunities
for every level of time commitment. Gateway prides itself on its involved
parent community, and would not be the same school without all our wonderful
parental support.
Gateway Parents Association
Can I work in my child’s classroom?
Yes, we welcome parent volunteers in the classroom. Each classroom teacher coordinates parent volunteers for his/her class. For parents who work during the week, there are also opportunities to volunteer at weekend events or to drive on field trips.
Does Gateway use standardized testing?
Gateway students take standardized tests from the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). ERBs are commonly used by independent schools. Because of our educational philosophy and creative integrated curriculum, we do not believe in teaching to the test. Our students take the ERBs at the beginning of the school year, in September, so the teachers can use the test results to plan their year. No standardized tests are administered at the end of the school year.
