Gateway Lab School

2501 Centerville Road

Wilmington, DE 19808

School District

Gateway Lab School
Grade

K, 3-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:8
Type

charter

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 03, 2020

This school is like no other. They have been so amazing in every aspect of my child's development.
Submitted by parent on February 27, 2020

Gateway is a great school, with great staff. The staff is personable with the students, and go out of their way to make sure each child is comfortable, and have what they need to get a great education, and have a great day!
Submitted by parent on February 27, 2020

If I could rate Gateway Lab School at a 10 stars I would, but there is only the option of 5 stars!!!
Submitted by teacher on February 22, 2020

Success in school isn’t always about a grade on a report card. Students with social and emotional learning difficulties thrive in Gateway’s small class sizes. In a smaller class, there are increased opportunities for targeted activities to support a student’s social and emotional growth. As a teacher, I have witnessed a shy, anxious student gradually blossom into a public speaker with the support of the whole Gateway family. Happy teacher heart!
Submitted by teacher on February 21, 2020

I have been an educator for 15 years, 8 of which have been as a teacher and Case Manager at Gateway Lab School. The transformation that I have observed in so many of our students from when they entered our building to their graduation in 8th grade convinces me that Gateway Lab School has made a significant positive difference in their education. I have worked with many students who came to Gateway with learning challenges whose frustrations were often manifested in behavioral issues. With patience, building trusting relationships, and a passion to help students grow and succeed, our teachers and staff have helped our students become leaders, self-advocates, and develop a belief in themselves as learners. Every day, as students leave to go home, I see them give their teachers (both current and former) hugs, smiles, and high fives. When I speak to parents and guardians, I often hear them say that their child is once again excited to come to school, that they see their child’s confidence and self-esteem growing, that their child finally has made friends. These social-emotional differences translate into academic growth, and Gateway Lab School values both of these as critical to our students’ success.
Submitted by teacher on February 21, 2020

9/10! This is a wonderful learning environment where the arts play an important role in education. I would recommend this school for your student.
Submitted by teacher on February 21, 2020

I have been a paraeducator at Gateway Lab School for 7 years. I actually feel honored to be part of this organization. It provides a safe and nurturing environment for a very diverse student population . Many of our students have learning differences and have suffered trauma.They are treated with respect and the staff goes above and beyond to meet the needs of our students. I have learned so much , and I have had the opportunity to be part of the growth and accomplishments of children who were "written off" in the past.
Submitted by teacher on February 21, 2020

My experience with this school has been flourishing each year. I am confident that Gateway is going in a positive direction.
Submitted by teacher on February 21, 2020

I teach Wilson Reading at Gateway Lab School. Wilson Reading is a fantastic program for students with language based learning disabilities. Students often come to me several years behind in reading. I’ve had some students gain two years in decoding within one year! I love watching the progress my students make during the school year.
Submitted by teacher on February 21, 2020

I have been an educator for over twenty years and have never witnessed a model so conducive to student needs as Gateway Lab School. While class sizes are small and curriculum is individualized for each student, it goes beyond that; we are a family. Students, teachers, parents and administration work together seamlessly. I plan to end my career at Gateway because I believe in what they do for children and have seen amazing growth in my students and myself as an educator.
Submitted by teacher on February 21, 2020

Gateway Lab School is an amazing place. I work at Gateway to encourage and coax students to feel they can reach their best every day.I used to work at Gateway in the 14-15, 15-16 and 16-17 school years then left to accept an offer in a public school in the state of PA for the 17-18 and 18-19 school year. It was after this experience that I decided to come back to teach at Gateway. Everyone at Gateway truly believes and cares about the students. There is a genuine vested interested in the students, class sizes are small which affords teachers the ability to really get to know their students. The Arts Integration program at Gateway utilizes a very unique strategy allowing students the ability to show what they learn through non conventional ways such as through music, art, drama and other alternative types of learning. Students learn the best when they know they are supported, encouraged and given every opportunity to succeed. The Administration is awesome and very supportive. They encourage us to do our best teaching and are always there to help and encourage us when we need them! This is rare, and another part of why as a teacher, I love working at Gateway.
Submitted by teacher on February 21, 2020

Gateway is a wonderful environment for students who are smart but have a difficult time learning in a traditional environment. Gateway has smaller sized classes and para-professionals in every classroom which allows students lots of one on one attention and personalized learning. Character building and art integration are important parts of every grades curriculum, and content.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2020

My experience with the school is it has become the HAVEN for all of my school age children. Each of them have different learning needs from putting to much pressure on themselves, not putting enough pressure, IEP needs, learning disability, and emotional concerns; yet the school has exceeded our expectations for all of them. The scores on here don't reflect the great work that is being done with these students. Coming from a different state where you had to fight constantly for your child to receive services that are listed on the IEP to a school where it is honored and given without having to fight, is such a relief.
Submitted by parent on February 18, 2020

The teachers at this school genuinely care about the success of their students. They communicate with parents if there are any issues and congratulate students on their successes.
Submitted by principal on January 27, 2020

There are numerous reasons for working here, but THE honest truth is Mrs. Pam Draper, the School Founder!!! I believe in this wonderful woman’s vision, determination, and mission. I have worked closely with her in the admissions process. She takes care with EVERY single child and parent and genuinely makes a concerted effort to see how she can help them and takes great effort to see if Gateway will benefit that child. If not, she even offers alternative suggestions that may set the child in the direction of success. This school is a true extension of her amazingly authentic self. There really is No One like her, in my opinion! Secondly, I have seen several children benefit from their experiences here. One in particular is a young man who is still here, who upon entering Gateway was unable to look up and engage or speak to anyone, and who now walks up and has a full conversation with eye contact and carries himself with confidence that he did not know before Gateway, not to mention his improvement in his classwork as well. I could go on and on about The wonders of Gateway... suffice to say, I look forward to being just a small part of Gateways expansion of kindergarten thru second grade in the very near future!!Oh, and thank you for all that you have done to help improve Gateway and get the word out to the community about... Our little hidden “Gem “of a school.
Submitted by other on January 17, 2019

I don't care for the program, it has not shown any sort of consistency from one year to the next.
Submitted by student on December 04, 2018

This school was an utter mess and had no disciplinary actions that The teachers disrespected each other, the kids disrespected the teachers, and the kids disrespected each other. The grading system is utter garbage and you get an a in almost any class. Bullying happens quite frequently and that is the reason I left. I advise anyone looking to put there kid here, to just look somewhere safer and better.
Submitted by parent on August 06, 2018

I was skeptical after the 2016-2017 year but last year saw great improvement. Although my kid is not up to grade level academically, he is headed in the right direction but more importantly his confidence level has skyrocketed and he hardly ever throws a hissy fit anymore. Go Gateway.
Submitted by parent on July 12, 2018

Overall it has been a better experience than we've had at previous schools. Plus my kids love to go to school now.
Submitted by parent on April 04, 2018

Putting my child in this school was the worst decision I ever mad. I went from having a typical student to having a behavioral child that I would get calls from the school everyday about their behavior. Half of my childs time there was spent in the assistance principal office daily.