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Gateway

“Step Up. Do Right. Dream Big.”

AKA: GHSWestern AdditionPublic charter

Students
~460
Ratio
17:1
Tuition
Free

Admissions

Round 1 application due
Late January
Lottery held
Mid-March
enrollment@gatewayschools.org
Visit admissions site

What makes this school special

  • Founded in 1998 around a then-radical idea: a college-prep school built for a broad range of learners — over a quarter of students have identified learning disabilities, supported through an integrated Learning Center
  • The results are striking for an open-lottery school: a 99% four-year graduation rate, and 99% of 2024-25 graduates met UC/CSU a-g requirements
  • Every student spends all four years in a small advisory with the same faculty advisor and cross-grade peer mentors
  • Graduation requires 100 hours of community service and two years of visual or performing arts
  • First charter high school in California to earn the Distinguished School designation twice

Academics

Curriculum

Honors and AP coursework for a broad range of learners; 77% of 10th-12th graders take honors or AP

Schedule

Block schedule (Tue-Fri), 8:30am start

Signature programs

  • Learning Center for students with learning differences
  • Four-year advisory with cross-grade peer mentors
  • Ethnic studies across the humanities
  • Internship partnerships with 25+ local organizations

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics

BasketballBaseballSoccerVolleyball

Arts

Visual ArtsPerforming Arts

Clubs & activities

Dungeons & DragonsModel UNGator Gears (robotics)Music ClubGarden ClubBlack Student UnionGender Sexuality Alliance
See all clubs

Life there

Learning support

Learning Center and integrated learning services; over 25% of students have identified learning disabilities

Often on the same list

City Arts & Leadership Academy

Public charter

KIPP San Francisco College Preparatory

Public charter

Raoul Wallenberg High School

Public

Sources

  1. Gateway High School — name, address, motto
  2. All About Enrollment | Gateway Public Schools — lottery process, deadlines, no tuition or fees
  3. Mission & History | Gateway Public Schools — founding, mission, learning-differences focus
  4. Academics | Gateway High School — advisory, ethnic studies, honors/AP, graduation requirements
  5. Our Impact | Gateway Public Schools — AP participation, college enrollment, Distinguished School honors
  6. NCES Common Core of Data (2024-25) — enrollment, student:teacher ratio, charter status
  7. CDE DataQuest cohort outcomes (2024-25) — graduation and a-g rates

Last reviewed July 2026