Gateway Academy is an accredited, tuition free with ESA Scholarship, private day school for grades 6-12 that supports a pure population of Twice Exceptional students with High Functioning Autism. Established in 2005, we have spent 16 years as a leader in educating students with High Functioning Autism. As such, we operate our school in an engaging, motivating, and personalized way that helps our students build confidence and prepare for the future.
Unique Programming That Fuels Learning
Gateway Academy is proud to be the only school in Arizona exclusively serving a pure population of Twice Exceptional students with High Functioning Autism.
Our entire program is designed with these students in mind—from our teaching strategies to our social supports—and is grounded in over 35 years of research and proven best practices. This intentional focus allows us to create a learning environment where students feel understood, supported, and empowered to thrive.
At Gateway, families find more than just a school—they find a community that celebrates individuality, cultivates strengths, and provides a specialized educational experience that simply cannot be found anywhere else.
A Word From Our Executive Director & CEO
The program at Gateway Academy is rooted in our mission and educational philosophy. What we learn, how we learn, what we value, and how we live in a community are vital questions as we seek to educate the mind, body, spirit, and character of our students. This unique approach weaves academics, wellness, and activities into a cohesive curriculum that emphasizes the practice of social skills as the link connecting each student to the school community….
Accreditation
Gateway Academy is fully accredited by COGNIA and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). We are aligned with state and national standards and approved by the Arizona Department of Education, ensuring excellence and accountability in every aspect of our program.
Misson & Vision
Gateway Academy offers students an academic curriculum that is challenging and structured. Rich in its academic offerings and nurturing in its approach, Gateway fosters personal growth, responsibility, and independence. The Gateway community: students, faculty, staff, and families alike, work collaboratively to help students discover and develop their individual gifts and strengths, become self-advocates, and realize their full potential. A safe, thoughtfully prepared sensory sensitive environment encourages mutual trust, respect, and acceptance among those in its school community.
History
Gateway Academy was founded in 2005 by O. Robin Sweet and Dr. Thomas Bloom, as a 501c3 not for profit corporation. It is the first private 6-12 grade day school to open in the State of Arizona that specializes in a pure population of students who are Twice-Exceptional.
Awards
- School of Excellence Award by the National Association of Special Education Teachers: 2006 – Present
- Chapter of the National Honor Society
- School Choice Leadership Award 2018-Present
- The 2025 Champions of Change Award by Arizona Business
