Gateway Academy is proud to be the first private day school in Arizona exclusively serving grades 6–12 students with High Functioning Autism. We specialize in a pure population of academically capable students whose primary diagnosis is High Functioning Autism, providing them with an environment designed to help them thrive both academically and socially.
To determine if Gateway is the right fit for your child, we invite families to review our admissions standards, areas of concern, and the required testing and assessments. This process ensures that every student we welcome into our community will benefit from our specialized programs and will have the support they need to succeed.
Admissions Standards
Gateway Academy seeks students who:
- Are categorized as Twice-Exceptional (academically capable with a primary diagnosis of High Functioning Autism.
- Seeking an academic curriculum, which emphasizes academic/social/emotional development.
- Have a discrepancy between IQ & Achievement on a standardized assessment.
- Struggle with homework overload.
- Have difficulty in large classroom settings.
- May have been bullied, teased, and isolated.
- Demonstrate motivation by the student and his/her parents to become part of Gateway Academy.
- May have other co-existing disorders such as: a diagnosis of ADHD/ADD; Anxiety; Depression; OCD; or Social/School Anxiety.
- Present no significant behavior problems. Any behavioral problem must be able to be controlled by verbal redirection without use of physical intervention.
- Have a primary diagnosis of High Functioning Autism.
Areas of Concern:
These issues warrant a more detailed interview process and a possible denial of admissions:
- History of physical aggression, (not as a result of environmental triggers).
- Intermittent behavior problems.
- Poor ability to self-regulate, need for intensive 1:1 attention.
- Limited ability to work independently.
- History of drug abuse or addiction.
- Academically no more than 2 standard deviations below grade level.
Assessments
All evaluations must be current (within the past 3 years). If evaluations are older than 3 years, families are required to update them either prior to admission or once the 3-year mark is reached.
Evaluations may include the following:
- Psychoeducational Evaluation
- Neurological Evaluation
- Standardized Educational Testing
This testing can be scanned and emailed to:
rsweet@gatewayacademy.us
Tests and Immunization Policy
Families are responsible for ensuring that their child’s vision and hearing screenings are completed annually.
In accordance with Arizona law, all students must be fully immunized to attend Gateway Academy. Our immunization policy exists to protect the health and safety of every student and staff member, and to prevent the possibility of an outbreak requiring the entire school to be quarantined.
Please review the current Arizona School Immunization Requirements here:
Arizona Department of Health Services – School Immunization Requirements (PDF)
Gateway Academy does not allow for exemptions otherwise permitted under Arizona law.
Gateway Academy is committed to maintaining an inclusive and supportive community. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, or age in the administration of our admissions or educational policies.
