Gateway Elementary

348 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Gateway Elementary School, located at 501 S. Gateway in Ridgecrest, California, serves as a foundational educational institution within the Sierra Sands Unified School District. The school is situated in the high desert community of Ridgecrest, an area deeply influenced by its proximity to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. As a public elementary school, it provides a structured academic environment for students in the primary grades, focusing on essential literacy, numeracy, and social development skills designed to prepare children for their transition into middle school.

The school functions as a core community hub, emphasizing the collaborative relationship between educators, students, and local families. By providing a standard K-5 curriculum, Gateway Elementary aims to foster a supportive learning atmosphere that addresses the diverse needs of its student population. Through its commitment to foundational education and student engagement, the school plays a vital role in the academic and personal growth of the children residing in the Ridgecrest area.

348

Total Students

15.0

Full-Time Teachers

23.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

66.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Gateway Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	177
Hispanic	102
Black	20
Asian	8
Two or More	32
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	7

White
177 (50.9 %)
Hispanic
102 (29.3 %)
Two or More
32 (9.2 %)
Black
20 (5.7 %)
Asian
8 (2.3 %)
Pacific Islander
7 (2.0 %)
American Indian
2 (0.6 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Sierra Sands Unified
Phone:	(760)499-1850
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	348
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	15.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	23.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	182
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	49

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 68

Grade 1 55

Grade 2 66

Grade 3 55

Grade 4 49

Grade 5 55