The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in Math. The lowest is 35% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Gateway Science Academy Middle
Gateway Science Academy Middle is a charter school in St. Louis that serves sixth through eighth grade. It sits in the city’s west-central side, in a neighborhood of modest single-family homes and small apartment buildings. The school is part of the Gateway Science Academy/St. Louis district, a small charter network, and it operates as a regular public school under its charter.
The student body of roughly this size for a middle school reflects the city’s demographic diversity but tilts toward a white plurality. White students make up the largest share, with Black students as the next biggest group, followed by a smaller Hispanic population and a modest portion of students who identify as two or more races. Just over half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a level that places the school in a middle economic range for a city school. Families looking at the school will find peer groups that are mixed in both background and income, which is typical for many St. Louis public and charter middle schools.
Academically, Gateway Science Academy Middle posts results that stand out within the city. On the Missouri Assessment Program, the school’s students overall score at a rate that places it in the top quarter of all districts operating in St. Louis city. That means that, compared to other schools in the same urban environment, this one tends to have a higher share of students meeting proficiency standards. Nevertheless, the proficiency rates themselves are mixed across grades and subjects. In math, the sixth grade shows about half of students at or above proficient, but that share declines in seventh and again in eighth, a pattern that a parent may want to explore with the school to understand how math instruction or student preparation shifts across the middle years. In English language arts, the rates are more stable across grades, with each grade’s proficiency landing roughly between two-fifths and just under half. Science is tested only in eighth grade, and about a third of students are proficient there. None of these results are exceptionally high in absolute terms, but given the citywide context, they are stronger than many peers.
Because this is a middle school, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not publish data on special education or English learner populations in the available records, so families with children who receive those services will need to ask the school directly about supports and staffing ratios. The same applies to discipline and attendance data, which were not available in the source material.
The housing market around the school is moderate for the region. Home values in the area are below the state average, and rents are similarly modest. The school’s zip code has seen home values rise at a slower pace than the state over the past year, but rents have gone up a bit faster, reflecting broader rental demand in the city. St. Louis itself is an independent city with a diverse economy anchored by major employers such as Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University Medical Center, and several federal agencies. Cultural institutions like Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo, and the art museum are within a short drive. The city’s population has declined over many decades, but recent data suggest some stabilization.
Gateway Science Academy Middle is a school that performs well within the competitive landscape of St. Louis city charters and traditional schools. For a family that values a middle school with a consistent academic record compared to the city average, and who is comfortable with a charter setting that has a relatively stable funding base from the district, this is worth a close look. The declining math proficiency from grade to grade is a point to bring up with the administration. The missing data on special populations and discipline mean that families with specific needs should plan a direct visit and conversation. The neighborhood’s moderate housing costs make it an accessible option for many Saint Louisans.
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