Ralph A. Gates Elementary School

The two way language immersion program at this school is unbelievable! The principal, along with many teachers have their own children attending here, so there is an incredible amount of support and accountability. You will experience a "private school" feel because of the amazing parent involvement. My nine year-old is completely fluent in Spanish and is an A student in both languages. She sounds like a native speaker and more importantly she has an appreciation for the other cultures that we come across in Orange County. While the state is taking out the music and art from our schools, we have an awesome opportunity to add the gift of language into our students' lives.
--Submitted by a parent

The immersion program seems good. However I'm not agree with the way how to treat students in this school. When I went to visit to the school, I saw some staffs screaming horrible at students over loudspeaker during recess and lunch time.

This is a fantastic school with an incredible immersion program. The teachers are passionate and committed to seeing each child succeed. The principal is supportive of the students and parents. We cannot say enough good things about Gates!!
--Submitted by a parent

My kids are also in the immersion program which is the only reason I stay in the school. This program has some wonderful and skilled teachers, but there are an equal number who are not up to the task. The principal is unapproachable, defensive and frequently unprofessional; the grounds are dirty; the over-all tone is un-welcoming. The parents who are involved are fantastic, but few in number.
--Submitted by a parent

Great teachers and a wonderful principal! Any parent that is involved with our school knows exactly how great it is and how lucky we are to have our kids involved in such a great immersion program!
--Submitted by a parent

"Great school with amazing teachers and the most involved parents I have ever met" - I couldn't have said it better myself! I am very happy with the school and the progress my daughter is making in the immersion program.
--Submitted by a parent

HORRIBLE PRINCIPAL...HORRIBLE. My daughter has been in this school for 6 years and the environment is a very punitive, disrespectful one where kids are not allowed to be kids. I am taking my daughter out of the IMMERSION Program and the school next year.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school with amazing teachers and the most involved parents I have ever met. Not to mention the amazing immersion program that has made my kids bilingual.
--Submitted by a parent

Ralph A. Gates Elementary School is a 5 star school. I live in Laguna Niguel and I travel 25 minutes just to get my kids to school. A total of 1 1/2 of driving a day and it is worth it! My children are in the Spanish Immersion Program and come from a family that does not speak Spanish. This program not only wonderful and amazing but it really does work! My children are now bilinguel and we are tickled pink! Last summer break, we traveled to La Paz in Baja California, Mexico, and my children were checking us in the hotel, talking to the taxi cab drivers, ordering our food in the resturants, asking for directions, speaking Spanish in stores and snorkling trips! My husband and I do not speak Spanish and we were not only relieved but surprised and proud of our children. Thank you Gates Elementary!
--Submitted by a parent

My sister attended Gates in the immersion program to then graduate from Mater Dei High School (one of the best private schools in the country). Gates has a great immersion program that teaches Spanish alongside their usual English. Its a public school yet is one of the most well known in the stateU.S. (California Distinguished) The immersion program, which has a waiting list that parents apply for up to a yr before the child even starts kindergarten (which is where they begin the lingual prog.) in order to even have a chance of getting in soon, guarantees the student's bilingual by 3rd grade!!!. My sister read her own book (1 Fish, 2Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish in Eng & Span!) before her kinderYear was 1/2over and is now fluent in Spanish, yet still has no problems with English and she's only turning six October this year08. I highly recommend!!!!
--Submitted by a parent