Catheryn Gates Elementary School

My wife and I love this school. The teachers and principal are wonderful and all are easy to approach and talk to. My biggest concern is that there are parents at this school that do not have the schools best interest. There are parents that send letters to anyone they can to write negative things about the teachers and the princippal. Our experiences have all been wonderful.
—Submitted by a parent

Catheryn Gates is an amazing school. The teaching staff and principle are dedicated to our childrens education and making Catheryn Gates a great place to be. It is extremely disappointing that a few parents (with their own personal agenda) would critize a school as great as ours. To you, I would say if you feel so passionately against this amazing school why in the world are your kids still here? Why not take them to another school? Perhaps you know that your kids are in the best school and it is just you that needs to focus your attention on something that positive.
—Submitted by a parent

Our school district has made differentiation (i.e., teaching to a student s particular level) a major focus. It is up to each teacher to find the time and resources to make this happen. Our second grade teacher at Gate was fabulous and worked diligently to meet each child s needs. All students, whether struggling or achieving, learned so much in her class. However, we have been disappointed with the fourth grade GATE cluster. We are 100 days into the 180-day school year, and the students have not been given any GATE assignments. We don t understand why the students were tested for GATE in the third grade when there is no fourth grade GATE program.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our sixth year at Gates. The school has had fine teachers and high API scores since it opened. Our dedicated teachers and our students work hard to produce such excellent academic results. We have had three principals during this time; since the scores have been quite consistent, I don t think the change in principals has made any difference. I do wish our current principal could more effectively address issues such as bullying and the current lunch/recess schedule which doesn t give students enough time to eat. Her focus seems to be on more fun activities such as wearing pajamas to school and dancing on the stage.
—Submitted by a parent

I enrolled my children after moving from another state earlier this year. What an amazing school. I volunteer for all of my kid's teachers, and do some support work for the PTC. I have been so impressed with so many aspects of this school, and I believe it all starts and ends with the principal. I say to all who have a personal vendetta against her fo visit another campus. See the interaction of the principal there with the students. Do they treat ALL students with the same amount of respect? Do they make themselves visible on all levels? Do they appraoch the children, or do the children approach them? Please go to another school. Take your children and you mean and nasty agendas with you and stay there. You do nothing positive for our wonderful school.
—Submitted by a parent

It is not just great parents who make this school work. The staff is amazing! The extra activities, test scores, and Gate program are stellar! I am disappointed to hear the ridiculous negativity from parents. Try another school.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has attended Catheryn Gates for 5 years and I am proud of the excellent quality of education she has received. I was appalled that some parents feel the current principal is not available and are disappointed in her leadership. I have been at this school through 3 principals and you will never find a more visible source of leadership. Would you ever have seen the previous principals of Gates wear their pajamas and dance and sing with the children? It sounds trivial, but she is there for the teachers, students, and parents. Just because some don t like what she has to say, doesn t mean she doesn t care. I know much is made of Gates high test scores- this would not happen if a school were solely academic driven. The ability to produce consistently high marks is the product of an environment that cares about the whole student and their families. If anyone disagrees, try visiting another school, then you will see why Gates is so special!
—Submitted by a parent

Catheryn Gates is an AMAZING school. I have had nothing but positive experiences with the principal, teachers and office staff. I am amazed by the negativity within some of the comments that have been posted about our school and I wonder if those parents have ever been to any elementary school other than Gates. If they have, they would know that compared to many others, Gates is a school that goes above and beyond academically. The high API score proves that. As far as the critics of the new principal are concerned, I ask them if they have ever seen another principal stand out in the parking lot and direct cars in the rain? How can people even question her dedication to her students and her school? She has been a breath of fresh air to our school and has created many new and wonderful traditions for our kids. They love her!
—Submitted by a parent

Catheryn Gates is the perfect elementary school! The teachers, staff and especially the principal are amazing. The school has a great PTC or Parent Teacher Club that does so much to add to and improve the school. I've read the other reviews listed and am shocked to see any negative remarks about our principal who goes so far above and beyond for the students and their families. I'm very involved in the school and PTC and am so glad that my son is part of this wonderful school.
—Submitted by a parent

Parents are very involved with their children's education. The principal could improve her communication skills and become more visible to the parents. The 5th grade gate program has been a very big disappointment.
—Submitted by a parent

Good luck talking to the principal or getting any concerns addressed. If you are serious about change just go to the district. Parents are being discouraged from being involved with their child's education. A letter was sent to all parents outlining the 'rules'. If we need to talk to our kid's teacher we must set up a formal meeting and we are not allowed to observe the class during times of instruction! Forget open door policy at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

It is the parents involvement, giving of money and supporting their students academically that makes Catheryn Gates a good school. Our Principals fresh and new ideas came with her from her previous school. The new Principal has made changes with disregard towards the students and how it has affected them negatively. Our PTC is very strong and has done a lot of wonderful things for our school. Unfortunately, the new Principal wants to use the money that is supposed to benefit all that attend our school for items that are not a priority and for the minority. Our school has excelled since it opened and it will continue to excel no matter who our Principal is, because it is the teachers and the parents that have made our school what it is today, and it is too bad the new Principal does not see that.
—Submitted by a parent

This as an awesome school! The new principal is great, she has many new and fresh ideas. Unfortunately we have some parents that think they run the school, but the principal is quick to remind them that the running of the school is best left to the professionals. :) The children learn more than the State of CA requires them to know to meet standards. I have had two kids attend and one went on to become a straight a student and the other is well on their way as well. This school is the school to attend.
—Submitted by a parent

My child goes to this school and it is amazing! She says it's always fun everyday, and everybody is nice!
—Submitted by a parent

Leadership has deteriorated in the last year. I am very disappointed in many things this year. Many parents have felt the need to go directly to the district office because of lack of response to problems.
—Submitted by a parent

Both my children attend Gates. I have volunteered weekly for the past 3 years and have been amazed by the differentiated teaching the staff is able to provide to the student body. Those of various abilities are taught and challenged at their own levels. Staff attend meetings and discuss what works and does not work within their classroom and share ideas amongst themselves in order to improve the quality of education across their own grade level. The PTC is very active, as is parent involvement. School staff, be it janitorial, secretarial, teachers and principal, are truly dedicated to providing a nurturing, educational environment. Parental involvement within the school only serves to shore up what is already a challenging educational environment. Homework and in-class curriculum may seem difficult at first, but the attentive teaching staff is able to track the student body and keep them performing at or above grade level.
—Submitted by a parent

The kids schedule changed and they take recess before lunch and get no break after lunch. Teacher quality can vary greatly!
—Submitted by christopher Brooks, a parent

Principal is rarely available to talk with the parents when they have a problem. Catheryn Gates is a great school for the average child. The school is great at teaching the standard. If your child is advance you may have a problem getting challenging school work. A lot is dependent on the teacher and the quality of teachers vary widely. It can be the luck of the draw until they get into the Gate program. Just be prepared to supplement your child's education.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is a third grader and has attended this school since kindergarten. Catheryn Gates is so great that the class rooms are full to the brim, don't let that fool you into thinking your childs education will be neglected, each teacher knows it's an honor to teach at this school, and to work with truly dedicated parents. Informational voicemails are sent directly from Principal to parents phone. School newsletters are sent home weekly; if your child 'forgets' their homework each teacher has a hotline for weekly and daily homework curriculums. If you don't have time to do school work with your child this is not the school for you! This school is hands on for our kids future!!
—Submitted by a parent

The academics really challenged my children and compared to other schools was very nice!
—Submitted by a parent