In 2012 the Escalon Charter Academy was founded and in 2013, the Homeschool option, Gateway Academy was established. Gateway began with 26 students and by 2024-25, Gateway started the 2024-25 year with over 340 students. For the 2025-26 school year, Gateway is planning for additional growth with a target of 400 students enrolled TK-12. For perspective, since the 2021-22 school year, Gateway enrollment has increased by 50 percent, growing from 231 in 2021-22 to 340 at the beginning of the school year.
Starting on the old Dent Elementary campus, Gateway’s growth required the program to relocate to the former Migrant Ed campus behind Van Allen School in 2019. In preparation, the existing four classroom portables and office complex received some updates, including new exterior paint and classroom technology, as well as the construction of a new portable building housing two classrooms and student bathrooms.
The five existing portables were 25+ years old and a new coat of paint couldn’t hide the significant dry rot and other exterior issues. Owing to the dry rot, these portables were devastated by nesting woodpeckers over the past few years. It was apparent that something needed to be done, and in 2023, plans were developed for a major facilities upgrade project that would renovate the damaged portables, including installation of new exterior siding, flooring, lighting, ceiling tiles, and a 20’ x 24’ storage building. Lastly, aligned with the district’s goals of making our schools more secure, one of the most noticeable upgrades was the installation of new perimeter fencing to provide more security and control over access to campus.
Intended to be a summer project, as typical in most school construction projects, the project was delayed and didn’t begin until the fall of 2024. So, when staff returned in August, we were temporarily moved back to our old Dent facilities rather than move into our renovated campus. Upgrading the buildings was the first phase of the project, and phase II will include major upgrades to the campus grounds, including outdoor learning labs, shade structures, outside seating areas, an outdoor stage, and landscaping upgrades.
By January, phase I of the project was nearly completed and we could finally return to our new campus. We are still settling in, but things are returning to normal. When our site classes began, one of our veteran students commented, “It’s so nice being home again”. After all the chaos, this was a sentiment echoed by staff as well. Once phase II is completed this summer, our campus will be a first-class learning facility and a campus that our students, families, and district can be proud of!
Principally Speaking is a monthly article, contributed by principals from Escalon Unified School District sites, throughout the school year. It is designed to update the community on school events and activities.
