Gateway Institute of Technology
Encyclopedia
Gateway Institute of Technology (GIT) is a high school
serving grades 9 to 12 in St. Louis, Missouri
, USA
.
. Under its current name it opened in August 1992, in response to a court order mandating the establishment of a high technology magnet school
. The school integrates a strong academic curriculum emphasizing mathematics and science with career preparation in highly technical fields. Accelerated and advanced placement courses are available for students. Inquiry, innovation, creativity and exploration are encouraged throughout the school.
Gateway was one of ten schools recognized as a New American High School
by the United States Department of Education in 1996. Gateway serves as a model school and is visited regularly by educators from the U.S. and elsewhere.
Going into their junior year, students pick a career strand, or 'major', within one of four specialty areas:
Bell Labs, as well as the computer divisions of Monsanto, Mallinckrodt Chemical, and McDonnell-Douglas, in computer science and mathematics. Lucent Technologies staff also help the students.
In 1997, Bell Labs facilitated email conversations between ten students and a Nobel physicist.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
serving grades 9 to 12 in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
Gateway opened as John O'Fallon Technical High School in 1956, named in honor of John O'FallonJohn O'Fallon
John O'Fallon was a businessman, philanthropist, and military officer. During the 19th century he rose to become the wealthiest person in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the namesake of O'Fallon, Illinois and the nephew of William Clark. In 1857 he donated over $1 million to establish the O'Fallon...
. Under its current name it opened in August 1992, in response to a court order mandating the establishment of a high technology magnet school
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
. The school integrates a strong academic curriculum emphasizing mathematics and science with career preparation in highly technical fields. Accelerated and advanced placement courses are available for students. Inquiry, innovation, creativity and exploration are encouraged throughout the school.
Gateway was one of ten schools recognized as a New American High School
New American High Schools
The New American High Schools initiative, started in 1996 under the direction of the United States Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, is a national recognition program for United States secondary schools.-Description:...
by the United States Department of Education in 1996. Gateway serves as a model school and is visited regularly by educators from the U.S. and elsewhere.
Student body
The school has 1,600 students, who are accepted on a lottery basis. Approximately 200 of the students have disabilities, including severe orthopedic disabilities, learning disabilities, and behavior challenges; students with disabilities are integrated with special education teachers in the classroom with the regular education teachers. Gateway accepts resource students and gifted students.Academics
At the ninth and tenth grade level students are in 'houses' of 85 to 100 students supported by four teachers (covering English, social studies, math, and science, respectively) and a counselor. The school is designed to integrate academic and technological education in career clusters that require students to have a strong background in mathematics and science. All the students take a broad mathematics curriculum, biology, chemistry, and physics.Going into their junior year, students pick a career strand, or 'major', within one of four specialty areas:
- Agricultural, Biological, and Health Sciences.
- Applied Physical Sciences.
- Computer Science and Mathematics.
- Engineering Technology, which can include an Aviation Maintenance Program that lasts five years and is certified by the Federal Aviation AdministrationFederal Aviation AdministrationThe Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
.
Partnerships with businesses
The school has partnerships with local businesses. Monsanto Company and two medical schools in St. Louis provide assistance and internships in the area of agricultural, health and biological sciences; Mallinckrodt Chemical, in physical sciences; McDonnell-Douglas, in engineering technology; and Lucent TechnologiesLucent Technologies
Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc., originally Lucent Technologies, Inc. is a French-owned technology company composed of what was formerly AT&T Technologies, which included Western Electric and Bell Labs...
Bell Labs, as well as the computer divisions of Monsanto, Mallinckrodt Chemical, and McDonnell-Douglas, in computer science and mathematics. Lucent Technologies staff also help the students.
In 1997, Bell Labs facilitated email conversations between ten students and a Nobel physicist.