Rising to the challenge: How ‘twice-exceptional’ Gateway Academy students are taking on college early

Families at Gateway Academy in Phoenix are accustomed to school updates that focus on addressing challenges: “How is my student doing socially or emotionally? Where do we need to improve?”

But this year, the updates sound different: “Your student is 35% done with English Comp 1, and earning an A.”

Accelerate ASU — one of the nation’s largest university-provided dual enrollment programs — is creating new opportunities for these learners to reach their full potential.

Gateway Academy serves students in grades 6–12 who are twice-exceptional, meaning they are academically gifted and diagnosed with high-functioning autism. Many arrive after difficult experiences in traditional schools, having been misunderstood or placed in environments that didn’t fit. With that in mind, the school supports students’ social, emotional and organizational skills as intentionally as their academic growth.

“Our students are extraordinarily bright,” said Robin Sweet, CEO and executive director. “But they struggle with social norms, social expectations and executive functioning. You can be the best and brightest in the world, but if you don’t have those social skills and time management and organizational skills, it’s tough.”

A perfect fit for a gifted community

Anthony Terrill, Gateway’s director of education, spent months searching for a program that could match the strengths and needs of students on the autism spectrum. What he found in Accelerate ASU was a combination of flexibility, affordability and academic rigor that he hadn’t seen elsewhere. 

Students have access to multiple course lengths, including an on-demand option that allows them to move through the material at their own pace for up to a year. This structure supports a wide range of learning styles. They also only add a grade to their transcript if they are satisfied with it, keeping the stakes low while preserving college-level expectations.

“It’s kind of the cream of the crop,” said Terrill. “A lot of our students do the on-demand portion, which is great because they can go at their own speed. (Accelerate ASU) checks a lot of the boxes for what we’re looking for as a school.”

The model has worked so well that Gateway is expanding dual enrollment far faster than expected, with enrollment rising quickly in the first year. The rapid growth hasn’t gone unnoticed at ASU.

Audrey Moreno, senior director of national bridge partnerships at ASU Learning Enterprise, noted it was one of Accelerate ASU’s “fastest scaling programs.”

College learning in a safe, supportive environment

Gateway students complete their college coursework on campus, surrounded by teachers who understand their needs and peers who share similar experiences. This creates continuity, as students can take field trips connected to their learning while being in a familiar environment that the team calls the “Gateway vibe.”

“The students tell us, ‘We found our tribe,’” Sweet said. “When you feel that way, you can be the best that you can be. All those barriers go down.”

For students who have been bullied or misunderstood in traditional settings, this matters. A stable environment and a program designed for flexibility allows learners to take on new challenges and, ultimately, discover what they’re capable of.

“They are perfectionists,” Terrill said. “They feel like they should already know this or that they’re behind. But it’s like, ‘Oh, I can take this class and I can pass. I can do this.’” 

The momentum is reaching even the youngest students. Students in grades 8–12 now take courses, and even some sixth and seventh-graders have opted in for the challenge. Unlike traditional dual enrollment programs, Accelerate ASU welcomes students of all grades and ages to take courses if they feel like they can handle the rigor of a college class.

“Eighth graders are already asking, ‘Is this class going to be offered when I’m in high school?’” Terrill said. “They’re planning their futures.”

For families, the impact has been transformative. Many parents are now ecstatic to see the progress reports and new milestones their children achieve. One parent, stunned that her son — who had never considered college — had already completed a course, would ask, “Are we talking about the same kid here?”

A shift in what families believe is possible

They are also seeing a shift in college aspirations. More seniors are applying to ASU, and this year is set to break records in that regard. Terrill and Sweet say the partnership with ASU has been central to that change.

“ASU really stood out above the rest, because they were really willing to work with us, work with our student population. There was no judging at all on ASU’s behalf,” Sweet said. “Everybody made themselves accessible to us — which, in this day and age, that’s pretty special.”

Terill agreed.

“Accelerate ASU just so happens to be in our backyard, so to speak. But if we were anywhere, I mean — it’s the best thing for our school right now,” he said. “We’re super appreciative and glad we were able to pair up with Accelerate ASU. For families, it’s changed everything.”

Learn more at accelerate.asu.edu.