In February 2012, the Gateway School Board approved a Propel charter school proposal to open a kindergarten through eighth grade charter school within the district's borders. Propel operates nine schools in Allegheny County. The Propel charter school re-opened the former Pitcairn Elementary Building on Agatha Street, which the Gateway board had closed in 2011. The school opened with little controversy to approximately 300 kindergarten through sixth grade students in August 2012, with a planned expansion to eighth grade over the following two years.
iN FeBRUAry 2012, the gaTeWay sCHool BoarD APprovED A propel charTER ScHOol pRopOsaL to open a KIndeRgArTeN thrOuGh eigHth gRade chArtEr SCHooL wIthin the district's bOrderS prOpEl operaTeS nine sChOols In ALlEGheNy cOunty. thE propEL chArter school re-openeD the foRmeR PitcaIrn elEmENTaRy buiLDiNg oN AgaTha StreEt, Which thE gateway boArD had CLOseD in 2011. thE SChOOl OpENED With lIttLe ConTroVeRsy to Approximately 300 KiNdeRgArTeN ThROugh SixTH grADe sTUDents in aUgust 2012, wITH A planned expANsion To eighth gradE oVEr tHE followinG two YEars.