Tobias passed his road test!     Guest speaker  Former Gates Chief  of Police Mr. James VanBrederode     Mr Bell's tire change lesson

Gates Chili offers an outstanding Drivers' Education program for students!

The program is offered twice each year, in the Winter/Spring and in the Summer.  We are planning to offer our next program in the Winter/Spring 2024 as an in-person program.    This will depend on the NYS/Monroe County COVID restrictions at the time of the program.    

Designed to meet the scheduling needs of the students and families, we offer a variety of lecture and road group options. Our Driver Education program complies with The New York State Education Department and New York State Department of Motor Vehicle requirements, offering 24 hours of classroom lectures and 24 hours of road time.

Upon successful completion, students will receive their MV-285 which allows them to drive after 9 pm at the age of 17 (what the students like) and provides documentation for possible insurance discounts (what the parents like).

The program is provided as part of the Gates Chili Continuing Education program. Seats are limited and priority is given to Gates Chili School District residents, but the program is also available to non-district residents in good standing at their high school.

Pre-Registration is required and spots are distributed using a birthdate lottery - the oldest pre-registered student gets their first choice and so on.

The cost of the program is $500 for Gates Chili School District residents and $575 for non-district residents. We now offer flexible payment options for all students.

Pre-registration information will be released in late -October for the Winter-Spring Program and in mid-April for the Summer Program.  

Here is what people are saying about the Gates Chili Driver Education Program

"The Driver's Education program through Gates Chili's Continuing Education taught me all of the skills I would need in order to receive my driver's license and stay responsible on the road. A lot of these skills are still invaluable to me today, and having completed the course I am able to save money on my car insurance bills as well. I highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to not only save money and obtain their driver's license but also anyone who wants skills that will serve them on the road for the rest of their lives."   Will S., Student

“The Drivers Ed Program at Gates Chili will save your child’s life! Proper driving skills and safety should be taught by experts and Gates-Chili has fantastic instructors!”    Former Chief James VanBrederode, Town of Gates PD

"This is one program that I highly recommend for all those individuals who wish to learn how to drive. Not only were a variety of situations covered in the classroom but also driving in different areas (on the expressway, during heavy traffic, etc). I found that my son appeared more confident behind the wheel and that he shared with me what he learned in class and on the road. Repetition is so important and I was pleased to hear that what I was or had taught him, was also being covered in class. The Instructors are a special breed. They possess insight into the abilities of the individual student and a high degree of patience with each student.   The money spent was well worth it!!!"   Karen R.,  Parent

"My son took Drivers Education from Gates Chili School District. He had a great experience and it made him a much more responsible driver. Listening and learning from an instructor versus his parents was the key. Every dollar spent on this course was worth the peace of mind we have felt ever since!"   Cynthia T., Parent

"Driver Education was a great experience for our daughter. The instructors were friendly and encouraging. The extra time in the car experiencing city and highway traffic was very helpful. She gained confidence in her ability and passed her road test on the first try!"       Juliet S.  Parent  

 Meet our Driver Education Instructors

Mr. Jon DelVecchio  

Mr. DelVecchio is a High School Business education teacher at Rush Henrietta.  He has been teaching Driver education and the five hour course at Gates Chili since 2004.   Jon is the owner of Street Skills and recently published Driving Flashcards to help parents teach driving skills to their children.  In his spare time, Jon also teaches the Learn to Ride Motorcycle course .

Mr. Daniel Goodwin

In addition to teaching Earth Science at Holley, Mr. Dan Goodwin has taught Drivers Education for over 15 years. Having taught in Holley, Pittsford and now at Gates Chili for the past 15 years, he is well aware of the skills needed by young drivers to be safe behind the wheel. A positive attitude and a willingness to continually evaluate their own driving are two of the essentials, Mr. Goodwin tries to instill in our young drivers.

Questions? Call us at 247-5345 or Email continuingeducation@gateschili.org