ASU Preparatory Academy expands with upcoming West Valley campus
June 5
Arizona State University (ASU) Preparatory Academy plans to open a new K-8 campus this upcoming school year.
The academy is a tuition-free public charter school that’s credentialed under ASU to prepare students to attend college.
The new campus will be located in the West Valley near Peoria and 43rd Avenues. Currently, ASU Preparatory Academy has 13 locations throughout the state including in Casa Grande, Phoenix, South Phoenix and Mesa. Additionally, thousands of Arizona students attend ASU Prep Digital, an online K-12 school.
The West Valley campus will offer an in-person ASU Prep Digital type class for grades K-4 and a hybrid program for grades 5-8, making it the first ASU Prep Digital middle school to combine on-campus and online instruction.
Students at the new campus will be onsite twice a week and online the rest of the week, offering flexibility, while still preparing students for high school. Originally, ASU Prep Digital was for grades 9-12 and is currently at five ASU campuses, including ASU West Valley.
“The West Valley is seeing rapid growth and significant job expansion, and that’s bringing a surge of families to the area who prioritize education and a path toward future college and career attainment,” ASU Preparatory’s Managing Director Amy McGrath said in a press release.
Details on ASU Preparatory Academy schools
ASU Preparatory Academy’s goal is to give access to higher education, even to the youngest of students.
Enrolled students learn through hands-on projects and learn to solve real-world issues. The campuses offer individualized learning through small group instruction and one-on-one tutoring. Additionally, educators have access to the latest technology to help gauge and identify a student’s strengths and weaknesses.
Students get the opportunity to explore college majors and different career paths through ASU academic apprenticeships.
Alondra Salazar was chosen to lead ASU Preparatory West Valley’s as the school founder. She has more than 15 years of experience improving student outcomes. Previously, she worked as a teacher, instructional coach and middle school principal.
“Each child at ASU Prep West Valley will be surrounded by a culture that celebrates learning and encourages big dreams,” Salazar said in a press release. “Our classrooms will be filled with exciting activities and the latest technology that helps young scholars look forward to coming to school each day.”
Reporting by “Arizona Horizon” Education Solutions Reporter Roxanne De La Rosa. Her role is made possible through grant funding from the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund and Report for America.
