Why Choose EDUPRIZE
The EDUPRIZE Way
The EDUPRIZE mission is to provide educational excellence to our community of learners through the use of multiple modality instruction and a strong differentiated curriculum. Students will grow socially and academically in an environment where both leadership and collaboration are stressed. Students will acquire knowledge and ability in mathematics and language arts through our science-based, thematic approach to applied learning. Our project-based focus better ensures that students will excel across the curriculum providing competencies for career and college readiness.
Awards and Recognitions
EDUPRIZE is the Only seven-time awarded A+ charter school in AZ!
The A+ school of excellence distinction was awarded by the Arizona Educational Foundation. The A+ School of Excellence Program was created to:
– Identify exemplary public schools in Arizona
– Establish key criteria for school effectiveness that can serve as a foundation for self-assessment and planning in schools
– Enable the collaboration of best practices within and between schools based on a common criteria related to achievement
– EDUPRIZE is honored to be the only charter school in the state of Arizona to receive the A+ recognition which it has received three times!
Congratulations Eagles!
Why it is so unique to be A+ acknowledged as a charter?
– Charter schools in general do not require teachers to be certified
– Charters in general do not have certified administrators
– Charters in general do not have certified, master curriculum directors
– Charters often do not have certified special education staff, registered nurses, etc.
Advance Ed Accreditation is awarded to schools that are following a rigorous set of educational standards. The accreditation process examines the school’s programs, culture, and the community stakeholders. The entire school is evaluated to determine how well the parts work together to meet the needs of all students.
Accreditation is a significant achievement pronouncing an institution’s quality of education. EDUPRIZE is proud to announce that they are fully accredited by the Advanced ED (NCA/CASI).
EDUPRIZE has received more awards and recognition than any other charter school in Arizona, but what we are most proud of is our amazing teachers!
We are committed to excellence at EDUPRIZE through fostering the whole child to better meet the needs of all children. We work to ensure that each child reaches their full potential and feels the success from their contribution and interaction within the community. EDUPRIZE teachers are certified and a large number have received the title of “Master Teacher”. This distinction requires at least 5 years of experience, a significant documentable contribution to education, continuous professional growth, leadership, and Board appointment.
In July of 1995, EDUPRIZE became the first charter school to open its doors to students in Arizona and the first charter school to operate as its own independent school district in the United States. Dr. Lynn Robershotte and JoAnna Curtis put their 30+ years of classroom experience and the best of educational research into effect when designing EDUPRIZE SCHOOLS. JoAnna Curtis was noted as a master teacher in Mesa Public Schools and has special expertise in the writing process. Dr. Lynn Robershotte has special expertise in science along with a Masters in Administration, and a PhD. in Educational Technology and Instructional Design. Her research in retrieval, retention, and cueing systems has served as the backbone for the EDUPRIZE method.
EDUPRIZE is unique in that its campuses have curriculum coaches to assist teachers to meet the needs of all children and implement the best research-based methodologies.
EDUPRIZE is rated an “A” label school as determined by the letter grade system established by the Arizona Department of Education.
Since 2010, all schools in Arizona are measured with the A-F Grade Accountability System by the Department of Education. This is done to hold schools accountable in a fair and systematic fashion. Each school is equally evaluated both on AIMS performance (50 percent) and how much students grow academically from one year to the next (50 percent). Academic growth is determined by comparing the change in AIMS test scores from one year to the next for similarly achieving students across the state. This is done to evaluate how well a school is growing its students, academically, as they advance from one grade to the next. Other factors such as AIMS improvement, dropout rate, graduation rate and English language learner proficiency rates are taken into consideration, when applicable.
EDUPRIZE has consistently achieved one of the highest student growth rates in the state of Arizona and has been rated an “A” letter grade since the inception of this accountability system. “A” schools demonstrate an excellent level of performance!
In addition to receiving acclaim for our A-rated schools, EDUPRIZE has been continuously acknowledged by the Arizona Department of Education, and at the national level for its unmatched growth-scores. What this means is that EDUPRIZE, through its differentiated instruction, increases student performance on state measures and more importantly ensures that gifted students to at risk students grow at their full potential.
Phoenix Magazine’s “Best Schools” edition, “The Valley’s Top Public, Private & Charter Schools” were evaluated. EDUPRIZE was recognized as the Best Science School. EDUPRIZE was spotlighted for their “hands on” approach to teaching science through STEM based thematic units. When students come to EDUPRIZE they become paleontologists, botanists, meteorologists, etc. as science comes alive through exploration of the live learning labs. EDUPRIZE was noted as the “Disneyland of education”.
“Cottages” are an EDUPRIZE original. These quarterly, thematic focuses allow students to learn and apply basic skills through a hands-on, science-based program. Cross curricular instruction ensures that students can transfer knowledge to new and applied content areas and allow students to be actively engaged in their learning. Our “Cottages” offer multiple modality, 9 week units in a Life Science, Physical Science, Social Science, and Earth Science.
Click HERE to learn more about EDUPRIZE’S science program.
Interested in enrollment?
We are so excited that you are considering EDUPRIZE for your child, where you will discover Excellence in Education! Please complete the form below and the Enrollment department will contact you with more information.