Maricopa

A Charter School provides all the opportunities of a private school with none of the cost! Charter Schools are publicly funded by the state, but are privately managed.

Charter Schools provide a unique setting for learning that will improve student achievement and make available additional public school alternatives. Charter Schools encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods. Decision making and control is returned to the local leadership, teachers and parents. That’s why more parents every year are choosing Charter Schools.

Leading Edge Academy is a safe environment where high student achievement is the focus of the school. We provide a rigorous educational program which combines character core values with a special focus on reading, writing and math.

Our teachers, like all public school teachers, are required to meet the federal standards of Highly Qualified in accordance with the federal laws regarding No Child Left Behind. Although it is not required by the State Department of Education, most of our teachers are also Certified with the State of Arizona.

Yes, along with the increased flexibility there is increased accountability. However, instead of being “rule-based” accountable, Charter Schools are “performance based” accountable. The state monitors the outcome, or performance, of students through annual Standardized Testing (currently the AZMerit test). Leading Edge is accountable to both the State Board of Charter Schools and the Arizona Department of Education. A strenuous annual compliance and fiscal audit is performed each year by a State approved outside audit firm. Leading Edge is also subject to the various fire, health, safety, municipality, local, and federal agencies.

Any student may apply to enroll. Once open enrollment has ended (usually around March of each year) students are taken as space is available. Students with discipline issues from current schools may not be eligible to enroll.

One of our goals is to foster parental involvement. Parents are encouraged to be involved in the following ways:
• Develop a close teacher-parent interaction
• Volunteer, when possible, for 1-2 hours per week
• Participate in Parent/Teacher Organizations
• Support your children in their homework, assignments, attendance, etc.
• Attend the open Governing Board Meetings
• Support the school financially, especially through the Arizona Tax Credit Program.

NOTHING! Leading Edge is a Tuition Free public charter school!

Yes. Each campus has a catered hot lunch program available for purchase. Additionally, Leading Edge participates in the Government sponsored Free/Reduced Lunch Program.

Five days a week:

Kindergarten to 2nd Grade Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM – 2:45 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-12:00 PM;

3rd Grade to 5th Grade: Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM;

6th Grade – 8th Grade: Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM- 3:15 PM; Friday 8:00 AM -12:15 PM.

Leading Edge determines and submits for approval their own calendar each year. It is similar to many of the surrounding school districts, with classes beginning in early August and completing prior to Memorial Day.

Students in K-6th grades wear uniforms. Specific uniform guidelines and dress codes for each campus can be found on the Resources page.

Leading Edge families benefit from the State of Arizona’s Tax Credit Program. These contributions support extra curricular activities and Character Development Programs while families receive a direct dollar for dollar state tax credit up to $200 for individuals and up to $400 for families filing jointly. Anyone who pays Arizona state tax can give to Leading Edge and receive a tax credit; the donors do not have to have a student attending the school.

Our students are administered the current Arizona State  Assessments (currently AZMerit) just like any public school. These are used by the state to determine our school’s performance. In addition, we use several other methods to monitor our students’ progress, including AIMSWeb, Galileo, and other performance measuring instruments.