2011-2012 PROFILE OF
Arizona Conservatory for Arts & Academics
CEEB Code: 030646
2820 West Kelton Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85053
Office: 602-266-4278
Fax: 602-978-2764
Web address: azconservatory.org

Superintendent: Mr. Ron Neil
Assistant Superintendent: Mr. Brad Miles
Principal: Mr. Christopher Lalley

Community Profile, Faculty Profile, Enrollment Data

Arizona Conservatory for Arts & Academics (ACAA) is a public, non-tuition, charter school serving grades six through twelve in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. ACAA is accredited by the North Central Association.

For the school year 2012-2013, ACAA will be expanding to Kindergarten through fifth grade by acquiring the site directly across the street from our current location. ACAA is a member of Choice Education and Development, Inc., managed by Sequoia Schools. Students attend school Monday through Thursday. ACAA's doors are open on Fridays to offer students free tutoring for more academic support. In addition, Fridays are often used for department rehearsals. If students make poor choices, they are required to participate in an intervention program on Fridays as well.

ACAA houses 14 Academic classrooms, a media center that accommodates up to 50 students, a science lab, and a variety of unique opportunities to express ones artistic abilities: 2 dance studios that specialize in ballet and dance elements, a 135-seat theater, a 28 station piano lab, percussion and guitar labs, voice and musical theater rooms, a visual arts studio, and a drama room with floor to ceiling mirrors. All students have access to computers.

Enrollment for 2011-2012 is 408 with 209 high school students and 199 middle school students. Students come from all over the valley.

The faculty consists of 26 highly-qualified staff. Of the 26, there are 8 performing arts staff members. There is one principal and an assistant principal.

Awards and Distinctions

ACAA has achieved accreditation in 2010 and excelling status for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school year from the Arizona Department of Education. In addition, ACAA is one of the top performing arts schools in Phoenix, Arizona. ACAA received the 2010 Award for Top Performing Arts School from the Arizona Department of Education. ACAA also received the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) for Higher Performing School in 2011. NCEA identifies higher performing schools that have consistent improvement in student achievement (growth) over the most recent three years and maintaining an “exceeds” standards result on the 2009-2011 Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS).

Curriculum

ACAA offers more than 75 courses in English, mathematics, science, social science, foreign languages, fine arts, and performing arts. ACAA is a college preparatory school offering an innovative schedule, high powered curriculum based on Arizona state standards while allowing for creativity, small classes and a highly qualified faculty of certified educators and professional artists who share a mutual determination to find a better way to educate the next generation. Academic faculty members integrate the arts into their classes, while the Arts faculty integrates academic standards in their curriculum. Academic placements are determined by proficiency test score, graduation requirements, and previous academic performance. Classes taken at ACAA are 56 minutes in length, 7 periods per day, 4 days per week.

Students receive half credit per semester for each course successfully completed.

Continuing our efforts to enhance a more rigorous and challenging academic program for the 2011-2012 school year, ACAA added Advanced Placement (AP) classes to their academic program. Currently, there are 4 AP classes available with intentions to add more to the program as years progress.

Grading and Ranking

Class Rank

Standard GPA

In order to determine a student's rank in class, a GPA is used: each A = 4 points, each B = 3 points, each C = 2 points, each D = 1 point, and each F = 0 points. The points are totaled and then divided by the number of credits attempted. The GPA is a cumulative total beginning with the student's ninth (9^th) grade coursework.

Honors/AP Grade Point Average

In order to determine a student's rank in class, a GPA is used: each A = 5 points, each B = 4 points, each C = 3 points, each D = 2 points, and each F = 0 points. The points are totaled and then divided by the number of credits attempted. The GPA is a cumulative total beginning with the student's ninth (9^th) grade coursework.

Class rank is determined at the end of the fifth semester of high school. Class rank is determined by a calculation of student cumulative GPA.

Valedictorian status is awarded to the student(s) earning the highest GPA in the graduating class. Salutatorian status is awarded to the student(s) earning the second highest GPA in the class. Candidates for the valedictorian/salutatorian designations will be identified at the end of the fall semester of their senior year. This ranking will be based on any and all completed high school credit granting courses.

Standardized Testing Data (AIMS % Passed 2010-2011)

                       Reading          Math         Writing

Post-High School Placement

60% matriculated to 2-year institutions
40% matriculated to 4-year colleges and/or universities

Colleges attended by ACAA graduates over the last 3 years

   University of Arizona
   University of Southern California (USC)
   Pace University, New York
   Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences
   Northern Arizona University
   Glendale Community College
   Grand Canyon University
   International Baptist College
   Collins College
   ITT Tech
   Northern Arizona University
   Arizona State University
   Paradise Valley Community College
   Sante Fe University of Art & Design
   Mesa Community College
   Scottsdale Community College
   American Musical and Dramatic Academy
   New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
   Universal Technical Institute
   MENLO College

High School Graduation Requirements

**The following table is for students with graduating cohort year of 2012**

**The following table is for students with graduating cohort year of 2013 forward**

Middle School Graduation Requirements

Support System

Students who fall behind in coursework are offered the following interventions:

1. Tutoring. Teachers are available Fridays or by appointment on other days

2. Academic Probation. Students that receive a failing grade in one or more core subject areas.

3. STARS Program. Developed by the middle school teachers to assist students in being prepared for class, organization, and homework completion.

Students must earn a minimum of 6.0 credits (4 of the 6 credits must include 1 credit of each of the following: math, science, social studies, and English) by the end of their 7^h grade year. A seventh grade student not meeting the credit requirements may be retained in the seventh grade for the following school year. A retained seventh grade student may not be placed in 8^th grade mid-year.

Students must earn a minimum of 12 credits (8 of the 12 credits must include 2 credits of each of the following: math, science, social studies, and English) by the end of their 8^th grade year to receive a Completion Certificate. An eighth grade student not meeting criteria for the completion certificate may be retained in the eighth grade for the following school year. A retained eight grade student may not be placed in 9^th grade mid-year.

Students who do not pass a class are given the opportunity to make up the required credit(s) through the following credit recovery options:

1. Credit Recovery. Replace an arts class with an online class during the school year.

The best way for students to stay on track:

• Good Attendance

• Communicate with teachers

• Complete homework on a regular basis

• Parental Involvement