Advance U

Kaizen Education Foundation dba Advance U (91329)

Charter School 72 Students

Elementary School K - 4th

School Overview

South Mountain Preparatory Academy, located on East Southern Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona, is a public charter school that serves as part of the Choice Academies network. The school is known for its commitment to a structured, classical liberal arts education, emphasizing core academic disciplines such as mathematics, science, history, and literature. By maintaining a rigorous curriculum, the academy aims to prepare students for success in higher education while fostering critical thinking and a strong sense of civic responsibility.

Beyond its academic focus, South Mountain Preparatory Academy prioritizes the development of student character and community engagement. The school typically operates with a supportive, smaller-school environment that encourages close interaction between faculty and students. By integrating traditional teaching methods with modern educational standards, the academy seeks to cultivate well-rounded individuals who are not only academically proficient but also disciplined and community-minded citizens.

Total Students

8.0

Full-Time Teachers

9.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Advance U
Demographic	Student Count
White	3
Hispanic	54
Black	11
Two or More	1
American Indian	3

Hispanic
54 (75.0%)
Black
11 (15.3%)
White
3 (4.2%)
American Indian
3 (4.2%)
Two or More
1 (1.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Kaizen Education Foundation dba Advance U (91329)
Phone:	(602)243-8531
Website:	http://www.advance-u.com/
Grade Range:	K - 4th
Total Students:	72
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	8.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	9.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 18

Grade 1 16

Grade 2 16

Grade 3 11

Grade 4 11