Frequently Asked Questions | East Mesa

Q. What is a Charter School?
A. 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.

Q. Why Charter Schools?
A. 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 teachings 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.

Q. What makes Leading Edge Academy different from other schools?
A. 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.

Q. Are your teachers certified?
A. 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 not required by the State Department of Education, most of our teachers are also Certified with the State of Arizona.

Q. Are Charter Schools accountable to anyone?
A. 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 Standardized Testing such as AIMS and Tera Nova. 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.

Q. Who is eligible to enroll at Leading Edge Academy?
A. 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.

Q. How can parents become involved?
A. 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 you children in their homework, assignments, attendance, etc.
• Attend the open Governing Board Meetings
• Support the school financially, especially through the AZ Tax Credit Program.

Q. What is the cost to attend?
A. NOTHING! Leading Edge is a Tuition Free public charter school!

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

Q. What are the school days and hours?
A. Five days a week: 1st to 6th Grade Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM; 7th and 8th Grade Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM – 3:10 PM; High School Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM; All grades Friday 8:00 AM-12:00 noon; Kindergarten has both a half day and full day program option.

Q. What School Calendar does Leading Edge follow?
A. 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.

Q. What is the Dress Code? Does the School have uniforms?
A. Students in K to 6th Grade were ‘uniforms’ consisting of Navy or Khaki pants/shorts and a red, white, or blue polo-style shift. 7th to 12th Grade students are not required to wear a uniform but most follow a modesty-based dress code.

Q. What is the Tax Credit Program?
A. 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 AZ state tax can give to Leading Edge and receive a tax credit; the donors do not have to have a student attending the school.

Q. What about student transportation and car pooling?
A. Parents are responsible for their student’s transportation. However, a free daily shuttle runs from both the Queen Creek Campus and the East Mesa campus for students wishing to attend the upper grades offered at the Gilbert Campus. Also, each year parents formulate a carpool map and data on families in each area to assist families interested in car pooling.

Q. Does Leading Edge participate in the Standardized Testing?
A. Our students are administered the AIMS and Tera Nova tests just like any public school. These are used by the state to determine our schools performance. In addition, we use several other methods to monitor our students progress, including Dibbles, Witt, Carnegie Math, Spalding and other performance measuring instruments.

(voice) 480.984.5645
(fax) 480. 627.3634

Located at
Skyline Fellowship Church

10115 East University Dr.
Mesa, AZ 85207
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