Frequently Asked Questions

  • 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 learning environment designed to improve student achievement and offer additional public school alternatives. They encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods, returning decision-making and control to local leadership, teachers, and parents. That’s why more parents are choosing Charter Schools every year.

  • Leading Edge Academy is a safe environment where high student achievement is our focus. We provide a rigorous educational program that combines core character values with a special emphasis on reading, writing, and math. In a blended learning environment that provides online learners the flexibility they need. Our dedicated, highly-qualified teacher team and staff is available to students both in person at our Learning Lab and online via synchronous sessions to provide both direct instruction and 1:1 support.

  • Our teachers, like all public school teachers, are required to meet the federal standards of a "highly qualified" teacher according to the No Child Left Behind Act. Although not required by the State Department of Education, most of our teachers are also certified by the State of Arizona.

  • Yes, along with increased flexibility comes increased accountability. However, instead of being "rule-based" accountable, charter schools are "performance-based" accountable. The state monitors student performance 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 rigorous annual compliance and fiscal audit is performed each year by a state-approved outside audit firm. Leading Edge is also subject to various fire, health, safety, municipal, local, and federal regulations.

  • Any Arizona student may apply to enroll at our online school. However, please note that it will be the responsibility of the parents/students to visit a Leading Edge Academy campus for standardized tests, access to Learning Labs, or as required for DE/CE and CTE students.

  • One of our goals is to foster parental involvement. Parents are encouraged to participate in the following ways:

    • Develop close parent-teacher interaction.

    • Join Parent-Teacher Organizations.

    • Support your children with their homework, assignments, and attendance.

    • Attend open Governing Board Meetings.

    • Support the school financially, especially through the Arizona Tax Credit Program.

  • NOTHING! Leading Edge Academy Online 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.

  • The school operates five days a week with the following schedule:

    • Monday to Thursday: 8:00 AM to 2:48 PM

    • Friday: 8:00 AM to 12:23 PM

  • Leading Edge Academy follows a year-round schedule to provide continuous learning opportunities throughout the year. The schedule typically begins in late July and concludes around Memorial Day, incorporating additional breaks in fall, winter, and spring. This approach allows for consistent academic progress and supports ongoing student engagement.

  • Dress codes can be found in the Handbook. Students are not required to wear a uniform, but must follow a modesty-based dress code.

  • Leading Edge Academy participates in the State of Arizona’s Tax Credit Program. When individuals contribute, these funds directly support extracurricular activities and Character Development Programs at the school. Donors receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit: up to $200 for individuals and up to $400 for families filing jointly. Any Arizona taxpayer can contribute to Leading Edge and receive this tax credit, regardless of whether they have a student attending the school.

  • Our students take the current Arizona State Assessments (presently ACT Aspire, ACT, AzSCI, & AASA), similar to any public school. These assessments are used by the state to evaluate our school’s performance. Additionally, we employ several other methods to monitor our students’ progress, such as AIMSWeb, Galileo, and other performance measuring instruments.

  • Yes, Leading Edge Academy Online offers a Summer School program during the month of June. This program is open to any high school student(*fees apply) in Arizona entering grades 9-12 for the upcoming school year. Students can participate in Credit Recovery courses for previously failed subjects or take courses to get ahead for the next school year.