News and Events
Extracurricular Activities
Tempe Prep competes with AIA schools at the 1A level, and in some sports and activities, with schools up to 3A in size.
Some activities include:
- Football (Boys; 8-man)
- Speech & Debate
- Cross-Country (Boys and Girls)
- Odyssey of the Mind
- Basketball (Boys and Girls)
- Cantamus (Choir)
- Soccer (Boys and Girls)
- Yearbook
- Baseball (Boys)
- Model United Nations
- Softball (Girls)
- Track & Field (Boys and Girls)
Click here for more activities.
About TPA :: General FAQ
How much does it cost to attend Tempe Preparatory Academy?
Tempe Prep is a tuition-free charter school. It is funded through tax dollars, in the same manner as traditional district schools. Families are asked to contribute to the school, but the level of participation is for each family to determine. There is a refundable book deposit, and families are asked to pay for consumable books which the students will keep and mark. Extracurricular activities also have fees that participants must pay. Financial aid can be extended to families who need assistance with school expenses.
How are students selected for admission to Tempe Prep Academy?
Tempe Preparatory Academy has an open-admission policy. Any student may apply for admission. There are no entrance requirements or pre-requisites.
Applications for the 7th grade lottery are accepted by the office from March 1st to March 15th. Selection for entrance is by lottery for the 7th grade which is held in the spring, at a public board of directors meeting. The names of prospective students are drawn through a random process. The date of this meeting is posted on the board of directors agenda and typically occurs at the April meeting.
Some spaces are reserved for siblings of current students and children of faculty. Any additional places will be offered according to the results of the lottery. Families who are not chosen for the available places will be put on a waiting list. That list is carried over from year to year.
Applications for 8th - 12th grade are added to the waitlist as received throughout the year as well as any 7th grade applications received after the open enrollment dates. You may also refer to the cover letter accompanying the application form for information on the enrollment process.
How much homework do students do each night?
The amount of time that a student will spend on homework will vary according to the abilities of the student. In general, junior high students are expected to spend two hours each day on homework. In the high school, the total is from two and a half to three hours. Periodically one weekend is designated as an R&R weekend, in which no homework is assigned.
Is help available for students who need additional assistance with their studies?
Yes. Teachers are available for tutoring during the week. In addition, older students often work with other TPA students who need additional help.
What is the daily schedule?
The first class begins at 8:20 AM. Classes primarily last for 55 minutes. In the 2007-08 school year, 7th-9th grade lunch is from 11:30 am-11:55 am and 10th - 12th grade lunch is from 12:30-1:00. Pizza is served on Tuesdays and Thursdays, otherwise students bring a lunch to school. The last class finishes at 3:00 pm. There are several half days and exam day schedules; please see the summary calendar for details.
Is there a dress code for students?
Yes. Young women wear a plaid skirt or navy blue pants/shorts, with a white polo shirt, or white or blue cotton blouse. Young men wear khaki shorts/pants and white or navy polo shirts, or white cotton shirts. Shoes must be leather, and athletic shoes are not allowed. There are some rules regarding hair style and jewelry, as well. Download Dress Code
How are Tempe Preparatory Academy and Great Hearts Academies connected?
Tempe Preparatory Academy is an independently governed charter school. It is the founding inspiration for Great Hearts Academies, but it is not run by Great Hearts Academies. Tempe Preparatory Academy is self-governed by a local board of directors, many of whom were the founders or are from the original constituents of the academy. All of the directors are members of the Tempe Prep community.
After listening to members of our community, holding talks with Great Hearts Academies, recalling the founding inspiration for Tempe Prep, and researching Charter Management Organizations, a decision was made about our relationship with Great Hearts Academies in 2006. The single most important outcome of this lengthy process was Tempe Prep Board of Directors deciding unanimously to retain the local governance structure established by the Founders in 1996. Tempe Prep will move forward as a self-governed school, aspiring to be the premier public preparatory academy in the Phoenix Metropolis.
To define the relationship, Tempe Prep and Great Hearts Academies established a three year Affiliation Agreement, which specifies how Great Hearts can use Tempe Prep’s name, historic data, and performance data to develop the Great Hearts Charter Management Organization, modeled after Tempe Prep. Great Hearts may refer to Tempe Prep as a “sister school” or an “affiliate” academy. The two organizations will share best practices and Tempe Prep has the option of participating in any Great Hearts Capital Campaign during the three years of the agreement.