Original Research by School Decision on Espiritu Schools (92902)
Espiritu Schools is a small Arizona district serving grades seven through twelve, but its actual enrollment is concentrated entirely in seventh and eighth grade. The district has a single school, AIM Higher College Prep Academy, and the student body is very small. The overwhelming majority of students identify as Hispanic, with a very small number of Black and White students enrolled. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available.
State testing results for the 2023-24 school year were suppressed for both math and English language arts in seventh and eighth grade, and for eighth-grade science. The number of students tested was small enough that the state did not report proficiency rates. A parent looking for a clear picture of academic performance will find little to go on from the state’s published data. The district serves only seventh through twelfth grade, but enrollment data shows students only in seventh and eighth grade, with no high school students reported. This means there is no graduation rate to examine, and the district does not yet have a track record of moving students through to a diploma.
The chronic absenteeism rate places Espiritu Schools above the midpoint among Maricopa County’s districts, meaning a higher share of students are missing substantial school time. This is a soft spot a parent may want to look into further with the school. Per-pupil current spending is in the upper range compared to other districts in the county, which is notable for a very small district.
The district operates as a single-school charter entity, AIM Higher College Prep Academy, serving grades seven through twelve. No recent parent-relevant changes, such as budget shifts, curriculum updates, or expansion plans, could be confirmed from available sources. The district’s website and directory listings provide basic information but little in the way of strategic priorities or program details.
For a family considering this district, the picture is one of a very small, predominantly Hispanic student body in a charter setting that serves middle and high school grades but currently enrolls only seventh and eighth graders. State testing data is suppressed due to small numbers, so there is no public record of how students perform on state assessments. The chronic absenteeism rate is a concern, and the lack of a graduation rate or high school enrollment means the district has not yet demonstrated a track record of moving students through to completion. A parent would need to contact the school directly to understand academic programming, student support, and plans for expanding into the upper grades.
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