The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in Math. The lowest is 41% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on American Principles Academy
American Principles Academy is a public charter school district in Iron County, Utah, that operates a single school serving grades K through 8. It opened in Cedar City in 2023, making it a very new option for families in the area. Because it is a charter district, it functions as its own local education agency, separate from the county’s traditional school districts.
State testing data is available for math and science for grades three through eight. On the RISE assessment, the share of students scoring proficient or above was moderate in math and slightly lower in science. English language arts results were not reported in the data we examined, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about reading and writing performance. Across the two tested subjects, the district’s overall proficiency index places it below the midpoint among Iron County’s three districts, meaning the other two districts posted higher average proficiency. This is early data for a school in its first years, and performance may shift as the school matures.
Because the school only goes through eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and metrics like chronic absenteeism and per-pupil spending are not available in the sources we reviewed. The school’s enrollment, student demographics, and economic context are also missing from the available data, so a clear picture of the student body—such as how many students qualify for free or reduced-price meals or receive special education services—is not possible from this information. A parent would need to contact the school for those details.
The district brief indicates that the school is projected to grow to a size that would be typical for a K–8 charter, but precise counts are not included in the public records we accessed. The school’s NCES status is listed as “new,” and it has a single future school listed in the directory.
For a family considering American Principles Academy, the main takeaway is that this is a very young charter option in Cedar City, offering a tuition-free alternative to the area’s traditional public schools. Its academic results, while still emerging, are currently on the lower side relative to other Iron County districts. Without demographic or program data, it is difficult to assess the peer environment or available supports. Anyone interested should seek out the school’s website or admissions office for the information not yet captured in public datasets.
See more original research from School Decision →