The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Science. The lowest is 54% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on American Preparatory Academy - Draper #3
American Preparatory Academy – Draper #3 is a charter school in Draper, Utah, serving grades seven through twelve. It is part of the American Preparatory Academy district, though the school itself operates independently in many day-to-day respects. As a charter school, it has no set attendance boundaries; families anywhere can apply, though enrollment is capped and admission is by lottery if oversubscribed.
The school’s student body is diverse and leans heavily into high academic expectations. White students make up the largest share, followed by a substantial Hispanic population and a sizable Asian student body. Black, multiracial, and small groups of other backgrounds complete the mix. About one in five students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a share well below the typical district in this area. Enrollment is largest in the middle school grades and tapers upward, with a senior class roughly one-quarter the size of the seventh-grade cohort. This shape is common in charters; some families leave for other options in high school, and the school’s own reputation may shift the draw year to year.
On state assessments, the school performs at levels that place it among the stronger schools in Salt Lake County. In the grades and subjects tested, the average proficiency rate across math, English language arts, and science lands in the top quarter of all districts in the county. The science results are particularly strong, with a large majority of students scoring proficient or above. English language arts proficiency is also above the county midpoint. Math proficiency is lower than the other two subjects but still falls well above the typical district. These are solid figures for a school that does not select students by test scores but does draw a somewhat higher-income, lower-poverty population than the surrounding conventional districts.
The school’s location in Draper places it in a fast-growing, affluent suburb with a strong employment base in technology and finance. Home values in the area are well above state and national medians. Rent is also high and has been stable recently. This is not a community where housing pressure is easing. Draper grew explosively for decades, then cooled slightly after 2020. The most notable recent development is the relocation of the state prison, which freed a large parcel near the Point of the Mountain for future redevelopment.
For a family considering this school, the main draw is the academic profile. Proficiency rates are high, the student body is not deeply impacted by poverty, and the school has a college-preparatory feel typical of charters in this region. The small senior class suggests some attrition; a parent might ask how the school supports upperclassmen and what postsecondary counseling looks like. No data is available on course access, Advanced Placement offerings, or career and technical education. The school’s website, the one source a family could check directly for current programs and schedules, was not included in this profile.
Draper itself is car-dependent though it has light rail and commuter rail stations. The school sits on Lone Peak Parkway, in a commercial stretch that requires driving for most families. The charter’s district office did not signal any recent changes to policy, leadership, or curriculum.
This school fits a family seeking a middle through high school option with above-average tested outcomes, in a high-cost suburban setting, with a student body that is economically more advantaged than many in the county. The missing pieces around course offerings and high school programming leave a gap; a prospective parent will want to fill that directly. For a family whose priority is consistent academic performance and who can manage the commute, the record here is encouraging.
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