The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mountain Sunrise Academy
Mountain Sunrise Academy is a tuition-free public charter school in Saratoga Springs that opened in 2020 with a Waldorf-inspired curriculum. It serves kindergarten through eighth grade, having added seventh and eighth grades in subsequent years. For families in the Saratoga Springs and Lehi area who want a Waldorf education without private school tuition, this school provides a pathway that did not previously exist in this part of Utah County.
The student body is small, with enrollment concentrated in the lower grades and tapering off sharply above fifth grade. The school is predominantly white, and a very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, making the school economically homogenous. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider.
State assessment results place the school in the bottom quarter of districts in Utah County when looking at overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In the most recent testing year, proficiency rates were below a third of students in English language arts, and lower in math and science. These figures come from a single year per subject, and the school is still young, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how it interprets these results and what academic supports are in place. Waldorf pedagogy emphasizes experiential learning and delayed introduction of formal academics, which can affect how student performance aligns with standardized tests. The school is in its early years of expansion, and small upper-grade enrollments mean test results in those grades come from very few students.
The school operates as its own district, so there is no larger school system to provide context. No information was available about staffing ratios, course offerings, discipline rates, or chronic absenteeism, so a parent should follow up with the school for details on class sizes, enrichment programs, and school climate.
Saratoga Springs is a fast-growing suburban community on the northwest shore of Utah Lake. The city has seen explosive population growth over the past two decades and is only partially developed, with a build-out population projected to be much larger. Housing values are above the state median and well above the national median, and rents follow a similar pattern. The area is car-dependent, with no traditional downtown core; schools and civic landmarks are spread across the city’s long, narrow geography. The city skews young and family-oriented, with a substantial share of residents under eighteen.
For families considering Mountain Sunrise Academy, the school offers a small, tuition-free Waldorf option in a rapidly growing and relatively expensive housing market. The academic fit depends on what a family values: the Waldorf approach and the school’s community feel are a known draw, while the state test results are a soft spot worth understanding better. The school’s expansion to eighth grade means it can serve students through middle school, but families looking for high school will need to plan ahead, as the school does not serve those grades. Given how new the school is and how quickly the surrounding area is growing, the school’s enrollment, programs, and academic trajectory may continue to evolve.
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