SDA, a public charter school, serving students from kindergarten through grade eight, is known in the local community and statewide for its outstanding academic programs.
Now in its 17th year, SDA has consistently been ranked among the top five elementary and junior high schools in the state. The success of SDA students is due to a visionary leader, Dr. Anjum Majeed, as well as dedicated faculty and staff, supportive parents and hardworking, diligent students.
At SDA, the students learn a minimum of one grade level ahead of the Arizona state educational standards. Beginning with the kindergarten year, students are academically challenged, and high academic expectations are established, all within a nurturing environment.
SDA elementary school students obtain a solid foundation in language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Students are taught at the mastery level, and the curriculum emphasizes higher level thinking skills, such as critical thinking and problem solving.
By the time SDA students reach middle school, many are prepared to enroll in Algebra I, Advanced Literature and Advanced Science. During middle school, students have the opportunity to complete Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II, Advanced Literature, Science, including Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and Technology.
Many of these courses are not offered until high school. Students completing eighth grade at SDA are enrolled in Honors and Advanced Placement courses upon entering high school. Additionally, many students receive high school credit for courses completed at SDA. This level of coursework enhances their grade point averages, and makes them highly competitive students when applying to colleges and universities.
As a part of the middle school curriculum, SDA launched a new course, Scratch, under the direction of Miss Laura Meyer, the middle school science faculty member. Last year, Miss Meyer, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), piloted Scratch, a free visual programming language, developed by the MIT Media Lab with a grade five class.
This year, every middle school student has the opportunity to take the course. Through Scratch, students can create animated presentations and video games. Scratch provides an introduction to computer programming.
In addition to a new elective, Miss Meyer started the first SDA Science Olympiad. Science Olympiad is a competition involving all Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM, areas. Through Science Olympiad, students prepare for various competitions. Events range from building contraptions and experiments, to knowledge-based testing.
During the invitational, held in January, many SDA student teams placed among the top 10 schools. For example, two students, Trenton H. and Emerson M., placed fifth in the hovercraft competition. The students had to build a hovercraft, applying specific guidelines. The movement of the hovercraft was measured and compared with the other competitors.
Another pair of students, Thomas B. and Colin D., placed fourth in the food science competition. The invitational competition was an amazing experience. Students are looking forward to regionals. Other clubs offered to middle school students include sports, dance, tutoring and choir. Enroll now. Limited spaces are available for the 2017 – 2018 school year. For more information regarding Self Development Academy, or to arrange a tour, please contact the Front Office at (480) 641-2640.