It is said that doing the right thing involves first deeply listening to the stakeholders.
After years of listening to the parents, Self Development Academy is adding more classrooms, which means more children can learn from one of the top schools in the country.
Self Development Academy (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 18th year, SDA consistently has been ranked among the top elementary and junior high schools in the state.
The school has received several distinguished awards, including the Charter School of the Year and Academic Excellence Award. The success of SDA and the students is due to a visionary leader, Dr. Anjum Majeed, dedicated faculty and staff, supportive parents and hardworking students.
Opening and former expansions
After much encouragement from parents desiring a continuation of the advanced and high-level preschool and kindergarten curriculums offered at Self Development Preschool, Dr. Majeed founded SDA (formerly Self Development Charter School) in 2000.
The charter school began with 37 students and a handful of staff and classrooms. Since SDA’s opening, the school community and campus has grown tremendously, and now consists of more than 450 students in elementary school and middle school.
Presently, four buildings make up the campus, including the main building, courtyard classrooms, multipurpose room, Science and Technology Center and playground area. Former expansions were completed with a thoughtful, systematic approach.
The expansions permitted the development of additional academic programs and allowed more families from the community to join the school community. The high quality of academic programs remained consistent with each addition and increase in student enrollment.
The core curriculum at SDA
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.
Former SDA students visit the campus and share how they are performing in high school and college. They attribute their success to the strong academic foundation, as well as the study and organizational habits taught at SDA.
This year’s expansion
Given the school’s and students’ consistent achievements, there is a growing demand for enrollment. SDA has an open enrollment policy of first come, first served. Year after year, SDA welcomes returning families and embraces new students.
Desiring to serve more students within the community, Dr. Majeed, along with the support of the school board members, decided to expand the campus and add a new two-story building. The campus expansion will provide much needed space for student learning, music and art programs, and administration, while also allowing for additional students to receive the outstanding academic programs provided by SDA.
The new facility will house four new classrooms, an art room, a music room and two study rooms. The classrooms located on the second floor will be used for the middle school program.
The music room will permit a private space for the music program, which includes violin instruction and an electronic drum lab. SDA students will use the art room to learn about famous artists and to create their own masterpieces.
The school community is excited about the addition and the possibilities the expansion offers. The new building is scheduled to be completed by August.
Enroll now. To learn more about SDA, please visit the website at www.selfdevelopmentacademy.com. Limited spaces are available for the 2018 – 2019 school year. For more information regarding SDA, or to arrange a tour, please contact the Front Office at (480) 641-2640, or send an email to info@self-dev.com.