Chase Connolly
SDA, a public charter school serving students from kindergarten through grade 8, is known in the local community and statewide for its outstanding academic programs.
Now beginning its 20th year, SDA has consistently been ranked among the top elementary and junior high schools in the state, and has received several distinguished awards, including Charter School of the Year and Academic Excellence Award.
The success of SDA students is due to a visionary leader and owner, Dr. Anjum Majeed, devoted and caring faculty and staff, supportive parents, and hardworking, diligent students. Dr. Majeed opened SDA (formerly known as Self Development Charter School) after much encouragement from parents to continue the advanced and high-level early childhood programs offered by Self Development Preschool (SDP). In addition to the high-quality preschool curriculum, families loved the warm and welcoming environment. SDA was opened in 2000, implementing this model.
Former Self Development Academy (SDA) student Chase Connolly shares,
“SDA was instrumental in taking my education to a higher level. I learned the core values of respect, responsibility, readiness, and resiliency. The 4 Rs became influential for my success in high school. With the rigorous curriculum at SDA, I was prepared for Advanced Placement, Honors, and dual enrollment classes. The advanced mathematics at SDA allowed me to take three math classes for dual enrollment in high school. This year, I graduated at the top of my class.”
Chase’s testimony regarding the impact that SDA staff and curriculum had on his character, discipline, and academic preparedness for high school and beyond is one of many shared by former SDA 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.
Many students, including Chase, began their educational journeys with SDP. Another former SDA student, Breanna Cason, began SDP at the age of four and then transferred to the charter school beginning with the kindergarten year. Breanna states, “They’re the people (staff and teachers) that see potential and craft it to a fine perfection by pushing students to achieve their greatest goals. I never felt more at home at a school before, as I am now a high school graduate. I have taken the hard-working skills I learned at Self Development Academy with me to high school, and it allowed me to achieve great academic goals. I am currently graduating 11th in my class with a GPA weighted at 4.54 and attending NAU with a fully paid tuition scholarship. I owe it all to the staff and teachers at Self Development Preschool/Academy, and most importantly, Dr. Majeed, because without her I would never have achieved such goals.”
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.
Other former SDA students have been valedictorian of their high schools, have given the graduation commencement addresses, and have attended prestigious colleges and universities, including Ivy League institutions. Former student Max Gau states, “I ended high school giving the commencement address at my graduation, and I couldn’t help but trace that accomplishment all the way back to my time at SDA.”
Year after year, former students return to campus to share their success stories. This past year, 20 students of the graduating class of 2019 began their educational journeys with SDP or SDA. SDA looks forward to hearing from the most recent graduates and learning of their endeavors as they pursue their educational and life goals.
If you desire to provide your children with an educational opportunity that draws on their strengths and guides them to reach their highest potentials, then look no further than SDA.
SDA is enrolling for the 2019-2020 school year. Spaces are limited. For more information and to schedule a campus tour, please contact the Front Office at (480) 641-2460.