Great Hearts is committed to offering all students the best education possible – the education they deserve, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Maryvale Preparatory was founded in 2012 with the special mission to bring a tuition-free classical, liberal arts education to a traditionally underserved West Phoenix neighborhood. As the public charter school grew from educating a few hundred elementary students in a leased church towards its capacity to serve thousands of K-12 students each year, Great Hearts led a successful $8 million capital campaign in 2017 to construct a brand-new campus on Camelback Road and 43rd Avenue which includes a beautiful performing arts center, multi-purpose room, gymnasium, and sports field in addition to classrooms and administrative space for our Title 1 community. Maryvale Preparatory continues to academically outperform the surrounding district schools’ test scores in Math and English Language Arts.

Located in the heart of a neighborhood where crime, poverty, and food insecurities are higher than the national average, many children are exposed to traumatic experiences. In fact, more than 80% of our K-12 students qualify for federal assistance through Title 1 funding. (Federal regulations classify a school as Title 1 when more than 40% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch.) Despite facing severe income-related challenges such as limited access to food, housing and transportation, Maryvale Prep families choose Great Hearts to prepare their children for college, a virtuous life, and leadership within their community.

Daily challenges faced by our Maryvale Prep community include:

• Trauma related to low-income stressors and even parent incarceration
• Lack of resources accessible to teachers in neighboring district schools
• Limited access to uniforms and classroom supplies
• Dangerous walks to school in an industrial area due to lack of reliable transportation
• Student displacement from their homes due to the current housing market crisis

All Maryvale Preparatory K-12 scholars study the same rigorous classical, liberal arts curriculum offered at our suburban Great Hearts academies which includes art, history, math, science, foreign language, music and drama on a daily basis. And the academy continues to outperform its neighboring district schools in Math, English Language Arts and other academic pursuits. Maryvale Preparatory students also have the opportunity to participate in athletics, field trips and character-building activities both inside and outside the classroom.

Together, we are transforming the lives of at-risk students through academic excellence and moral formation. As this fund grows, we can serve even more students like them— students who just need a real chance. Join us in offering an accessible educational environment where at-risk students can thrive!

Make a donation to the greater good fund