Charter and Private School Highlights – November 2024

Four Arizona School for the Arts (ASA) students have been named semifinalists for the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, marking a significant academic achievement. The students — Parker Johnson, Daniel Kang, Miah Mostaghimi, and Bryce Vu — represent a distinguished pool of less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors recognized for their academic excellence.

Parker Johnson, the class president, is not only a gifted vocalist but also a violinist, recently participating in the Honors Performance Series Orchestra Festivals. Daniel Kang has showcased his talent as a featured pianist at the Arizona Music Educator Association Tier 3 Honors Recital and contributes as a first violinist. Miah Mostaghimi has been recognized as a 2025 National Hispanic Scholar and participated in the All-State Guitar Ensemble. Bryce Vu has excelled as a vocalist for the Western Region American Choral Directors Association conference honor choirs and is an accomplished pianist.

The ASA expressed pride in these students, emphasizing a long-standing tradition of outstanding performance in the National Merit Scholarship Program. The finalists will be determined in early 2024.

The school also announced a newly appointed executive committee for its board of directors for the 2024-26 term. Dr. Heidi Jannenga, co-founder and chief clinical officer of WebPT, becomes president. Allison Otu, executive director of Marketing and Communications at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, serves as vice president. Betty Hum, an attorney consultant with AxiomLaw, takes on the role of secretary/treasurer.

Brophy College Preparatory’s student newspaper, The Roundup, earned accolades from the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association (AIPA), being named the best online school newspaper in the state. The print version also secured second place in its category. The talented staff, moderated by faculty member Jake Kelly, garnered multiple individual awards across various categories recognizing their journalistic prowess.

Madison Highland Prep achieved the distinguished Platinum level recognition on the AP School Honor Roll for 2023-24, demonstrating its commitment to academic excellence and college readiness. Alongside this, the school received the AP Access Award, highlighting its dedication to inclusivity in offering AP courses to all students, including those from underrepresented backgrounds. With 84 percent of graduates taking AP exams and 60 percent scoring a “3” or higher, their accomplishments reflect a strong academic commitment.

In a community service initiative, Valley Lutheran High School students engaged in volunteer work, fulfilling their mission of “Learning, Serving, and Sharing Christ.” Recently, they collaborated with the organization Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build beds for families in need, showcasing their dedication to community service.

Xavier College Preparatory was recognized for the fourth time as a 2024 Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. This recognition highlights the school’s exemplary performance and solidifies its status as a leader in academic excellence in Arizona. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized these schools as models of effective teaching and community collaboration.