About Innovation Academy

Innovation Academy is a K-5 elementary school specializing in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Uniquely designed to weave the sciences into all aspects of learning, the school engages students in hands on, minds on relevant curriculum and instruction that utilizes technology and the arts to enrich and encourage learning. The school also offers a well-rounded education in reading, writing, social studies as well as instruction in art, music and physical education. All are essential components of a quality elementary education.

The school has no neighborhood attendance boundaries and students from every area are eligible to apply for open enrollment. Due to the competitive nature of the open enrollment process, parents who want a STEM-focused education for their student(s) are strongly encouraged to apply for enrollment as early as possible. The school has been designed to hold 450 students in grades K-5, or roughly 75-80 students per grade level.

We take tremendous pride in being an innovative school and in preparing our students for successful futures – which is important to us and the families we serve. Thank you for choosing Amphi Public Schools and Innovation Academy!

JFB-RC

OPEN ENROLLMENT

SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
FOR
SCHOOLS WITH NO GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES

Open enrollment at any Amphitheater school without a geographical boundary is available to any Arizona resident student who lives within and/or outside of the Amphitheater Unified School District boundaries.  The enrollment priorities and procedures for selection of open enrollment applications shall be in accordance with the enrollment priorities and procedures set forth in Policy JFB, Regulation JFB-RA, and the following procedures:

A.  Priority shall be given to students who reside within the District boundaries with a goal of distributing placements equitably between the District feeder patterns and minimizing any impact on enrollment at surrounding District schools.  The Superintendent may annually determine a maximum number of students for acceptance into a District school with no boundaries from any surrounding District schools to minimize enrollment loss at adjacent District schools.

B.  Applications for open enrollment may be submitted at any time for the current school year or the following school year.  The selection of applications will be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Policy JFB, Regulation JFB-RA, and the following procedures. 

C.  Applications for the following school year received on or before October 1:

1.  Applications received on or before October 1 will be designated as “Group A” applications.  

2.  If the number of Group A applications received exceed the available space for students in the specific grade given the school’s projected enrollment and capacity for the following school year together with the stated goals of this regulation, then a school without a geographical boundary will hold a lottery to determine which applications may be accepted. 

3.  If a lottery is necessary, Group A applicants will be grouped in accordance with the priorities set forth in Policy JFB and this regulation, and a lottery will be held. 

4.  The school will provide written notification to the parents/guardians of Group A students as soon as possible, but no later than October 31, as to whether their student’s application has been accepted for enrollment or placed on a waiting list for the applicable District feeder pattern or, if applicable, the non-resident student waiting list.  If a student’s name has been placed on a waiting list, the school shall notify the parents/guardians of the student’s number on the applicable waiting list.

D.  Applications for the following school year received after October 1 and prior to the start of the school year:

1.  Applications received after October 1 will be designated as "Group B" applications. 

2.  Group B applicants will be considered for enrollment after the enrollment status of the Group A applicants on a specific District feeder pattern waiting list or the non-resident waiting list has been determined.  Any Group A students who remain on a waiting list for their applicable District feeder pattern or, if applicable, a non-resident student waiting list, shall have enrollment priority over all Group B students on that same waiting list.

3.  If all Group A applicants on a designated waiting list have been accepted for enrollment, and the school capacity and grade capacity permit, the school shall accept all Group B applicants for enrollment from that same waiting list.  If there is insufficient capacity to accept all Group B applicants from a specific waiting list, then the Group B applicants on the relevant waiting list shall be enrolled in the order of receipt of their completed application with the priorities set forth in Policy JFB being given to the extent possible. 

4.  Group B applicants shall be notified of the status of their enrollment application and, if applicable, position on the waiting list within three (3) weeks of the date of submission of their completed application. 

E.  The District may provide transportation between designated feeder pattern school sites and the District school without geographical boundaries for resident transfer students living within the District boundaries and/or other students if space permits.  Qualified students must have properly completed and submitted a "Permission to Walk from Non-Geographical Boundary School Designated Bus Hub" to the school site to be eligible for such transportation.  The parents/guardians of students receiving transportation between the designated feeder school and the District school without boundaries are solely responsible for supervision of their students at pick up and drop off times.