New Horizon School for the Performing Arts is a charter school that opened in Mesa in 1996 for students in kindergarten through 6th grades. The school has 160 students enrolled on average per year. The school focuses on core subjects along with performing arts and computer skills while allowing students to be creative. Teachers strive to instill confidence and self-esteem in a close-knit learning environment. Along with core subjects, students can participate in such activities as theater, painting, dance, chorus, orchestra, video production, computer arts, basketball, physical education classes, multimedia, science & technology, student government, and academic contests.

The majority of the parents express their gratitude for the school, staff, teachers, and administration. The school provides a caring, nurturing, and challenging environment where all students are expected to do their best and achieve their goals. Parents explained their children were doing so much better after enrolling in the school and love going to school, which means a lot to parents. Parents love the way in which the school gives an extra effort to provide students with more than just a place to learn core subjects but to provide them a way to learn that is fun with other activities to enjoy. A couple of parents expressed their lack of faith in the school and believes that administration does not care about the quality of education students are receiving.

In order to make a decision with the reviews being miles apart from parents it is always a good idea to look at the percentages of students that passed the AIMS series of exams. The percentage of third graders that passed the reading exam was 30% below state average, 1% below in writing, and 28% below in math. Fourth graders were 15% below state average in reading, in science 8% below average, and in math, 24% below average but 100% passed the writing exam. Fifth graders were higher in reading that state average, but lower in writing and math than the average. Sixth graders were below average in reading and writing, but higher in math.

With the percentages being just as diverse as the reviews of the parents, it would be best to learn more about the school and curriculum by talking with parents and teachers.

New Horizon School for the Performing Arts
446 E. Broadway
Mesa, AZ 85204
480-655-7444
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