About Us
A school of Tucson Youth Development, ACE is an open-entry/exit Charter High School located at 1929 N. Stone Avenue in Tucson, AZ and has the capacity to serve 200 students, grades 9-12, ages 14 to 21 years (up to 22 with and IEP).
ACE was established to provide an alternative educational environment that provides self-paced and teacher directed learning opportunities that meet Arizona state standards in the core content areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The learning objective for each student is to help them graduate and be prepared for success in post-secondary education and a career following graduation.
ACE provides educational services to a targeted population including, but not limited, to:
4th and 5th-year seniors no longer enrolled in school
Currently enrolled students who are behind on credits necessary to graduate
Students struggling with attendance and academic issues
Students struggling with any issue in their life that interferes with graduating from high school
Students involved or previously involved in the Juvenile Justice System
Students who have dropped out of school and want to return
Parenting youth
ACE is accredited by AdvancEd and offers a "blended learning" model that integrates technology and computerized curriculum with direct instruction and project-based learning. ACE offers open enrollment throughout the school year. Students enjoy a 1:15 teacher:student ratio. Each student is given what they need to succeed. This may include more personalized attention from the faculty; extra tutorials in math and English language studies; part-time employment to earn funds needed to sustain one's household; an opportunity to express leadership skills and to learn at an accelerated pace. ACE enables students to stay in school and grow academically to be ready for post-secondary training or advanced degrees.
In addition to the flexible, computer-based learning offered at ACE, the school’s staff members are enthusiastic educators and environmentalists. They provide scientific “hands-on” learning experiences by incorporating an Aquaponics Garden and cultivation of water-harvesting basins on campus.
History
In 1996 Tucson Youth Development (TYD) was granted a charter (contract) from the Arizona Board of Education to open the Alternative Computerized Education (ACE) Charter High School. The School was originally established to provide school-to-work education for a high-poverty, minority population vulnerable for dropping out of high school and that was lacking credits necessary for eventual graduation. This mission has been continuous. During the last five years, a strong transition to post-secondary component has been incorporated into the instructional foundation as more graduates attend post-secondary institutions and earn career credentials. In 2014 ACE was recognized by the Arizona Charter School Association because its students realized three consecutive years of significant academic improvement. The staff and administration of ACE Charter High School are continuously improving the educational services and programs offered so that students graduate and are prepared for success in their lives after they graduate.