Skip to main content

Draper Journal

American Preparatory to host Memorial Day assembly at its new Draper campus

Feb 01, 2018 10:30AM ● By Julie Slama

American Preparatory Academy Executive Director Carolyn Sharette cuts the ribbon to its newest campus in Draper. (Daniel Bazan/American Preparatory Academy)

In late fall, American Preparatory Academy opened its third Draper campus, just 11 months after breaking ground.

This spring, the school will host a Memorial Day assembly for students and the community.

“After many challenges, and 14 years after the opening of the first Draper campus, the American Prep Draper High School was completed,” APA Communication Director Daniel Bazan said. “Parents and students were very excited to have the high school completed, so students are able to experience the full K-12 education American Prep has to offer.”

The new Draper school, called the Upper School, is designed to serve more than 700 secondary students. This 72,000-square foot, three-story campus, which is located near the Living Planet Aquarium, features 36 new classrooms with science, biology and chemistry labs that support advanced placement classes and honors STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) classes for junior high and high school students. 

“The opening of the new building has enabled the science instruction to expand,” Bazan said, adding that the computer science curriculum provides students with the opportunity to study computer programming, 3D printing, breadboards and circuits. 

Art instruction — instrumental and vocal music, drama and visual art — continue to be important components of the classical education offered at American Prep, he said, adding that in the future, school administrators would like to have an auditorium adjacent to the new campus to provide students with as much exposure as possible to the arts. 

Unique to the school is a professional Horner Pro-King maple hardwood floor previously used in the Burns Arena at Dixie State College. The floor was refinished for American Prep and is now in use not only for its own team, but also as the school partners with Draper Youth Basketball League, which hosts multiple teams all season.

Their mark in the community also will extend this spring, as American Prep will host its annual Memorial Day assembly at the new campus. The assembly will take place at noon, Friday, May 25 in the school gym. 

“This is one of two assemblies each year where students can learn more about the value of our freedom and the need to protect it,” Bazan said, alluding to Veterans Day where the students honor and thank veterans as well.

American Prep completed construction on the new Draper school in just 11 months from groundbreaking to grand opening, spending about half the square-foot cost of an average public school in Utah, Bazan said.

“The cost savings is directed back into the classroom providing curriculum, equipment and excellent teaching staff for students,” he said.

Draper American Prep schools, which serve about 2,200 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, currently has seven Utah campuses. American Prep also has locations in Las Vegas and Lusaka, Zambia, Africa. 

The school started in 2002 when a group of parents envisioned a new charter school in Draper founded on two pillars: rigorous academics and strong character development. In 2003, American Preparatory Academy, a tuition-free public charter school, was established. 

American Prep was named Charter School of the Year in 2011 and in 2017 received the Best of State Charter School designation.