Sonoran Science Academy (SSA) is a tuition-free public charter school with several locations in Arizona. SSA, a college preparatory school, emphasizes, though is not limited to, science, math, and computer science.[1] SSA is owned and operated by the Daisy Education Corporation, which is a non-profit 501(c)(3)educational organization in Tucson, Arizona.
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The SSA model was replicated to create Paragon Science Academy (K-11) in Chandler which opened in the 2008-2009 school year and expanded in the 2010-2011 school year to a second campus.
SSA's enrollment for the 2010-11 school year was estimated at over 2,000 students across six campuses and from grades K-12. SSA employed over 200 full-time and part-time staff and faculty within the same school year. These numbers increased to more than 2,500 students and more than 250 staff members as of 2011-12 school year within eight campuses.
The vision of Sonoran Science Academy (SSA) is to ensure that every graduate will successfully compete in an increasingly global high-technological society upon graduation. Via strategic planning, SSA aims to have a leading, academically challenging, learner-centered curriculum with college preparation in mind. College-bound courses define the foundation of SSA. Therefore, SSA is vested in continuously enhancing its college-level classes including advance placement (AP) and college dual enrollment courses. SSA aims to be one of the most academically advanced institutions in secondary education, not only within the U.S, but also throughout the world.—Sonoran Science Academy, "Our Vision"
The mission of Sonoran Science Academy (SSA) is college preparation for students to achieve success in the high-tech community of the new millennium through a science and math instructional program that includes high educational standards, a liberal arts foundation and meets individual student's needs to compete successfully in a global technological society upon graduation.—Sonoran Science Academy, "Our Mission"
SSA has won numerous awards from various math, science, engineering, robotics, art, drama, and language competitions. The school has won awards at the regional, state, and National MATHCOUNTS competitions, and SSA students have qualified to participate in prestigious competitions such as Intel ISEF, USAMO, FIRST Robotics Competition, National History Day, Academic Decathlon, and Voice of Democracy. In addition, SSA student Stan Palasek received the 2010 Future Innovator of the Year award. [2][3]