North Pointe Preparatory

North Pointe Preparatory is a public charter school located in Phoenix, Arizona that serves students in grades 7 through 12.

History

North Pointe Preparatory was established in August 2001, with 130 students in grades 7 through 9. In eight years, it grew to its current maximum enrollment of 750 students in grades 7 through 12. The school was founded by four families who wanted a high school that would support parents as they built character and leadership qualities in their teens and be financially accessible to everyone. The Pointe Schools system also contains two elementary schools, Canyon Pointe Academy and Pinnacle Pointe Academy, which both opened in 2002.

Academics

North Pointe Preparatory focuses on the 3 As: Academics, Arts, and Athletics. It provides secondary education for students who intend to pursue a college education. North Pointe offers dual enrollment and advanced placement classes, which give students an opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. It is one of only six public schools in Arizona accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as a college preparatory school.

North Pointe Prep's Indoor Percussion team has only been competing for four years. In 2013 North Pointe Prep took second in WGAZ state championships, this being only their second year competing. In 2015, they took first in the WGAZ Division and state championship.

In 2015 Robotics has made it to the top ten in the state.

Athletics

The competitive cheer team at North Pointe competes within the 1A-3A region of the Arizona Interscholastic Association. They are currently the four-time defending state champions, capturing the title from 2008-2011. They have also won several ^[2] events in the last two years, including the 2009 West Coast Championship in the small coed division.

In 2012 the JH football team went undefeated and won the championship.^[3]

Community service

North Pointe's emphasis on community service is exemplified by its Prep Cares program. In the fall, the school has collaborated with US Vets^[4] to create a float for the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, in addition to running several other events honoring members of the armed forces.^[5] North Pointe has a food drive every winter and helps stock boxes at local food banks. In the spring, Prep Cares focuses on providing mentoring for younger students, as well as working with the American Diabetes Association to help bring awareness to children's diabetes.

Controversies

2008 suspensions

In the spring of 2008, students heard a rumor that a teacher was leaving North Pointe. Though the students were misinformed, they staged a sit-in. When the bell rang, the 33 students refused orders from the school's teachers, directors, and assistant superintendent to go to class. All the students were then suspended for insubordination.

"WTF" shirts

In the fall of 2013, the school released shirts which read "We're the Falcons" at the commencement of the School's Old School Spirit Week. The shirts drew attention immediately due to the fact that, in much larger font, the statement was abbreviated "WTF", an obscene phrase. The shirts were reported to the media by a parent who claimed her daughter had been dress coded for wearing a flower headband, although she had only been asked by a teacher to remove it during class and not officially dress coded.^[6]

However, shortly after the initial report on the local ABC affiliate station, and subsequent reports from Fox, NBC, and even the Today Show, students, parents, and even individuals not affiliated with the school became interested and sales for the shirt drastically increased. A few days later, the school ran out of the shirts. That Friday, students gathered for a large group picture (in their "WTF" shirts) and the photo was later uploaded to the school's website. Before and during the shot, students chanted "deal with it", which appeared on the back of the shirt. Students suggested making shirts which read "Stand Tall, Falcons Unite" (abbreviated to "STFU").

References

External links

• Pointe Schools website