Great Hearts Day At The Capitol A Success!

Phoenix, Ariz. April 13, 2017

Set up on the House of Representatives Lawn at the Arizona State Capitol was a tent, tables, informational posters, stacks of books, and more than 250 people gathered around to learn more about Great Hearts and what our academies offer. It was our very first “Great Hearts Day at the Capitol.”

Great Hearts co-founders, board members, CEO, superintendent, and many other Great Hearts leaders met with Arizona elected officials to raise awareness of what our tuition-free charter schools are all about.

“One of the goals was to make impressions and keep the important work that Great Hearts is doing across the Valley on the minds of the decision makers in our state,” said Erik Twist, Great Hearts Chief Innovation Officer & Senior Vice President of Advocacy in Arizona. “As a proud member of the incredible education options in Arizona, it was an honor to be represented in our state’s halls of government.”

Legislators, their staff, and even some parents were treated to lunch, choir performances, and poetry recitations from our Bard winners.  “We’re honored to be part of the best pubic options available to students. Our students were thrilled to showcase their wonderful talents,” said Twist.

The event concluded when the Veritas Prep Honors Choir walked onto the House Floor to sing in front of our elected leaders.

Key Statistics:

  • The Great Hearts SAT average over the past five years is 1210, a 200-point advantage over the national average.
  • 98% of Great Hearts graduates immediately attend universities and colleges, with 2% participating in military service or a gap year; 54% of graduates pursue a STEM-focused course of study in college.
  • The 340 graduates in the Great Hearts Class of 2016 were admitted to 327 colleges and universities in 46 states and seven countries.  In fact, graduates were accepted to 22 of the top 25 national universities according to US News and World Report.
  • The class of 2016 received an estimated $50 million in scholarships, averaging out to an astounding $147,000 per student!
  • Great Hearts academies performed well above state-wide averages on inaugural AzMERIT scores. Great Hearts’ pass rates were more than double those of peer district schools at the middle and secondary level, and +60% higher than peer institutions in elementary grades.
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