ASU Preparatory Academy Phoenix named 2025–26 American College Application Campaign School of Excellence for Arizona

ASU Preparatory Academy Phoenix has been selected as the 2025–26 American College Application Campaign School of Excellence for the state of Arizona. The award recognizes the school’s success in expanding college access and helping students turn college aspirations into meaningful outcomes.

In Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents oversees the Arizona College Application Campaign as part of ACT’s national effort to remove barriers to postsecondary education. Each year, one Arizona high school is selected for statewide recognition. Together, the board and the American College Application Campaign select a school through a competitive, deidentified review process which evaluates metrics tied to the school’s sustained, measurable improvement in college readiness and college acceptance.

“We unapologetically prepare our students for college, set high expectations and empower them to believe they can get there,” said Dr. Kim Higginbotham, principal of ASU Preparatory Academy Phoenix. “We’ve done intentional work to surround our students with caring adults who support them, inspire them and push them to pursue every opportunity available. Being recognized as a School of Excellence reflects the hard work our administration, counselors and teachers put into helping students succeed. It is both humbling and an honor.”

A Title I campus, ASU Preparatory Academy Phoenix was one of 35 schools nominated for this recognition from across Arizona and is one of 26 schools nationwide to receive the honor. Over the past three graduating classes, the school has significantly expanded early college participation. Key outcomes include:

• From 2022 to 2025:
  • The percentage of students earning college credit rose 62 percentage points from 26% to 88%.
  • Overall college admissions increased 25 percentage points, from 72% to 97%.
• For the Class of 2026:
  • 94% of students have earned college credit.
  • 99% of seniors have completed at least one application to a two- or four-year institution.
  • 69% have been admitted to college as of January.

“Across Arizona, we are changing the mindset around what students can achieve after high school and why college matters,” said Chad Sampson, executive director of the Arizona Board of Regents. “When more students get to and through college, they gain greater earning power, stronger career options and the ability to contribute to a more competitive and prosperous state. That return on investment benefits students, families and Arizona as a whole.”

The School of Excellence award is part of ACT’s American College Application Campaign, a national initiative that honors schools that demonstrate commitment to student success, particularly first-generation students and those from under-resourced communities, through the college application process. Schools partner with ACAC to host events throughout the school year that help students complete college applications, access financial aid resources and navigate admissions requirements with direct support from educators.