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New School for the Arts

Tempe, AZ · EIN 860794933 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE B27P · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.aznsaa.com
revenue
$2.4M
expenses
$2.3M
net assets
$491K
employees
39
program ratio
91%
mission · from form 990

Education The School's mission is to provide students who have an interest and talent in the arts with a superior integrated academic and arts program.

profile · synthesized from sources

New School for the Arts is an educational institution in Arizona that offers a diverse curriculum for middle and high school students, focusing on arts and academics. The school provides a range of courses in English, foreign languages, mathematics, sciences, and social studies, aiming to foster critical thinking and creativity among its students.

named programs · 3 · from sources

what they call their work

Advanced US / Arizona History
Designed to be equivalent to a college-level U.S. history course, focusing on significant events and developing historical analysis skills.
Creative Writing
Focuses on images, energy, tension, pattern, insight, and revision in the writing process, culminating in the publication of original works.
Environmental and Sustainability Science
Teaches ecological principles and the sustainable use of natural resources, encouraging students to instill change in their systems.
activities · 10 groups

what they do

  • Arts Capstone & Exhibition Programs 9 activities
    • Extracurricular and Community Engagement Requirements
      Requires all Visual Art students to participate in national Portfolio Day, all Performing Arts students to engage in at least one community production, and all students to complete 60–80 hours of arts-related extracurricular activities, which must be logged using a provided form.
    • Facilitate student artistic development and exhibition
      Requires Visual Art students to participate in national Portfolio Day and a Senior Exhibition, and Performing Art students to participate in at least one community production and a Senior Showcase. Students also publish original works in the online literary magazine "Interwoven" and complete a student-led artistic capstone project.
    • Facilitate student artistic development and exhibition
      Requires students to participate in various artistic activities, including publishing original works in an online literary magazine, participating in national Portfolio Day for Visual Art students, and engaging in community productions for Performing Arts students. Students also complete a student-led artistic capstone project and present their work in Senior Exhibitions for Visual Art students and Senior Showcases for Performing Art students.
    • Facilitate student artistic showcases
      Organizes a Senior Exhibition for Visual Art students to create, curate, and present a body of artwork, and a Senior Showcase for Performing Art students to create and perform an audition piece. Students also publish original works in the online literary magazine, Interwoven, and complete student-led artistic capstone projects.
    • Provide arts-related extracurricular opportunities
      Requires high school students to complete 60-80 hours of arts-related extracurricular activities, logged using a provided form, and offers opportunities to participate in Valley events and community festivals.
    • Student Advising and Academic Monitoring
      Requires all students to meet quarterly with the Visual/Performing Arts Coordinator or lead teacher to support academic and artistic progress.
    • Student Capstone Projects and Showcases
      Guides students in planning and executing artistic capstone projects, including Senior Exhibitions for Visual Art students and Senior Showcases for Performing Art students, to demonstrate their skills and knowledge.
    • Student-Led Artistic Capstone and Exhibition Programs
      Requires all students to complete a student-led artistic capstone project; Visual Art students organize a Senior Exhibition to create, curate, and present a body of work, while Performing Art students prepare and perform an audition piece in a Senior Showcase.
    • Track student arts-related extracurricular activities
      Requires students graduating in 2021-2022 to complete at least 60 hours, and those graduating in 2022-2023 and beyond to complete at least 80 hours of arts-related extracurricular activities, with students logging hours using a provided form and meeting quarterly with arts coordinators.
  • Post-Secondary Transition Support 5 activities
    • Academic and Post-Secondary Transition Support
      Provides academic readiness resources and counseling to support students in transitioning to post-secondary education, with 80% of graduates enrolling in post-secondary institutions.
    • Arts and Academic Recognition Programs
      Confers the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency on qualifying graduates and offers the Seal of Personal Finance in alignment with Arizona Department of Education requirements.
    • Post-Secondary Readiness and Certifications
      Supports students in transitioning to post-secondary education, with 80% of graduates attending such institutions, and offers certifications such as the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency and the Seal of Personal Finance.
    • Support post-secondary transitions
      Supports students in transitioning to post-secondary education by providing academic readiness resources and counseling sessions. 80% of graduates attend post-secondary educational institutions.
    • Support post-secondary transitions
      Supports students in transitioning to post-secondary education by providing academic readiness resources and counseling sessions. The organization also helps students earn the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency and the Seal of Personal Finance.
  • Arts & Digital Media Education 5 activities
    • Arts-Focused Curriculum and Instruction
      Provides specialized arts instruction across visual and performing arts disciplines, including Painting and Mixed Media taught by long-term faculty, Film, Digital Art, Digital Photo, Yearbook, and other courses requiring Adobe software.
    • High School Arts and Academic Education
      Provides high school education with a focus on arts, including visual arts, performing arts, film, digital art, digital photo, and yearbook classes, alongside academic readiness resources for post-secondary education. Students are required to complete arts-related extracurricular activities and participate in national Portfolio Day or community productions.
    • Offer specialized arts and academic instruction
      Provides specialized classes such as Film, Digital Art, Digital Photo, and Yearbook, which require specific software, and employs dedicated staff like Kyllan Maney for Painting and Mixed Media instruction and as Visual Arts Department Director.
    • Provide arts and academic instruction
      Offers classes such as Film, Digital Art, Digital Photo, and Yearbook that require Adobe software, and employs specialized teachers like Kyllan Maney for Painting and Mixed Media. The school also provides daily sustained reading time for middle school students.
    • Provide arts-focused secondary education
      Operates a middle school and high school providing arts and academic curriculum, including specialized classes in Film, Digital Art, Digital Photo, Yearbook, Painting, and Mixed Media. The curriculum requires students to participate in community productions, national Portfolio Day, and complete arts-related extracurricular activities.
  • Advanced & Dual Enrollment Course Offerings 4 activities
    • Dual Enrollment Programs
      Offers dual enrollment courses in partnership with Rio Salado College, allowing high school students to earn college credit in subjects like Art History & Literature.
    • Dual Enrollment and College Credit Programs
      Offers dual enrollment courses in partnership with Rio Salado College, including Art History & Literature and other college-credit-bearing classes, enabling high school students to earn college credit.
    • Offer dual enrollment programs
      Provides dual enrollment courses in partnership with Rio Salado College, allowing high school students to earn college credit, including a specific class in Art History & Literature.
    • Offer dual enrollment programs
      Provides dual enrollment courses in partnership with Rio Salado College, allowing high school students to earn college credit, including a specific class in Art History & Literature.
  • Parent and Family Engagement Coordination 3 activities
    • Engage parent volunteers
      Engages parent volunteers to support various school activities including events, fundraisers, and field trips.
    • Parent Volunteer Program
      Engages parent volunteers to support school events, fundraisers, and field trips.
    • Parent and Community Involvement
      Engages parent volunteers to support school events, fundraisers, and field trips, and participates in Valley-wide events and community festivals to provide performance and exhibition opportunities.
  • Student Records Management and Compliance 3 activities
    • Manage special education records
      Stores current special education records electronically and destroys records of dismissed or withdrawn students after four years from the current academic year.
    • Special Education Records Management
      Stores current special education records electronically and destroys records of dismissed or withdrawn students after four years from the end of the academic year.
    • Special Education Records Management
      Manages special education records, storing current records electronically and destroying dismissed or withdrawn student records after four years from the current academic year.
  • Charter High School Operation 2 activities
    • Provide arts-focused secondary education
      Operates a middle school and high school in Arizona, offering academic and arts curriculum. The high school was established in 1995 and the middle school in 2003, with both campuses physically joining in 2005.
    • Provide arts-integrated secondary education
      Operates a middle school and high school in Arizona, offering academic and arts curriculum. The high school was established in 1995 in Scottsdale and moved to Tempe in 2002, with the middle school opening in 2003 and physically joining the high school campus in 2005.
  • Writer Support & Development Programs 2 activities
    • Student Literary Magazine Publication
      Facilitates the publication of at least two original works by students in NSAA's online literary magazine, Interwoven.
    • Student Publications and Creative Output
      Supports students in publishing at least two original works in Interwoven, the student-produced online literary magazine.
  • Youth & Vulnerable Populations Literacy Support 1 activity
    • Structured Academic Practices
      Provides daily 15-minute sustained reading time for middle school students during 4th period class to support literacy development.
  • Uncategorized 9 activities
    • Award arts and finance proficiency seals
      Is approved to bestow the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency and the Seal of Personal Finance upon graduating students who meet state and school requirements.
    • Award state seals of proficiency
      Is approved to bestow the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency and the Seal of Personal Finance upon graduating students who meet state and school requirements.
    • Community Engagement and Events
      Participates in various Valley events and hosts community festivals to provide exhibit and performance experiences for its student artists.
    • Engage with the community through arts events
      Participates in various Valley events and hosts community festivals to provide exhibit and performance experiences for its artists.
    • Engage with the community through arts events
      Participates in various Valley events and hosts community festivals to provide exhibit and performance experiences for its student artists.
    • Middle School Arts and Academic Education
      Operates a middle school offering arts and academic curriculum, including daily sustained reading time, designed to feed into the high school program.
    • School Operations and Facilities
      Operates a campus in Tempe, AZ, originally opened in Scottsdale in 1995, expanded to a new facility in Tempe in 2002, and added a middle school in 2003 that joined the high school campus in 2005; maintains public access Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, and posts meeting notices on-site and online.
    • Student Counseling Services
      Offers counseling sessions to students with a dedicated counselor.
    • Support post-secondary transitions
      Supports students in transitioning to post-secondary education by providing academic readiness resources, with 80% of graduates attending post-secondary educational institutions.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$2.37M
Contributions & grants$2.12M90%
Program service revenue$158K7%
Investment income$4690%
Other revenue$86K
expenses
Total expenses$2.32M
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.46M
Grants paid out$1K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.05M
Cash$208K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.56M
Net assets$491K
Liquid reserves1.1 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +15.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Katy Cardenas President/Exec. Dean 35 $142K
board members · 2
  • Jane Dowell — Secretary/Treasurer
  • Julie Adams — Bd Member
relationships · 10

who they work with

  • AZ Charter School Association Network — Member of the association.
  • AZ State Board of Charter Schools Government — Must be in compliance with the board and fulfills goals and items described in charter contracts with them.
  • Academic Director Partner — Point of contact for questions about academic readiness
  • AdvancED Partner — Accredited by AdvancED.
  • Arizona Department of Education Government — Administers the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency.
  • Arizona Department of Education Government — Progress in state performance labels is based on their criterion.
  • Claudia Smith Partner — Parent representative coordinating volunteer opportunities
  • Remind Partner — Uses the Remind platform for communication with teachers, students, and parents.
  • Rio Salado College Partner — Partner institution offering dual enrollment college credit courses to NSAA high school students
  • State Board of Education Government — Adopted the board rule for the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency.