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NEW WAY ACADEMY

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 860215781 · Form 990 · FY2021 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.newwayacademy.org
revenue
$7.1M
expenses
$7.4M
net assets
$5.6M
employees
95
volunteers
40
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF NEW WAY ACADEMY IS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES TO FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL.

profile · synthesized from sources

New Way Academy is a K-12 private school in Arizona that provides specialized education for students with learning differences. The academy utilizes multisensory teaching methods, evidence-based curricula, and on-site therapies to support academic and social development. It aims to build a strong foundation for long-term learning success and prepare students for post-secondary life.

named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

High School Program
Standards-aligned curriculum promoting intellectual growth, problem-solving, and confidence, with multisensory techniques, extracurricular activities, and post-secondary advising.
Junior High Program
Curriculum for 7th and 8th-grade students aligned with Arizona State standards, providing intensive interventions, rigorous instruction, and support for organizational skills and social competence.
Lower School Program
Early education experience for K-6 students focusing on evidence-based instruction, multi-sensory curriculum, and assistive technology, with integrated therapies.
Scholars' Program
Program for high school students offering independent study, college readiness electives, post-secondary education advising, and career exploration.
Support Services
On-site speech, language, and occupational therapy, behavioral and emotional support, and academic strength/weakness insight for students.
activities · 13 groups

what they do

  • After-School & Extracurricular Enrichment Programs 6 activities
    • After-School and Extracurricular Programs
      Offers a variety of after-school programs and extracurricular activities including sports, leadership, community service, arts, social clubs, competitive sports, and interest-based clubs, along with thematic field trips.
    • After-School and Extracurricular Programs
      Offers a variety of after-school programs and extracurricular activities including sports, leadership, community service, arts, social clubs, competitive sports, and interest-based clubs, along with thematic field trips and an annual musical.
    • After-School and Extracurricular Programs
      Offers a variety of after-school programs and extracurricular activities including sports, leadership, community service, arts, social clubs, competitive sports, and interest-based clubs.
    • Extracurricular and Enrichment Programs
      Offers a variety of after-school programs and extracurricular activities including sports, leadership, community service, arts, social clubs, competitive sports, thematic field trips, and interest-based clubs.
    • Extracurricular and Enrichment Programs
      Offers a variety of after-school and extracurricular activities including sports, leadership, community service, arts, social clubs, competitive sports, and interest-based clubs, along with thematic field trips and an annual musical.
    • Offer after-school and extracurricular programs
      Operates after-school programs in sports, leadership, community service, arts, and electives. Offers extracurricular activities including school dances, social clubs, competitive sports (swim, flag football, spirit squad), interest-based clubs, and thematic field trips such as an annual musical.
  • School Community Events & Family Nights 5 activities
    • Community Engagement Events
      Hosts an annual Fall Kickoff community festival with family-friendly activities.
    • Community Engagement Events
      Hosts an annual Fall Kickoff community festival featuring family-friendly activities such as a petting zoo, bounce houses, face painting, bingo, cake walk, silent auction, and food.
    • Community Engagement Events
      Hosts an annual Fall Kickoff community festival featuring family-friendly activities.
    • Community Engagement and Events
      Hosts an annual Fall Kickoff community festival with family-friendly activities.
    • Host annual community and student engagement events
      Hosts an annual Fall Kickoff community festival featuring family-friendly activities such as a petting zoo, bounce houses, face painting, bingo, cake walk, silent auction, and food. Also organizes an annual musical and school-wide social events.
  • Specialized Academic & Enrichment Curriculum 5 activities
    • Multi-Sensory Curriculum and Core Subjects
      Delivers a daily schedule that includes core academic subjects (math, reading, writing, social studies, health, tech, STEM) and special classes (P.E., art, mindfulness), utilizing a multi-sensory curriculum for phonics, reading, writing, math, and STEM.
    • Multi-Sensory Curriculum and Remediation
      Offers a multi-sensory curriculum in phonics, reading, writing, math, and STEM, along with intensive remediation for individual needs in core academic subjects.
    • Provide individualized academic and therapeutic support
      Offers individualized remediation in reading, attention, and comprehension, along with a multi-sensory curriculum in phonics, reading, writing, math, and STEM. Integrates speech, language, occupational, and reading therapies into daily schedules for qualifying students at no additional cost, based on individual needs.
    • Specialized Curriculum and Instruction
      Offers a multi-sensory curriculum in phonics, reading, writing, math, and STEM, along with intensive remediation for individual needs, and opportunities for students to explore passions through creative and physical activities.
    • Specialized Curriculum and Instruction
      Offers a multi-sensory curriculum in phonics, reading, writing, math, and STEM, along with intensive remediation for individual needs, and opportunities for creative and physical activities like writing, photography, digital media, woodworking, and visual arts.
  • Needs-Based Educational Financial Aid 4 activities
    • Partner with Student Tuition Organizations for scholarships
      Develops relationships with various Student Tuition Organizations (STOs) to offer scholarship opportunities for students.
    • Scholarship Facilitation
      Develops relationships with Student Tuition Organizations (STOs) to offer scholarships to students.
    • Scholarship Facilitation
      Develops relationships with various Student Tuition Organizations (STOs) to offer scholarships to students.
    • Scholarship Facilitation
      Develops relationships with Student Tuition Organizations (STOs) to offer scholarships to students.
  • Integrated Special Education & Therapy 4 activities
    • Therapeutic Support Services
      Offers on-site speech, language, and occupational therapy services, integrating them into students' daily schedules when appropriate and providing individualized behavioral and emotional support.
    • Therapeutic Support Services
      Offers on-site speech, language, and occupational therapy services, integrating them into students' daily schedules when appropriate, and providing behavioral and emotional support.
    • Therapeutic Support Services
      Offers on-site speech, language, and occupational therapy services, integrating them into students' daily schedules when appropriate, and provides behavioral and emotional support to students.
    • Therapeutic Support Services
      Offers on-site speech, language, and occupational therapy services, integrating them into students' daily schedules when appropriate, and provides behavioral and emotional support.
  • Accreditation & Certification Acquisition 3 activities
    • Accreditation
      Received accreditation from Cognia through the Arizona Department of Education in March 2025.
    • Accreditation
      Received accreditation from Cognia through the Arizona Department of Education in March 2025.
    • Maintain institutional accreditation
      Maintains accreditation through Cognia, recognized by the Arizona Department of Education, with accreditation status confirmed in March 2025.
  • Device Distribution for Education 3 activities
    • Assistive Technology Provision
      Provides all students with a Chromebook equipped with age-appropriate assistive technology tools to support their learning.
    • Assistive Technology Provision
      Provides all students with a Chromebook equipped with age-appropriate assistive technology tools to support their learning.
    • Distribute assistive technology to students
      Provides all students with a Chromebook equipped with age-appropriate assistive technology tools to support learning.
  • College and Career Readiness Coaching 3 activities
    • College and Career Readiness Program
      Provides a Scholars’ Program, independent study, a college readiness elective, post-secondary education advising, guided career exploration, career assessments, and independent living advice, including annual transition meetings for high school students.
    • College and Career Readiness Program
      Provides a Scholars’ Program, independent study, a college readiness elective, post-secondary education advising, guided career exploration, career assessments, independent living advice, and annual transition meetings for high school students.
    • Support student college and career readiness
      Offers a Scholars’ Program, independent study, college readiness electives, post-secondary education advising, guided career exploration, career assessments, and independent living advice. Conducts annual transition meetings for high school students involving students, parents, and staff to develop future plans.
  • Specialized Private Day Schools for Students with Disabilities 3 activities
    • K-12 Education for Students with Learning Differences
      Provides K-12 education for students with learning differences, offering a curriculum aligned with Arizona State standards, individualized remediation, and a high school program exceeding US Department of Education graduation requirements.
    • K-12 Education for Students with Learning Differences
      Provides K-12 education for students with learning differences, offering a curriculum aligned with Arizona State standards, individualized remediation, and a high school program exceeding US Department of Education graduation requirements.
    • K-12 Education for Students with Learning Differences
      Provides a K-12 educational program for students with learning differences, offering a curriculum aligned with Arizona State standards, individualized remediation in core subjects, and a high school program exceeding US Department of Education graduation requirements.
  • Visual Arts Instruction & Workshops 1 activity
    • Enable student creative and physical exploration
      Provides students with opportunities to explore and share their passions through creative and physical activities including writing, photography, digital media, woodworking, visual arts, and physical education.
  • Student Enrollment & Admissions Management 1 activity
    • Facilitate student admissions and enrollment
      Accepts applications for grades K-12 for the upcoming school year and offers enrollment with limited capacity based on academic needs. Requires up-to-date documentation and evaluations to inform admissions decisions.
  • Youth Volunteer Recognition Programs 1 activity
    • Recognize student academic achievement
      Recognizes high-achieving students, such as awarding the Principal’s Award to a student who achieved a 4.0 GPA.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Deliver specialized K-12 education program
      Provides a comprehensive educational program for students in grades K-12, including a curriculum aligned with Arizona State standards for middle school and a high school program that exceeds U.S. Department of Education graduation requirements. The program includes core academic subjects (math, reading, writing, social studies, health, tech, STEM) and special classes such as physical education, art, and mindfulness.
    • Provide behavioral and emotional support services
      Provides behavioral and emotional support to students and assists in identifying academic strengths and weaknesses as part of the educational program.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$7.07M
Contributions & grants$547K8%
Program service revenue$6.49M92%
Investment income$34K0%
Other revenue$-184
expenses
Total expenses$7.43M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$5.34M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.71M
Cash$2.26M
Investments$3.55M
Liabilities$1.14M
Net assets$5.56M
Liquid reserves9.4 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue -19.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ABBEY ROSS Executive Dir. 40 $160K
MICHAEL WALKER Head of School 40 $156K
JILL FACON Secretary 40 $58K
board members · 12
  • ADAM BROOKS — Director
  • BRETT BERNSTEIN — Director
  • CRAIG WEISS — Vice Chairman
  • CYNTHIA BOWERS — Director
  • DAN KRAVETS — Director
  • DEBORAH CONTI — Director
  • ERIC SHAEFER — Chairman
  • JENNY CHO GREEN — Director
  • JON HULBURD — Director
  • JOSE PENALOSA — Director
  • KARLA REYNOLDS — Director
  • STEPHANIE LA LOGGIA — Treasurer
relationships · 9

who they work with

  • Arizona Association of Independent Schools (AAIS) Partner
  • Arizona Department of Education Government — New Way Academy is accredited through them by Cognia and approved by their Exceptional Student Services Division.
  • Children’s Services Network (CSN) Network — New Way Academy actively participates in this organization.
  • Cognia Partner — Accredits New Way Academy through the Arizona Department of Education.
  • First Place Phoenix Partner — Affiliated with New Way Academy.
  • International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Network — New Way Academy actively participates in this organization.
  • Maricopa Community Colleges Partner — Partners with New Way Academy for an upper school transition program for high school students.
  • National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Network — New Way Academy actively participates in this national organization.
  • Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC) Partner — Affiliated with New Way Academy.