Kindergarten Prep

Is your child an advanced learner or possibly gifted? Advanced Learners meet the step stones early and acquire skills quickly. Gifted preschoolers often display insatiable curiosity and a natural drive to learn. If this sounds like your child, the Kinder Prep Advanced/Gifted Learning Preschool program at Ashland Ranch Elementary might be a perfect fit!

Program Highlights:

• PM Session: Designed for advanced and gifted learners, fostering critical and creative thinking in a supportive environment.
• Certified Instruction: Taught by an Early Childhood Certified teacher with a Gifted endorsement.
• Rigorous Curriculum: A 4-day-per-week program focusing on literacy, Pre-K standards at an accelerated pace, and Kinder standards. Includes:
  • Kinder Fundations and ReadyGEN routines
  • LETRs EC, Handwriting Without Tears, and We Thinkers!
  • STEAM and Unplugged Coding activities
  • Tailored strategies and higher-level questioning to meet diverse needs

Enrollment and Testing:

• Enroll online for Ashland Ranch KPrep PM session.
• After enrollment, the campus will schedule a FREE advanced learning screener to determine eligibility.
• Optional Gifted Testing: Offered by appointment starting in January, with a $175 non-refundable fee. Testing takes 1–3 hours, and a parent/guardian must remain on-site.

Please note: Enrollment in KPrep does not guarantee qualification for gifted services.

Foster your child’s potential with Ashland Ranch KPrep!

Register for Gifted Cluster testing

Focused curriculum designed specifically for children to learn practical skills to prepare them for K-12 and beyond. The Kindergarten Prep curriculum focuses on literacy and academic content in an intentionally developed preschool environment. It is supplemented with: Fundations, LETRs EC, Handwriting Without Tears, We Thinkers! Social-Emotional curriculum. KPrep at this campus has an emphasis on S.T.E.A.M. and Unplugged Coding activities. 

Through project-based learning, the concepts of problem solving, creativity and investigation are introduced and reinforced to our early learners in the S.T.E.A.M. Kindergarten Prep program offered at Quartz Hill Elementary.  This full school-day program has an approach to teaching and learning that combines science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math to guide student inquiry, discussion, and problem solving.  Learning experiences align with the Arizona Early Learning standards as they support developing early critical thinking skills and global mindedness.  Through these experiences, children will use their imagination, be innovators and be inspired as emerging Trailblazers!

The Traditional curriculum utilizes a primary language arts program based on the Spalding Method using 'The Writing Road to Reading' (2012). It is a phonics-based program with an emphasis on oral phonogram practice. The mathematics program, Math in Focus, is a comprehensive program that develops strong algebraic concepts and problem-solving skills. Science, music, art, and physical education are introduced daily through hands-on discovery and other intentionally developed activities. Programming is supplemented with: Handwriting Without Tears, LETRs EC, We Thinkers! Social-Emotional Curriculum, STEM, and Unplugged Coding activities. 

Traditional Kindergarten Prep, offered at Canyon Rim Elementary, Spectrum Elementary and Neely Traditional Academy, is designed to give students that will be attending a Traditional Kindergarten a jump-start on their educational pathway. 

2026-2027 School Year 

Tuition will remain the same as the prior school year. However, it will be billed at the daily rate rather than the monthly rate. This change will allow for lower payments during months with breaks, but may result in months with no breaks being a higher payment for that month. Payment is due for all school days with the contract period. Credit is not given for sick days or vacation days as the child’s placement in the class is still held.

Registration Fee $50

Accelerated/Gifted (PM at Ashland Ranch), Conventional, and Traditional

• AM Classes – 5 days per week, $29.78 per scheduled school day
  • (Mon–Fri, 8:15-11:15)
• PM Classes – 4 days per week, $29.71 per scheduled school day
  • (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 12:15–3:15 pm)
• FULL DAY Classes – 4.5 days per week, $53.07 per scheduled school day 
  • (8:15 am–3:15 pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri and 8:15 am–11:15 am Wed) 
  • Full Day not available at Ashland Ranch

Advanced/Gifted at Ashland Ranch PM

• PM Classes – 4 days per week, $29.71 per scheduled school day
  • (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 12:15–3:15 pm)

S.T.E.A.M at Quartz Hill

• AM Classes – 5 days per week, $29.78 per scheduled school day
  • (Mon–Fri, 8:00-11:00)
• PM Classes – 5 days per week, $29.59 per scheduled school day
  • (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 12:00–3:00 pm and Wednesday 12:00-2:00 pm) 
• FULL DAY Classes – 5 days per week, $57.87 per scheduled school day 
  • (8:00 am–3:00 pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri and 8:00 AM–2:00 pm Wed) 

All school days of contract are billed and credit will not given for unused days, sick days, and vacations days.

Registration Fee and $100 security deposit are due at the time of registration.

For registrations prior to or on July 9, 2026, a $50 registration fee and $100 security deposit will be collected at the time of registration with the remaining tuition balance due by July 15, 2026. Both registration fee and security deposit are non-refundable.

For registration on or after July 10, 2026, the non-refundable registration fee is due at the time of registration approval. The first month’s tuition will be invoiced and due within 5 days.

• Ashland Ranch Elementary
• Canyon Rim Elementary
• Highland Park Elementary
• Neely Traditional Academy
• Quartz Hill Elementary
• Superstition Springs Elementary
• Val Vista Lakes Elementary