OPA: Ogden’s First Charter Academy
Mar 10, 2016 01:16PM ● By Bryan Scott
By Cassidy Ward
Ogden - Ogden Preparatory Academy is located at 1415 Lincoln Ave. and serves kindergarten through ninth grades. Known colloquially as OPA, or Ogden Prep, the school was the first charter educational institution in Ogden, offering a private school education at public school prices. There is no cost associated with students attending Ogden Prep, though students must apply and be accepted. Ogden Prep is currently going through the accreditation process with Northwest Accreditation Association.
Applications are placed into a lottery system, and students are chosen at random for acceptance. While donations or volunteering will not enhance chances of your student being chosen, special preference is given to siblings of existing students in order to allow families to send their children to the same school.
Ogden Prep has a focus on complete education and has high expectations of its students and staff. OPA is not on the list of dual immersion schools in Ogden; however, students are immersed early on in both English and Spanish with a goal toward each student being literate in both languages by the end of their tenure there. Students also have opportunities to engage in physical activities ranging from traditional sports to school-sponsored ski trips.
Students are also taught the seven habits of highly effective people early on. Teachers are trained in a program called The Leader In Me, based on those habits, and pass that training on to students.
“At Ogden Preparatory Academy we are committed to building responsible citizens and lifelong learners. We have decided to adopt the Leader in Me, as a vehicle to promote character, discipline and responsible behavior,” Principal Campbell said.
Parents are also encouraged to actively participate in school activities. OPA staff have found that when parents are involved in their children’s schools, students are more motivated to succeed. It is with this in mind that parents are asked to volunteer in a variety of areas, from the library to sports and activities.
Ogden Prep is currently accepting applications to the enrollment lottery for Fall 2017.
