Charter schools are public, state-funded schools that are privately run.  Charter schools were created through legislation in 1994. They contract with the state to provide an education service. Charter schools do not charge tuition.

Charter schools are created to provide additional academic choices for parents and students. Charter schools  are established to provide a learning environment that will improve pupil achievement.

Charter schools are part of the education marketplace in Arizona. Charter schools provide parents and students with many educational choices. An important part of making a choice in a marketplace is gathering information.

Before you choose a charter school, it is important that you consider your child’s specific needs first.  Then, research your options, paying particular attention to the school’s mission and philosophy.  This vision should be present in every aspect of the school and those involved in the school should share this vision. As a parent of a charter school, you and your child should share this vision.

Candeo is designed specifically to prepare elementary students for the top-performing college preparatory middle and high schools in the nation.  It is known as a “classical education with an innovative twist.”

Candeo is committed to rigor, relevance, and challenge through full implementation of a core classical curriculum, which stresses the knowledge most useful for comprehension, school learning, and communication within the civic life of a society. Our students are immersed in World History and Geography, American History and Geography, Visual Arts, Music, and Language Arts. Our program includes Singapore Math, French, Latin, Classics, and handwriting. Candeo’s commitment to solid instruction is evident, as the building is filled with  expert elementary educators who are passionate about teaching and learning, believe in the mission and philosophy of Candeo, and have high expectations for all students.

Candeo has been ranked as an EXCELLING school by the State Department of Education since its inaugural year.

Candeo begins accepting online applications in November for the following school year.  If there are more applicants than spaces, a lottery system is used to determine placement and waitlist order. You will be contacted by email to confirm your placement or spot on our waitlist. Once a placement has been made, you will be required to bring a completed registration packet along with the child’s original birth certificate and a copy of shot records to the office in order to secure enrollment.  Students must be present on the first day of school in order to be considered enrolled.

Candeo utilizes the nationally-recognized Core Knowledge® curriculum.  Core Knowledge focuses on a detailed framework and specific content with sequenced learning from grade to grade. Please visit our curriculum section of our website for further information.

Yes. School uniforms contribute to a safe and orderly environment and reduce competitive tendencies in students. Uniforms relieve pressure to dress in expensive or trendy clothing. One of the best ways parents can help us provide a safe and orderly environment in our school is to fully abide by the uniform policy.

Class begins promptly at 8:00 am.  Students in grades 1 – 5 are dismissed at 3:00 daily, except for Wednesdays, when students are released at 2:00.

Full-day Kindergarten is dismissed at 2:45, with Wednesday dismissal at 1:45.
Half day a.m. Kindergarten begins at 8:00 and is dismissed at 11:30 (Wednesdays: 8:00 – 11:00)
Half-day p.m. Kindergarten begins at 11:30 and is dismissed at 3:00 (Wednesdays: 11:00 – 2:00)

Our office is open daily 7:30-3:30 (2:30 on Wednesdays).

Candeo’s class size averages 24 students in grades 1-5 and 22 in kindergarten. Our student-to-teacher ratio is 1:17.   This ratio includes specialty teachers, aides, and instructional specialists.

Yes. Candeo provides a fee-based after-school care program that is available to our working families until 5:30 daily. Candeo also offers a variety of after-school enrichment programs, including; chorus, chess, drama, violin, Lego Engineering, martial arts, and sports.

No. Candeo is a state-funded public charter school that is privately managed. Half-day Kindergarten is free, but full day kindergarten has a fee (the state does not fund full-day Kindergarten). The fee for the 2010-2011 school year is $315.00 a month.

We charge for consumable workbooks and other items that students will be writing in daily and taking home as they are completed.  There is also a supply fee which covers the cost of items used daily in the classrooms by the students, reducing or eliminating your need to purchase supplies individually at the beginning of each year.  Our ability to purchase in bulk saves you time and money.   Our consumables fee is due upon enrollment.

Yes!  Candeo is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, which accepts donations and contributions; as such, your investment is fully tax-deductible.  Our school receives about $1600 LESS per pupil than district public schools.  We rely on outside contributions, including volunteer hours, to provide and sustain the level of education to which Candeo is committed.

In addition to reduced funding, we do not receive money for facilities, land, equipment, or furniture, as district public schools do.  Contributions from our families, the community, businesses, and foundations are actively sought to assist us.Please contact our office (link through our website “Support Candeo”) to find out more about investing in our program.