Press Release
Important Updates for Mesa Arts Academy Families
Dear Mesa Arts Academy Families,
Starting next year, in the Fall of 2026, Mesa Arts Academy will become part of the Academy of Math and Science (AMS) — a high-performing, values-based public charter network that shares our deep commitment to academic excellence, community, and student growth.
AMS brings aligned values, including academic excellence, family support, and operational strength. And our Club will continue to partner with the school to provide high-quality affordable after school and summer programs on our campus.
Please know that for the entire 2025–2026 school year, nothing changes for you or your child. Your student will have the same amazing teachers, school routines, and programs you trust.
What’s changing — and why this is great for families:
AMS is investing millions of dollars to construct a brand-new, two-story school building that will open in Fall 2026 on our BGCAZ campus. As part of this plan:
- Two of the portables (buildings 1 & 2) — now over 30 years old — will permanently close this summer.
- Some students will have their classrooms move inside our on-campus Boys & Girls Club building during the 2025–2026 year. These spaces will be ready for learning and supervised closely.
- We’ll work together to make these spaces safe, functional, and student-ready
- Boys & Girls Clubs operations continue as normal in the afternoons/evenings.
We know construction is never easy, but it’s worth it. By next fall, your child will walk into:
- A modern, climate-controlled school with state-of-the-art classrooms
- Beautiful new playground and field
- A safe, dedicated drop-off and pick-up lane
- Room for 500+ students to learn and grow
What this means for your family:
- Tuition-Free: AMS, like MAA, is a free, public charter school — no tuition now or in the future.
- Full-day support starting in 2026-2027 school year: From 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, students will safely learn, eat, and play — all on campus!
- All meals included: Students will receive breakfast, lunch through school and snack and dinner through the Club.
- Affordable after-school care: The Boys & Girls Club will continue at just $60/month, including daily programs, snacks, and dinner.
What’s next:
- We will have more information about this transition at our Open House on July 29.
- A detailed FAQ is included below.
- You’ll hear from us regularly with updates and timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Download our PDF with these questions and our side-by-side comparison here.
Why is the school transitioning?
Our school will join the Academies of Math and Science (AMS) network in Fall 2026 to expand opportunities for students and improve facilities. AMS shares our mission and will invest deeply in our children’s future.
What’s happening to the portables?
The current portable classrooms are over 30 years old. We are removing two of them now to begin construction on a brand-new building that opens in Fall 2026. The remaining portable classrooms will be closed and removed before the 2026–2027 school year.
Where will students learn during construction?
Some classes will temporarily move into the Boys & Girls Club building on campus. These spaces will be adapted for learning and supervised by our MAA staff.
What will the new school include?
A two-story, state-of-the-art building; air-conditioned classrooms and restrooms; new playground and field; dedicated car line/drop-off area; and space for 400 students.
Will this cost families anything?
No. Mesa Arts Academy and AMS are tuition-free charter schools. The Boys & Girls Club remains just $60/month and includes programming, snacks, and dinner.
What are the new school hours?
For this year, the school hours remain the same. Next year, in Fall 2026, students can attend AMS Early Learning from 7:00 AM and Boys & Girls Club through 7:00 PM. Your child will be safely cared for from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on the same campus in school year 2026–2027.
Will my child’s teachers stay?
There are no changes to staffing this year. AMS will ensure opportunities for all MAA staff members and will encourage them to apply for 2026–2027 roles. AMS’ preference is to employ MAA staff who align with their culture, skills, and mission expectations.
Will the school still feel like MAA?
Yes. We are working closely with AMS to preserve the spirit and culture of MAA — our creativity, warmth, and deep relationships with families. They want to keep what’s best of the Mesa Arts Academy!
The Boys & Girls Club of the Valley, Mesa Arts Academy will be offering healthy meals to all students at no cost every school day in School Year 2024-2025
July 23, 2024 – Mesa, Arizona—The Boys & Girls Club of the Valley, Mesa Arts Academy will be offering healthy meals to all students at no cost every school day in School Year 2024-2025. Your child(ren) will receive free breakfast and lunch meals every school day regardless of your household’s income.
For children to be qualified to receive free meals, they must be enrolled in our school. There is no application required! Everyone qualifies; it does not matter if you belong to a household that receives public assistance, or if the child is homeless, migrant, runaway, foster, or participates in a Head Start or Even Start Pre-Kindergarten program.
Enrollment applications for the school are available at 221 W 6th Ave Mesa, AZ 85210 or
https://www.mesaartsacademy.org
Part of what makes a great school culture is everyone sharing the same meal together.
When all of our students are eating the same meals together, our cafeteria will become a place to learn more about new foods together, make healthy choices, and fuel up for learning and play.
Participating in school breakfast and lunch helps your school and your community.
The more students who participate in school lunch and breakfast, the more money our school receives in federal reimbursement for meals served. More money coming into our meal program allows us to purchase more fresh and nutritious foods, while securing the financial stability of our school meal program.
Participating in school breakfast and lunch helps your family.
Participating in school breakfast and lunch helps provide nutritious food for your children at school so they can concentrate better and learn more, and saves you valuable time and money at home.
For more information, you may call Arcelia Tovar at 480-844-3965 or e-mail at arcelia.tovar@bgcaz.org.
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information requested in order to verify your children’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. If you do not provide the information or provide incomplete information, your children may no longer receive free or reduced-price meals.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Mesa Arts Academy Ofrecera Comidas Escolares para Todos los Estudiantes
Julio 25, 2024 – Mesa, Arizona — Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley’s Mesa Arts Academy ofrecerá comidas saludables a todos los estudiantes sin costo todos los días escolares en el año escolar 2024-2025. Su(s) hijo(s) recibirá(n) desayunos y almuerzos gratis todos los días escolares, independientemente de los ingresos de su hogar.
Los requisitos para que los niños reciban comidas gratis son que su(s) hijo(s) esté(n) inscrito(s) en nuestra escuela. No se requiere ninguna aplicación. Todos califican; no importa si pertenece a un hogar que recibe asistencia pública, o si el niño no tiene hogar, es migrante, se ha escapado del hogar, está en crianza temporal o participa en un programa de prejardín de infantes de Head Start o Even Start.
Las solicitudes de inscripción para la escuela están disponibles en 221 W 6th Ave Mesa, AZ 85210 o https://www.mesaartsacademy.org.
Parte de lo que hace que una gran cultura escolar sea que todos compartan la misma comida juntos.
Cuando todos nuestros estudiantes estén comiendo las mismas comidas juntos, nuestra cafetería se convertirá en un lugar para aprender más sobre nuevos alimentos juntos, tomar decisiones saludables y alimentarse para aprender y jugar.
Participar en el desayuno y almuerzo escolar ayuda a su escuela ya su comunidad.
Cuantos más estudiantes participen en el desayuno y el almuerzo escolar, más dinero recibirá nuestra escuela en reembolso federal por las comidas servidas. Más dinero ingresando a nuestro programa de comidas nos permite comprar más alimentos frescos y nutritivos, mientras aseguramos la estabilidad financiera de nuestro programa de comidas escolares.
Participar en el desayuno y almuerzo escolar ayuda a su familia.
Participar en el desayuno y el almuerzo escolar ayuda a proporcionar alimentos nutritivos a sus hijos en la escuela para que puedan concentrarse mejor y aprender más, y le ahorra tiempo y dinero valiosos en casa.
Para obtener más información, puede llamar a Arcelia Tovar al 480-844-0963 o enviar un correo electrónico a arcelia.tovar@bgcaz.org.
La Ley Nacional de Almuerzos Escolares Richard B. Russell requiere la información solicitada para verificar la elegibilidad de sus hijos para recibir comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido. Si no proporciona la información o proporciona información incompleta, es posible que sus hijos ya no reciban comidas gratuitas oa precio reducido.
De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las normas y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. (USDA), el USDA, sus agencias, oficinas y empleados, y las instituciones que participan o administran programas del USDA tienen prohibido discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo, discapacidad, edad o represalias por actividades anteriores de derechos civiles en cualquier programa o actividad realizada o financiada por el USDA.
Las personas con discapacidades que requieran medios alternativos de comunicación para la información del programa (p. ej., Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas estadounidense, etc.) deben comunicarse con la agencia (estatal o local) donde solicitaron los beneficios. Las personas sordas, con problemas de audición o del habla pueden comunicarse con el USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión al (800) 877-8339. Además, la información del programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas además del inglés.
Para presentar una queja de discriminación del programa, complete el Formulario de quejas de discriminación del programa del USDA, AD-3027, que se encuentra en línea en http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, y en cualquier oficina del USDA, o escriba una carta dirigida al USDA y proporcione en la carta toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de queja, llame al (866) 632-9992. Envíe su formulario completo o carta al USDA por: (1) correo: Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU., Oficina del Secretario Adjunto de Derechos Civiles, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; o (3) correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov.
Esta institución es un proveedor de igualdad de oportunidades