PHOENIX (April 21, 2022) – Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley (BGCAZ) and Vista College Preparatory (“Vista College Prep”) are investing in youth in the reimaged community surrounding Metrocenter mall with a new grade school (K-8) campus and Club.
The organizations are completing an adaptive reuse of a 64,000-square-foot commercial building at 21st and Peoria Avenues in preparation for the opening in August 2022.
“The Metrocenter area’s renaissance created a unique opportunity to bring a high-quality charter school and Boys & Girls Club into this community. We look forward to bringing our signature after school and summer programs to kids and families who live and work in the Metro North neighborhood and those who will be moving to the area,” said Marcia Mintz, BGCAZ’s President and CEO.
Mintz and Julia Meyerson, Vista College Prep’s founder and executive director, chose the Metrocenter area for the new Club and campus to create equity for kids in under-resourced communities. At the core of Vista College Prep’s learning are best-in-class teachers who use data and analytics to identify strengths and areas of opportunity for each scholar. Literacy is also a top priority – Vista College Prep scholars spend nearly half of the school day on reading and writing.
“Every kid deserves access to exceptional learning opportunities, regardless of their ZIP code. Vista College Prep brings a long history of delivering high-quality academic programs into under-resourced communities, where families are looking for educational opportunities for their students,” Meyerson said.
