2024

Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, Detention Education was reincorporated with the accommodation school (MCRSD) as permitted by ASRS 15-913 and operated in accordance to the MOU between The County School Superintendent and the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge.

Hope Academy continued to operate at 800 W. Adams St., Phoenix AZ 85007

Both schools adopted a 200 day calendar.

2022

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, Esperanza Prep was closed. Hope Academy moved its location from South Phoenix to Downtown Phoenix to become more geographically centralized for students seeking an alternative learning environment and to be closer to public transportation options.

MCRSD continued to oversee and support the educational programming of Detention Education.

2019

Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, Detention Education was separated from the accommodation school (MCRSD) as permitted by ASRS 15-913 and operated in accordance to the MOU between The County School Superintendent and the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge. The County School Superintendent continued to operate Detention Education by leveraging the instructional services of MCRSD.

Under new leadership, MCRSD re-imagined Hope Academy (9-12) and Esperanza Prep (K-8). Both schools became learning communities that foster joyful exploration and discovery in students. Teachers were granted broad autonomy to ignite students’ passions and develop their talents to deeply root them in academic study, community service and civic engagement.

2016-2017

In 2016, a traditional public high school was opened in the district to meet the needs of students that struggled to find a fit in their home districts. A year later an elementary school was opened for a similar population. Hope Academy and Esperanza Prep were created to support youth that were at risk or had previously disconnected from school.

Previously, MCRSD provided education services to homeless students through the Papas Schools, students in juvenile detention and unaccompanied refugee minors detained in private facilities throughout Maricopa County.

The Papas Schools were closed in 2008 and MCRSD turned its focus on educating students in secure care facilities, including youth detained in the Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Centers (Mesa and Durango).