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School finds combating anxiety and caring for whole child, family critical for both current and future success

The Anxious Generation garnered global attention in 2024 when author Jonathan Haidt detailed evidence that the rise of smartphones and social media contributed to a youth mental health epidemic. “Phone-based childhood” replaced play-based childhood and…
Blog

Forging new partnership to support parents, families

Since becoming a single mom of four children in 2020, Christina Lopez has accomplished a lot. She became a medical assistant, started Nursing School through Gateway Community College in 2023, and obtained her license two…
An Empower College Prep kindergarten student smiling.
Blog

Learning is Joyful in ECP’s Kindergarten

“When teachers ensure that each child has a joyful Kindergarten year, they foster each child’s positive identity as a curious and capable learner.” National Association for the Education of Young Children At Empower College Prep,…
An Empower College Prep scholar stands with their mother at the school’s Fall Festival.
Blog

Parent Partnerships Lead to Scholar Success

At Empower College Prep (ECP), the K-12 tuition-free public charter school preparing every scholar for college and career, we prioritize our relationships between school and home. Our partnerships with ECP parents not only empower our…
Blog

$ZERO is the Cost of Your Child’s College & Career Prep at ECP

Students across the country want to gain college and career experience while enrolled in high school. Their parents agree. In fact, a recent survey of U.S. parents indicates that 93% support their students earning college…
A photo of Rebekah smiling with a purple bow in her hair.
Blog

A Tribute to Rebekah

Rebekah Baptiste was a bright light who was taken from us far too soon. Our hearts ache at the senselessness of this loss, yet we choose to remember not the way Rebekah left us, but…
Empower College Prep Kindergarteners on an annual field trip to the zoo.
Blog

Oh, The Places You’ll Go When You Enroll at ECP

According to a study by the National Education Association (NEA), field trips significantly enhance learning. In addition to increasing student engagement and motivation, they create lasting memories, offer valuable hands-on experiences, and foster a deeper…
Two Empower College Prep elementary-aged students – a boy and a girl – play together on the school playground.
Blog

It’s Summer. Relax, Recharge, Get Ready!

At Empower College Prep (ECP), the K-12 tuition-free public charter school offering a values-based, college preparatory education for every child in the family, we pack a lot of learning into each school day. As we…
A female Empower College Prep elementary-aged student sits at her desk reading a book
Blog

You Are Unique and So Is ECP

At Empower College Prep (ECP), the K-12th grade tuition-free public charter school centrally located in Phoenix, we believe every child is unique. Our values-based, academically rigorous education empowers each individual to find their unique purpose…
3 Empower College Prep elementary-aged students sit at a circular table with a female teacher who’s holding a flash card of the word, earth.
Blog

What Every Family Wants to Know about ECP

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent makes. We know you have questions about why Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free K-12 charter school is…
An Empower College Prep female elementary student walks with her mother on the school campus.
Blog

At ECP We Support Our Families

According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, more than 50 years of research reveals that student outcomes improve when schools offer social supports to families. Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free K-12 charter…
An Empower College Prep class of seniors celebrate their graduation on an outdoor field on campus.
Blog

How ECP Supports Your Journey to College 

At Empower College Prep (ECP), our tuition-free, values-based college preparatory K-12 charter school located in central Phoenix, every scholar is preparing to succeed in college from the first day of kindergarten through their senior year…

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School finds combating anxiety and caring for whole child, family critical for both current and future success

DDillmanDDillmanFebruary 19, 2026
Blog

Forging new partnership to support parents, families

DDillmanDDillmanOctober 24, 2025
An Empower College Prep kindergarten student smiling.
Blog

Learning is Joyful in ECP’s Kindergarten

GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsSeptember 23, 2025
An Empower College Prep scholar stands with their mother at the school’s Fall Festival.
Blog

Parent Partnerships Lead to Scholar Success

GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsSeptember 15, 2025
Blog

$ZERO is the Cost of Your Child’s College & Career Prep at ECP

GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsAugust 21, 2025

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Blog

School finds combating anxiety and caring for whole child, family critical for both current and future success

The Anxious Generation garnered global attention in 2024 when author Jonathan Haidt detailed evidence that the rise of smartphones and social media contributed to a youth mental health epidemic. “Phone-based childhood” replaced play-based childhood and…
Read More
Blog

Forging new partnership to support parents, families

Since becoming a single mom of four children in 2020, Christina Lopez has accomplished a lot. She became a medical assistant, started Nursing School through Gateway Community College in 2023, and obtained her license two…
Read More
An Empower College Prep kindergarten student smiling.
Blog

Learning is Joyful in ECP’s Kindergarten

“When teachers ensure that each child has a joyful Kindergarten year, they foster each child’s positive identity as a curious and capable learner.” National Association for the Education of Young Children At Empower College Prep,…
Read More
An Empower College Prep scholar stands with their mother at the school’s Fall Festival.
Blog

Parent Partnerships Lead to Scholar Success

At Empower College Prep (ECP), the K-12 tuition-free public charter school preparing every scholar for college and career, we prioritize our relationships between school and home. Our partnerships with ECP parents not only empower our…
Read More
Blog

$ZERO is the Cost of Your Child’s College & Career Prep at ECP

Students across the country want to gain college and career experience while enrolled in high school. Their parents agree. In fact, a recent survey of U.S. parents indicates that 93% support their students earning college…
Read More
Blog
February 19, 2026

School finds combating anxiety and caring for whole child, family critical for both current and future success

The Anxious Generation garnered global attention in 2024 when author Jonathan Haidt detailed evidence that the rise of smartphones and social media contributed to a youth mental health epidemic. “Phone-based childhood” replaced play-based childhood and…
DDillman
Love0
Blog
October 24, 2025

Forging new partnership to support parents, families

Since becoming a single mom of four children in 2020, Christina Lopez has accomplished a lot. She became a medical assistant, started Nursing School through Gateway Community College in 2023, and obtained her license two…
DDillman
Love0
An Empower College Prep kindergarten student smiling.Blog
September 23, 2025

Learning is Joyful in ECP’s Kindergarten

“When teachers ensure that each child has a joyful Kindergarten year, they foster each child’s positive identity as a curious and capable learner.” National Association for the Education of Young Children At Empower College Prep,…
GrowSchools
Love0
An Empower College Prep scholar stands with their mother at the school’s Fall Festival.Blog
September 15, 2025

Parent Partnerships Lead to Scholar Success

At Empower College Prep (ECP), the K-12 tuition-free public charter school preparing every scholar for college and career, we prioritize our relationships between school and home. Our partnerships with ECP parents not only empower our…
GrowSchools
Love0

Filter

School finds combating anxiety and caring for whole child, family critical for both current and future success

The Anxious Generation garnered global attention in 2024 when author Jonathan Haidt detailed evidence that the rise of smartphones and social media contributed to a youth mental health epidemic. “Phone-based childhood” replaced play-based childhood and…
DDillmanDDillmanFebruary 19, 20265 min

Forging new partnership to support parents, families

Since becoming a single mom of four children in 2020, Christina Lopez has accomplished a lot. She became a medical assistant, started Nursing School through Gateway Community College in 2023, and obtained her license two…
DDillmanDDillmanOctober 24, 20254 min
An Empower College Prep kindergarten student smiling.

Learning is Joyful in ECP’s Kindergarten

“When teachers ensure that each child has a joyful Kindergarten year, they foster each child’s positive identity as a curious and capable learner.” National Association for the Education of Young Children At Empower College Prep,…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsSeptember 23, 20253 min
An Empower College Prep scholar stands with their mother at the school’s Fall Festival.

Parent Partnerships Lead to Scholar Success

At Empower College Prep (ECP), the K-12 tuition-free public charter school preparing every scholar for college and career, we prioritize our relationships between school and home. Our partnerships with ECP parents not only empower our…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsSeptember 15, 20254 min

$ZERO is the Cost of Your Child’s College & Career Prep at ECP

Students across the country want to gain college and career experience while enrolled in high school. Their parents agree. In fact, a recent survey of U.S. parents indicates that 93% support their students earning college…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsAugust 21, 20253 min
A photo of Rebekah smiling with a purple bow in her hair.

A Tribute to Rebekah

Rebekah Baptiste was a bright light who was taken from us far too soon. Our hearts ache at the senselessness of this loss, yet we choose to remember not the way Rebekah left us, but…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsAugust 14, 20252 min
Empower College Prep Kindergarteners on an annual field trip to the zoo.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go When You Enroll at ECP

According to a study by the National Education Association (NEA), field trips significantly enhance learning. In addition to increasing student engagement and motivation, they create lasting memories, offer valuable hands-on experiences, and foster a deeper…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsAugust 4, 20254 min
Two Empower College Prep elementary-aged students – a boy and a girl – play together on the school playground.

It’s Summer. Relax, Recharge, Get Ready!

At Empower College Prep (ECP), the K-12 tuition-free public charter school offering a values-based, college preparatory education for every child in the family, we pack a lot of learning into each school day. As we…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsJuly 1, 20253 min
A female Empower College Prep elementary-aged student sits at her desk reading a book

You Are Unique and So Is ECP

At Empower College Prep (ECP), the K-12th grade tuition-free public charter school centrally located in Phoenix, we believe every child is unique. Our values-based, academically rigorous education empowers each individual to find their unique purpose…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsJune 25, 20253 min
3 Empower College Prep elementary-aged students sit at a circular table with a female teacher who’s holding a flash card of the word, earth.

What Every Family Wants to Know about ECP

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent makes. We know you have questions about why Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free K-12 charter school is…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsMay 23, 20253 min
An Empower College Prep female elementary student walks with her mother on the school campus.

At ECP We Support Our Families

According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, more than 50 years of research reveals that student outcomes improve when schools offer social supports to families. Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free K-12 charter…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsMay 21, 20253 min
An Empower College Prep class of seniors celebrate their graduation on an outdoor field on campus.

How ECP Supports Your Journey to College 

At Empower College Prep (ECP), our tuition-free, values-based college preparatory K-12 charter school located in central Phoenix, every scholar is preparing to succeed in college from the first day of kindergarten through their senior year…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsMay 12, 20254 min
Empower College Prep students dressed in cap & gown viewed from behind as they stand in line in preparation for their graduation ceremony

Test Scores Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Test scores may give a clue to how students perform at a school, but they don’t tell the whole story. At an innovative K-12 tuition-free public school like Empower College Prep (ECP) it is the…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsApril 28, 20253 min
3 female and one male Empower College Prep high school students work together on a science experiment.

Step Onto Your Career Path at ECP

At Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free K-12 public school in central Phoenix, we are preparing our scholars for a successful future. We believe in empowering you with the tools and opportunities to achieve…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsApril 14, 20253 min
An Empower College Prep female elementary student works on an alphabet worksheet.

All the Answers to Your Questions about Enrolling at ECP

We’re always enrolling at Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free K-12 public school for students in Phoenix and beyond. It’s easy to join the ECP community, but you may have questions. We answer them…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsApril 4, 20253 min
A young Empower College Prep student steps off the school bus arriving at school.

Student Safety is a Priority at ECP

Empower College Prep (ECP) offers a values-based, tuition-free education to K-12 students on a secure, protected campus centrally located in Phoenix.  The 7 buildings on our 5 acres right off the Black Canyon Freeway were…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsMarch 24, 20253 min
Empower College Prep Founder and Executive Director, Brian Holman stands with his son on the ECP campus.

Empowered Profile: Brian Holman, Founder

Brian Holman founded Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free K-12 public school in 2012 to prepare an underserved population of students for college and the life of opportunity higher education offers them. ECP has…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsMarch 11, 20254 min
Empower College Prep elementary school math teacher Jessy Aceituno stands in front of a board displaying math formulas.

Empowered Profile: Jessy Aceituno, ES Math

It’s been more than a decade since Jessy Aceituno joined the team at Empower College Prep (ECP), the K-12 values-based, tuition-free school centrally located in Phoenix. Ms. Aceituno graduated from the University of Arizona with…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsMarch 5, 20254 min
Headshot of Empower College Prep teacher, Shaylan Richardson

Empowered Profile: Shaylan Richardson, HS Teacher

Shaylan Richardson joined our Empower College Prep (ECP) faculty in 2019. He teaches high school Student Government, Entrepreneurship/Communication, and Financial Literacy classes. Teaching these courses at our values-based K-12 tuition-free school gives Mr. Richardson the…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsFebruary 25, 20253 min
headshot of Empower College Prep graduate, Alexis Herrera ’23

Empowered Profile: Alexis Herrera ‘23

This spring Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free K-12 school in central Phoenix will celebrate the Class of 2025 at our 6th graduation ceremony. More than 300 students have received diplomas here with close…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsFebruary 18, 20253 min
Empower College Prep seniors pose together in their graduation regalia as they prepare to receive their diplomas.

Life after ECP

What do you want to be when you grow up? From the first day of Kindergarten until high school graduation, Empower College Prep (ECP) scholars are preparing for a future of unlimited opportunities. ECP is…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsJanuary 26, 20253 min
A group of Empower College Prep students from various grades arrive at school together in the morning.

Start Here/Finish Here

Students who learn in the same school environment for their entire K-12 career benefit academically, socially, and personally. Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free K-12 college preparatory school, is nurturing scholars in an inclusive,…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsJanuary 21, 20253 min
Empower College Prep Kindergarteners gather in a circle. One boy faces the camera and smiles.

Kindergarten @ ECP

A child’s first school experience sets the stage for a lifetime of learning. At Empower College Prep (ECP) our Kindergarteners are taking the first step in their journey towards college at our tuition-free, values-based K-12…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsJanuary 10, 20253 min
Empower College Prep Executive Director & High School Principal, Brian Holman congratulates an ECP senior as they receive their diploma.

We Celebrate Our Scholars at ECP

When schools celebrate the accomplishments of their students, great things happen! Studies show that acknowledging a student’s successes has a powerful impact on the entire school community. At Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsJanuary 3, 20252 min
An Empower College Prep teacher hugs one of her students in their classroom.

ECP is More than a School; We’re a Family!

Empower College Prep, the values-based, tuition-free K-12 school in Central Phoenix serves a highly diverse student population in an inclusive community of scholars, families, and staff that feels like a family. “ECP is more than…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsDecember 6, 20243 min
Female Empower College Prep student sits at her desk in the classroom, raising her hand.

We’re Preparing Every Scholar for College

90% of the scholars who graduate from Empower College Prep (ECP), the values-based, tuition-free K-12 school centrally located in Phoenix, enroll in college. ECP graduates have been accepted into schools across the country, from California…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsNovember 27, 20243 min
an exterior view of the Empower College Prep K-12 campus featuring the administrative offices.

Why Empower College Prep?

Families in Maricopa County have many schools from which to choose for their children’s education. So why choose Empower College Prep (ECP)?  Well, for starters we are a tuition-free, values-based K-12 school. We are also…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsOctober 8, 20243 min
An Empower College Prep elementary classroom featuring brightly colored walls and a floor rug.

Our Campus & Facilities

When Empower College Prep (ECP) was founded in 2012 as a tuition-free, values-based school 61 students attended classes in a church basement. Today the learning space for the more than 1000 Preschool -12th grade scholars…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsSeptember 30, 20243 min
An Empower College Prep scholar hugs her mother on the ECP campus.

At ECP We Partner with Parents

When families are involved in their child’s school experience, research shows that students improve their academic performance. At Empower College Prep (ECP), the K-12 tuition-free, values-based public charter school, we partner with parents to lead…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsSeptember 3, 20244 min
Empower College Prep elementary school male students stand together on the school’s playground and pose for the camera.

Why We’re Values-Based at Empower

Tuition-free, values-based Empower College Prep (ECP) was founded in 2012 to prepare scholars to succeed in college, solve real-world problems, and maximize their impact in the world. We do this by providing an academically rigorous…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsAugust 20, 20242 min
Empower College Prep Elementary-aged scholars gather together outside.

At Empower, We Serve Everyone Every Day!

More and more parents are enrolling their children in schools that educate students from multiple cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Why? According to a study from Columbia University the benefits of attending a school with a…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsAugust 6, 20243 min
Two Empower College Prep elementary school-aged girls pose for the camera in the school’s hallway.

Start the College Journey Here

Research shows that the earlier and more often you talk with young children about college and career, the more they will envision their future selves attending an institution of higher education. At values-based, tuition-free Empower…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsJuly 30, 20243 min

Guide to K-12 Charter Schools in Phoenix, Arizona

Charter school enrollment is growing. Since the first charter school opened in 1992 in St. Paul, Minnesota, charter schools have served over 12 million students. Charter schools' uniqueness makes them a popular choice with many…
GrowSchoolsGrowSchoolsJanuary 28, 20248 min

Michelle Dorame

Michelle Dorame is an Empower College Prep graduate and will be attending NAU to study elementary education teaching both in Spanish and English. She's interested in becoming a second grade teacher focused on helping students…
David ByrdDavid ByrdJanuary 1, 20232 min

Nallely Pacheco

Nallely Pacheco is an Empower College Prep graduate and will be attending the University of Arizona. She plans to major in philosophy, politics, economics, and law, and then after college attend law school to become…
David ByrdDavid ByrdJanuary 1, 20232 min

Ajanae Davis

Ajanae Davis is an Empower College Prep graduate and first generation college student. She was recruited to South Mountain Community College to play soccer and will major in biology and minor in liberal arts, and…
David ByrdDavid ByrdJanuary 1, 20231 min

Angel Lazalde Hernandez

Angel Lazalde Hernandez is an Empower College Prep graduate and plans to attend GCU, Grand Canyon University to study behavioral sciences. He is hoping to become a mental health counselor to help people in my world.…
David ByrdDavid ByrdJanuary 1, 20232 min

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