American Preparatory Schools is a rapidly growing charter school operator with campuses in Utah and a sister campus in Zambia. APS attains superior results by applying empirically proven teaching methods, developing student character, rewarding excellent teachers, and making efficient use of school days and dollars.

In 2002 a group of dedicated parents including Carolyn Sharette and Laura Campbell formed “Utah Charter Academies” (“UCA”) and submitted a charter school application for a new school in Draper, Utah to be called American Preparatory Academy. The Utah State Charter School Board approved the application and in August of 2003 the school opened at capacity with a long waiting list. Sharette and Campbell directed the school on behalf of UCA.

In 2008, Sharette and Campbell resigned from the board of UCA, incorporated APS, and signed a contract to manage the school on behalf of UCA. This move enabled a more professional management and accountability structure, and allowed APS to implement their model in other markets and with other entities that demanded their successful model.

In 2009, APS founded a second American Prep campus on behalf of UCA in West Valley City, Utah. This school focused on immigrant and refugee children, located in an economically disadvantaged area, offering kindergarten through 9th grade. This school experienced long waiting lists among families eager to help their children prepare for college and careers. Answering this demand, APS opened a third campus, this time serving all grades, K-12. In 2013 APS opened a second K-9 campus in Draper. That same year, the governing board of an existing charter school in Salem, Utah contracted with APS to rebrand and operate that school. In 2017 a third Draper campus for grades 7-12 was opened.

Our Early Learning Center opened in 2016 with the mission to provide preschool and kindergarten classes to our community. The Early Learning Center includes full and half-day kindergarten as well as preschool.

In 2010 APS opened the African Preparatory Academy at the Mothers Without Borders Childrens’ Resource Center in Lusaka, Zambia. This sister school serves 120 students, with APS providing curriculum, teacher training, and operational support through the American Preparatory Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.