Textbooks
Textbooks are issued to students at our "bookstore" one to two weeks prior to the start of school. The textbooks remain the property of the school and a book deposit is required for each. The book deposit is fully refundable, as long as the books are returned in the permitted condition. If a student misplaces a book, he or she will be charged the full price of the book.
Students will also need a set of books that we refer to as "Classics to Keep." These Classics are primarily Great books and consumable workbooks that students will be taking extensive notes in throughout the year. As these books cannot be reused by the next group of students, we ask that our families purchase them at mpabooks.com. Ultimately, students will be able to develop an extraordinary literary library over the course of their seven years of study at Mesa Prep.
Families that need to seek a waiver for textbook deposit, Classics to Keep, or class fees should contact the main office before the start of the year.
If you want to purchase the Classics to Keep on your own, we have made the the following list of titles and ISBNs available to you. Please note that you MUST purchase the exact ISBN, as all students will be using the same edition in each class. We have also included a list of the textbooks if you would like to purchase an additional copy. The textbooks can also be purchased on
mpabooks.com.
The costs associated with attending Mesa Preparatory Academy fall into three categories:
1. Deposits and Fees
2. Additional Costs
3. Financial Contributions
1. Deposits and Fees
The total amount must be paid in full at the bookstore in August before textbooks will be issued to students.
* Textbook deposits are fully refundable, as long as books are returned in the permitted condition.
** Class fees address the cost of course-specific workbooks and materials that are provided by the Academy and non-classroom activities such as field days, assemblies, and ceremonies.
2. Additional Costs
* Classics to Keep estimates are based on purchasing all new books from our online bookstore. In some cases, used copies are available at reduced rates.
** Uniform estimates are based on purchasing 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 skirt, 3 short sleeve shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts and 1 sweater from Collettes Uniforms as well as a pair of shoes.
3. Financial Contributions
While not mandatory, we strongly encourage every family to make a minimum donation of $1200.00 to Mesa Prep's Community Investment Campaign. This campaign addresses the funding gap between the school's per student cost and the state aid given per student. Currently, only 80% of Mesa Prep's budget is fulfilled from the state, thus your donations are vital to the operation and success of the Academy. Mesa Prep is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 corporation and as such, your gifts may be tax-deductible.
Fee Waiver System
As stated above, the aid that Mesa Preparatory Academy receives from the state of Arizona is insufficient to cover the costs associated with educating our students. Thus, deposits, fees, and financial giving are essential to our operation. We understand that this presents a challenge for some families facing financial difficulty. To assist, we make use of a waiver system for qualifiying families. The administration of the school is not in a position to determine fairly which families should receive full or partial fee waivers. As such, if a family wishes to apply for a fee waiver, they may apply to the FAIR system (Financial Aid Independent Review). The family may complete a financial aid application, which is then processed confidentially by this outside company. The family must pay the application fee (approx. $20) and submit all required information, including Federal Tax Returns and W2 and/or 1099 forms. FAIR will then review the family's financial position to determine what level of discretionary income is available for fee payment. Depending on the level of discretionary income, we will then be able determine if a family is eligible for 100% fee waiver, or a percentage waiver thereof.
The family need not apply for a waiver determination every year. Once a calculation has been made, subsequent waivers may be granted over the student's tenure at the Academy. Families who seek a waiver are wise to apply well prior to the start of a season due to the processing time required. Each fee waiver must be fully processed before the student comes to pick up his or her textbooks at our bookstore one to two weeks prior to the start of school.
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