Newell Barney College Prep
Queen Creek Unified School District continues to grow! We are excited to announce that beginning with the 2024–25 school year, QCUSD will transition from Newell Barney Junior High to Newell Barney College Prep, a “school of choice.” Seventh and eighth grade students who love learning and being challenged in the classroom will now have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in honors and accelerated coursework at Newell Barney College Preparatory School. Enrolling in this school of choice empowers you to craft a personalized learning experience that resonates with your child's unique qualities and interests!
Frequently Asked Questions
The following is a list of collapsible links. After selecting the link, additional content will expand. Arrow down to read the additional content.
What is “College Prep?”
College prep schools offer accelerated and rigorous coursework, leadership development opportunities, and post-secondary skills to support academic success. A junior high college prep will accelerate the learning in junior high and prepare students for AP, Honors, and Dual enrollment coursework in high school, which will better prepare them for post-secondary education and future careers.
Where can I find more information about Newell Barney?
What is a School of Choice?
Schools of Choice promote themes or specialized programming that stand out from other neighborhood schools. They are designed to attract students with common interests or skill sets. Students can enroll as long as the school has capacity.
When will enrollment for NB College Prep begin?
Enrollment will begin December 1, 2023.
What grades will this school serve?
Newell Barney College Prep will serve students in seventh and eighth grades.
When is the first day of school?
The first day of school for all QCUSD schools will be July 22, 2024.
What are the boundaries for Newell Barney College Prep?
Although there are geographical boundaries for NBCP, as a school of choice, NBCP welcomes students from outside of the geographical boundaries to apply for Open Enrollment. To start the process for open enrollment, fill out the Open Enrollment application listed below. Arizona state law allows students to apply for admission to any public school through open enrollment based on available classroom space (A.R.S. § 15-816.01).
Will transportation be provided?
Many parents will take advantage of transporting their student(s) on their own. We will provide bus depot options for parents wanting to explore QCUSD transportation services. The bus depots will be located at select sites throughout the district. Some possible sites are listed below. Routes could be up to 30 minutes long to get students to and from the depot and school. As a result, the morning pick-up times could be as early as 7:45 a.m., and afternoon drop-off times could be as late as 4:45 p.m.
At all depots, we will want to ensure safe delivery and pick-up of students. To accomplish this, parents will have three options for their students:
- Personally wait in the parking lot to safely deliver and receive their students at the depot.
- If the family lives within the square mile of the depot location, sign a waiver with the Transportation Department that their child will be walking to and from the depot on their own.
Bus Depots:
- Northern Region:
- Central Region:
- Barney Farms
- Charleston Estates
- Queenland Manor
- Meridian
- Spur Cross
- Remington Heights
- Victoria
What special programming will NB College Prep have?
- All coursework will be honors level or accelerated. Honors education is broader, deeper, and more complex than comparable learning experiences, whereas accelerated courses focus on above-grade-level standards.
- As a Leader in Me school, students will discover and practice a set of leadership and life skills from Stephen Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Incorporating The Leader in Me practices within our school's environment and curriculum will empower students with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st Century.
- STEM learning experiences that are future-focused and rich in real-world problem-solving to develop critical thinkers engaged in meaningful inquiry will be offered through Project Lead the Way elective offerings. PLTW coursework fuels students’ passion for discovery as they engage in hands-on, collaborative problem-solving focused on real-world challenges.
- All students enrolled in Newell Barney College Prep will take World Language coursework beginning in seventh grade. (Seventh grade - Spanish I; Eighth grade - Spanish 2)
Is there a test required for admittance to the school?
No, there is no admittance exam. However, there may be a placement exam to determine proper enrollment in accelerated coursework.
What classes will be offered?
Seventh Grade Pathway
| English |
Math |
Science |
Social Studies |
World Languages |
Career Exploration |
| Honors 7 |
Honors Pre-Algebra
HS Algebra 1 (Prerequisite Req’d) |
Accelerated (7th and 8th) |
Honors 7 |
Spanish 1 |
|
Eighth Grade Pathway
| English |
Math |
Science |
Social Studies |
World Languages |
Career Exploration |
Honors 8
*General 8th (2024–2025 Only) |
HS Algebra 1
HS Geometry
(Prerequisite Required)
*General 8th (2024–2025 Only) |
HS Physical Science
*General 8th (2024–2025 Only) |
Honors 8
*General 8th (2024–2025 Only) |
Spanish 2 |
|
Elective Offerings:
STEM/PLTW:
- Design and Modeling (sem)
- Automation and Robotics (sem)
- App Creators (sem)
- Green Architecture (sem)
- Medical Detectives (sem)
Other:
- PE (sem)
- Weights (sem)
- Art (sem)
- Band
- Orchestra
- AVID
- Student Council/Leadership
- Journalism/Yearbook
What type of technology will this school have?
NBCP will have 1:1 technology. All students will have a Chromebook checked out to them.
Will students wear uniforms?
Yes, NB College Prep students will wear uniforms. (Navy or tan/khaki pants/shorts/skirts and navy or maroon polo.)
Why do students wear uniforms?
School uniforms provide a sense of belonging and pride at NB College Prep. Not having to worry about fashion trends helps students focus on academics and can promote school spirit as well as reduce conflicts among students. School uniforms can also help parents save time and money shopping for school clothes.
Will special education services be provided?
Yes, special education services will be provided for students pending the IEP team agreement to placement.
What if I live in the boundaries for NB College Prep, but don’t want my child to attend a school of choice?
Students living in the NB College Prep boundaries are also in-boundary for Crismon (7-12) High School. See boundary map.
Are there special requirements for parents who have students attending the school?
Students and parents will sign a student-parent compact outlining the expectations for students and parents at NB College Prep.
Will NB College Prep have athletics?
Yes, NB College Prep student-athletes will participate in the East Valley Conference for athletic events.
What if my student already attends Newell Barney as a current seventh grader? Will they have to move schools for their eighth-grade year if they don’t take honors/accelerated classes?
No, we will have a standard course pathway for current seventh graders who wish to remain at NB for the 2024–2025 school year. All other expectations for uniforms, electives, Leader in Me, etc. will be followed.
