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American Heritage School's new downtown Salt Lake City campus is growing faster than school leaders had anticipated, leading to new grades and course offerings for the 2023–24 school year.
Leaders opened the campus in August 2022 with 115 students in grades K–9 and had planned to add one grade level per year. Because of high demand, however, the school recently decided to add two grades this fall—grades 10 and 11. Grade 12 will open in the fall of 2024.
Located at 142 W 200 North, northwest of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Conference Center, the school will offer new courses this fall including World History from 1500 to the Present, International Relations, Newswriting, Principles of Leadership, Introduction to Engineering, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science A, AP Human Geography, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Microeconomics, and AP Macroeconomics.
The school's current average class size is 14 students with a cap of 24 per class.
With 189 students already enrolled for fall 2023, the campus expects 220 students by the first day of school on August 22, which is nearly double the school's initial enrollment and some grade levels may reach full enrollment.
Annual tuition varies by grade level: $7,307 for kindergarten, $9,458 for grades 1–5, $9,829 for grades 6–8, and $11,601 for grades 9–12.
Principal Leland Anderson says need-based scholarships can help families. The scholarships are made available through private donations.
"We are grateful to those who fund tuition for others, which is an inspiring example of private charity," Anderson said. "Typically, donors' children or grandchildren attend the school, and they want to share what their children have experienced, so they provide anonymous scholarships. This provides assistance to many families."
Individuals or businesses wishing to fund scholarships at American Heritage School may contact the school's leaders or donate online. AHS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, meaning donations are tax-deductible.
The Salt Lake City campus will host an open house May 10 from 9 a.m.–11 a.m. A new-student assessment follows on May 12. Campus tours are available anytime upon request or by calling 801-642-0056.
According to Anderson, 98% of students now enrolled at the Salt Lake campus are returning this fall. Anderson attributes the success to the school's mission and well-prepared faculty whose lessons are taught in a context of faith.
Some families carpool to the campus and others have moved downtown to be close to the school.
"We love the school's values and location," says an AHS parent with three children enrolled at the school. "We recently moved to Salt Lake City and have found it to be beautiful, walkable, convenient and family-friendly."
Families moving to Salt Lake City from other states and other parts of Utah reported the school was a significant factor in their move.
AHS students benefit from small class sizes and can participate in various extracurricular activities, including athletics, drama, robotics, debate, mock trial, orchestra, and choir at the school's four-acre campus.
Upcoming events
Broadway Benefit: Celebrated tenor Casey Elliott headlines a concert of favorite Broadway musicals May 25 at 7 p.m. at the Salt Lake City campus. Tickets are on sale. Free guided tours will be provided before the concert at 6 p.m. and after the concert at 8:30 p.m.
"The Sound of Music": American Heritage helps all students who want to participate in school activities. For example, the school's drama director, Micole Mayfield, reports more than 50 students are participating in the school's upcoming performance of "The Sound of Music," May 5 and 6. Tickets are $5 per person (children 3 and under on laps are free). All are welcome to attend this favorite production.
Other opportunities
Other after-school activities include three orchestras, a harp ensemble, and four choirs, which are open for auditions from all students in the community. Participants apply through a video audition process and agree to the school's honor code and dress and grooming standards. The groups perform sacred, classical, and patriotic music. Groups perform with celebrated artists in major local venues each year.
American Heritage School also has an American Fork campus that offers grades K–12 to 1,200 students on a 40-acre campus, with hundreds of additional students participating in after-school, open-to-the-community choir and orchestra programs.
Additionally, American Heritage Worldwide offers innovative, faith-oriented curriculum and support tools to families throughout the world for homeschooling, family education cooperatives, micro-schools, and learning pods.
Spring retreat in American Fork
The public is invited to join the American Heritage Worldwide community at their Spring Retreat at the American Fork campus on May 13. Retreat tickets include entrance to Thanksgiving Point Gardens Tulip Festival the same evening and a concert near the waterfalls at 7 p.m., featuring the schools' Best-of-State Lyceum Philharmonic.
