In September 1994, Arizona became the 11th state in the country to pass a charter school law that paved the way for school choice for the residents of Arizona. In the next year, our founders, Pima County Adult Education Group, applied for a charter and opened the doors of Edge High School to offer the students of Tucson a personalized and non-traditional education.
Edge is proud to be among the pioneers of charter education in Arizona, and even more proud of our record in support of Tucson’s youth. As we celebrate our 30th year of operation, we’re looking back at some of the groundbreaking and unique qualities that make Edge such a special place. Here are 30 facts about Edge – some obvious, some a little more obscure – that might surprise you (#30 is no shocker to us ♥️).
- 1,300 diplomas and graduates since 1995!
- Edge went green! (solar panels, water reclamation, bottle filling stations, recycling, light sensors)
- 6 = the # of artist signatures hidden in our latest mural
- Edge stands for Educational Group Effort
- Our self-paced and personalized curriculum fits all types of learning styles
- We’re Cognia accredited
- We are a non-profit public charter school
- Memorable field trips: New York, Disneyland, & Catalina Island
- 90% of our on-track students graduate
- Favorite elective: art
- Student-led initiatives, like our water bottle filling stations, build confidence and pride
- Art is our longest running club
- Most Unique Elective: Tai Chi Poetry
- We’ve got pickleball!
- 175 = total # of years at Edge of our current staff
- Five alumni have worked at Edge
- Favorite snack bar item: Takis! 🌶️
- Edge graduates give back as school ambassadors and board members
- Our student art can be spotted all over Tucson
- Year laptops became the norm: 2012
- Students take 3 courses at a time
- U of A’s Sky School Class and Overnight Excursion is life changing
- Our annual Day of Service is always good for the heart and soul
- Our counseling ratio is 50 students to 1 counselor
- More than 40 = the # of sponsors and partnerships that support Edge
- We celebrate achievements with ceremonies, awards and prizes!
- Edge is a Shame-Free Zone
- We serve around 250 students each year
- The Arizona Department of Education gave us a B grade this year
- Best thing about Edge? Our exceptional teachers, staff and community partners
Stay tuned throughout 2025 as we celebrate the incredible legacy our small charter school has built over the last 30 years! We enroll all year long so drop in for a tour anytime.
About Edge
For 30 years, EDGE has been serving Tucson youth with a tuition-free, Cognia accredited, high school education. We provide an alternative to traditional education, meeting the diverse learning and life needs of our students with our blended curriculum and flexible morning or afternoon class schedules at two conveniently located campuses. Our high-quality, passionate teachers are dedicated to individualized instruction in our small academic classes. Be you. With us. At Edge.