When Daniela Ochoa enrolled at Edge High School, she wasn’t sure she would ever graduate.
She transferred to Edge midway through the fall semester of her sophomore year after starting high school at a large traditional district high school. In classrooms of more than 40 students, Daniela felt overwhelmed and unseen. She struggled to get the individual support she needed, experienced bullying, and began to believe that school simply wasn’t a place where she could succeed—especially in math.
By the time she arrived at Edge, Daniela carried more than academic gaps.
She had developed a fixed mindset about her ability to learn.
She questioned her confidence and self-worth.
She had no clear vision for her future and didn’t believe college was possible.
What Daniela found at Edge was different.
Through consistent 1-on-1 support, meaningful relationships with staff, and access to resources that met her academic and emotional needs, she began to rebuild her confidence. She connected with Edge’s social worker and behavioral health supports, worked diligently to close gaps in her learning, and took full advantage of every opportunity available to her.
Daniela committed herself to her goals. She attended Edge’s free summer school sessions to recover credit and frequently stayed after school, putting in extra hours to strengthen her understanding and stay on track. Her persistence and work ethic became a defining part of her journey.
She also found mentors who pushed her to grow. Daniela credits her Edge math teacher, LaGail Person, for “motivating and inspiring and keeping her accountable” during moments when she needed it most.
Academically, Daniela challenged herself by enrolling in dual enrollment courses through Accelerate ASU, where she earned both high school and college credit at the same time. These courses—fully covered by Edge—allowed her to begin building her college transcript while still in high school.
Over time, her mindset began to shift.
Challenges became something she could work through—not something that defined her limits.
All of her hard work paid off. In December 2025, Daniela graduated early—an achievement she once believed was out of reach—and did so with college credit already on her transcript.
Today, Daniela is a first-generation college student attending Grand Canyon University, where she is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Forensic Science. She shares that she loves the sense of community at GCU and how her classes are structured to support her learning.
Daniela and her brother—also an Edge graduate—are both first-generation college students in their family, a milestone that reflects not only their hard work, but a new path forward for their family.
When asked what she misses most about Edge, Daniela doesn’t hesitate:
“How caring all the staff is.”
Daniela’s journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when students are supported, challenged, and truly known.
Edge High School is incredibly proud of Daniela and all that she has accomplished—and we can’t wait to see what she does next.
If you are interested in following Daniela’s footsteps you can start the enrollment process here.
