Is ALA Applied Technologies really free?

Yes. ALA Applied Technologies is a tuition-free public charter school. Families do not pay tuition for academics or participation in the CTE academies. Some CTE courses may have course fees to help cover materials, supplies, uniforms, kits, or other program-specific costs. Fees vary by course.

What programs and academies can my student choose from?

Ten expert-led academies: Aviation , Automotive , Construction , Cosmetology , Business & Finance , Technology , First Responder/Military , Education , Culinary , and Health Services . Aviation: one of only three high schools nationwide — and the first in Arizona — with FAA certification for its aviation-maintenance program. Technology: cybersecurity, coding, robotics labs, AZ StRUT refurbishing, Dell TechCrew training, and an esports arena. Cosmetology: training in the student-run Pathfinders Salon, open to the community. Automotive: student-powered, instructor-supervised Automotive Services open to the public.

What grades does ALA Applied Technologies serve?

Grades 7–12, with a Pre-K program also on campus. Junior-high students explore career pathways before committing to an academy in high school.

Can students earn college credit or certifications?

Yes — graduates leave with a high school diploma plus industry-recognized certifications, and a partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges lets students earn free college credit for those certifications.

How do I enroll at ALA Applied Technologies, and is there a waitlist?

Apply online through the ALA Applied Technologies enrollment page . As a public charter school, enrollment is open to all Arizona students — no entrance exams or tuition. When applications exceed available seats, placement follows ALA's enrollment lottery and applicable enrollment-priority policies. Open Enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year ran from November 15, 2025, through January 31, 2026. Enrollment lotteries were held in February 2026 for any grade levels with more applicants than available seats. Applications submitted after January 31 are still accepted and processed in the order received. If a grade level is full, the student may be placed on a numbered waitlist. Seat offers may continue through August 2026 as openings become available.

How is this different from other Arizona trade schools?

Most trade programs require students to split time between a home high school and a separate technical campus. At ALA Applied Technologies, core academics and all ten academies live under one roof — one campus, one schedule, diploma and certification together. Students also pair technical skills with industry mentors working in the field, projects modeled on real job assignments, and community-facing practice through the salon and automotive services rather than workbook exercises.

Does the school partner with local high schools?

Yes. ALA Applied Technologies partners with Mesa-area high schools on dual-enrollment options, career-exploration initiatives, and transitions into its academies.

Where is the campus and how do I contact the school?

7729 E. Pecos Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212 · (480) 896-9960. School hours run 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about ALA Applied Technologies, including enrollment, grade levels, academy programs, certifications, college credit, tuition, and campus information. Explore how students in grades 7–12 combine core academics with hands-on Career and Technical Education pathways at our Mesa campus.

Young man wearing a dark blue work uniform and safety glasses, smiling, standing in a train maintenance facility with a red train car in the background.

Yes. ALA Applied Technologies is a tuition-free public charter school. Families do not pay tuition for academics or participation in the CTE academies. Some CTE courses may have course fees to help cover materials, supplies, uniforms, kits, or other program-specific costs. Fees vary by course.
Ten expert-led academies: Aviation, Automotive, Construction, Cosmetology, Business & Finance, Technology, First Responder/Military, Education, Hospitality/Culinary, and Health Services.
- Aviation: one of only three high schools nationwide — and the first in Arizona — with FAA certification for its aviation-maintenance program.
- Technology: cybersecurity, coding, robotics labs, AZ StRUT refurbishing, Dell TechCrew training, and an esports arena.
- Cosmetology: training in the student-run Pathfinders Salon, open to the community.
- Automotive: student-powered, instructor-supervised Automotive Services open to the public.
Grades 7–12, with a Pre-K program also on campus. Junior-high students explore career pathways before committing to an academy in high school.
Yes — graduates leave with a high school diploma plus industry-recognized certifications, and a partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges lets students earn free college credit for those certifications.
Apply online here. As a public charter school, enrollment is open to all Arizona students — no entrance exams or tuition. When applications exceed seats, placement follows ALA's enrollment lottery with sibling priority. Open Enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year ran from November 15, 2025, through January 31, 2026. Enrollment lotteries were held in February 2026 for any grade levels with more applicants than available seats.
Applications submitted after January 31 are still accepted and processed in the order received. If a grade level is full, the student may be placed on a numbered waitlist. Seat offers may continue through August 2026 as openings become available.
Most trade programs require students to split time between a home high school and a separate technical campus. At ALA Applied Technologies, core academics and all ten academies live under one roof — one campus, one schedule, diploma and certification together.
Students also pair technical skills with industry mentors working in the field, projects modeled on real job assignments, and community-facing practice (the salon and auto services) rather than workbook exercises.
Yes. ALA Applied Technologies partners with Mesa-area high schools on dual-enrollment options, career-exploration initiatives, and transitions into its academies.
7729 E. Pecos Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212 · (480) 896-9960. School hours run 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

What certifications and credentials can students prepare for?

Certification and credential opportunities vary by pathway, course completion, student eligibility, testing requirements, and current program availability.

Academy	Certification and Credential Opportunities
Automotive	ASE Entry-Level options in Engine Repair, Brakes, Maintenance & Light Repair, HVAC, Engine Performance, Automatic Transmission, and Suspension & Steering; possible Maricopa Community College credit
Aviation	FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test preparation; FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot preparation; OSHA 10; FAA Airframe, Powerplant, or A&P certificate-preparation pathways
Business & Finance	Business, finance, and entrepreneurship portfolio evidence; workplace-readiness artifacts; internship and capstone documentation
Construction	NCCER construction-pathway credentials; NCCER HVAC certification pathway; welding credentials aligned with major processes and workplace expectations
Cosmetology	Arizona Aesthetics License pathway; Arizona Hairstyling License pathway; Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board competencies
Culinary	ServSafe Food Protection Manager preparation; food-safety, sanitation, kitchen-professionalism, portfolio, and practical-service experience
Education	Early-childhood and education credential opportunities; professional portfolio; classroom observation and internship experience
First Responder / Military	Crime Scene Management Certification; Psychological First Aid Certification; public-safety communication, scene-safety, and investigative-procedure skills
Health Services	Nursing Assistant certification pathway; Medical Assisting certification pathway; patient-care, infection-control, vitals, EHR, and documentation skills
Technology	IT support, networking, and cybersecurity certification preparation; software and game portfolios; AZ STRUT/Dell Student TechCrew experience

What is ALA Applied Technologies?

ALA Applied Technologies is Arizona's first tuition-free public charter trade school, in Mesa, AZ. Students in grades 7–12 earn a high school diploma and industry-recognized certifications at the same campus, choosing from ten Career and Technical Education (CTE) academies.

Part of the American Leadership Academy network, the campus at 7729 E. Pecos Rd. combines core academics with lab-based career training — students don't leave campus or transfer schools to earn certifications. Learning is guided by ALA's R.A.I.S.E. values: Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Service, and Excellence.