ASU Preparatory Academy Phoenix's students, staff and alumni are hosting a "Farewell to Fillmore" celebration to say goodbye to its current facility on May 8.
The Phoenix Elementary School District #1 school board decided not to renew the school's lease after its 17 years residing at East Fillmore Street and North 7th Street.
The school board decision, made in January 2025, led to talks between ASU Prep officials and the members of the PESD Governing School Board to find a compromise. At the time, ASU Prep was intent on finding a solution and staying at that location.
However, since the lease is up in June, ASU Prep went looking for a new location almost immediately after the decision by PESD.
READ MORE: ASU Prep is confident in finding a solution to PESD lease termination
ASU Prep was able to find and secure a new location at 201 E. Indianola Ave., about three miles north of where they are currently, which will be exited by the BASIS Phoenix Central Charter School.
"We are grateful that we have found a solution," ASU Prep Chief of Staff Betsy Fowler said. "We're excited to welcome our families and staff there and start our next chapter."
Fowler said a big change like this can affect the students and staff because "schools are homes."
This move will affect whole families, Fowler said. But she wants to acknowledge that the administration understands how difficult this will be for them.
"We have a great new home that isn't going to be the same as Fillmore," Fowler said. "It's different, but we are excited that we are able to continue to have that K-12 footprint for our families."
With the relocation, families who may not be able to get their kids to the new facility are encouraged to consider other ASU Prep options, Fowler said, including the nearby ASU Prep Pilgrim Rest campus and the ASU Prep South Phoenix campus, or attend through the hybrid high school option called ASU Prep Digital+.
"We have a lot of opportunities for families that, although this is a change, we're really hopeful that everyone has found a spot that feels like a new home," she said.
Maria Baskerville, an ASU Prep Phoenix high school teacher and student government adviser, said the school typically hosts mostly fall or winter festivals, but students wanted to hold a spring festival this year to say goodbye to their school.
"My student government students, and many of them have been here at the school for many years, wanted to do something to close out the chapter here at Fillmore," she said.
The student government and Baskerville want to bring the community and alumni together to remember their past, present and look ahead at what the future will bring in the new location.
"I would encourage everyone to come out to this free event so that we can celebrate all the good work that has been done throughout these years here at this location on Fillmore, and the positive impact that we have had on the community," Baskerville said.
Besides the classic carnival booths and games, the class of 2016 will hold its 10-year reunion.
Jenesis Tellez, a co-director with the nonprofit Peer Solutions, is a 2016 graduate from ASU Prep who still has a connection with the school through its partnership with the nonprofit. As a former student, she wanted to get involved to give back to the campus by putting a spotlight on her graduating class.
Tellez and the Peer Solutions club on campus will be hosting an alumni corner with photos from the past 10 years, highlighting the connections between former students and staff.
"I just feel really honored to be a part of giving back to the community that helped me really become the person that I am today," Tellez said.
Edited by Kate Gore, Senna James and Ellis Preston.
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Emma Bradford is a senior reporter for The State Press. She has previously worked at the Cronkite News Washington, D.C. bureau as a politics and money reporter. Bradford is currently also an editorial intern for AZ Big Media. She is in her fifth Semester with The State Press, previously working on the politics desk as both a part-time and a lead reporter.
