San Tan Charter: Montessori to K-12 Excellence Uncovered

Men shaking hands at a podium during a groundbreaking ceremony, with construction helmets and shovels on a table, and residential houses in the background, representing San Tan Charter School's expansion.

San Tan Charter School began in 2006 as a small Montessori preschool and kindergarten in Gilbert, AZ. Parents quickly voiced concerns about what came next—overcrowded public schools and the high cost of private education.

In 2008, those concerns inspired the launch of San Tan Charter School, a tuition-free public charter school designed to give families another choice. Rooted in Montessori principles and inquiry-based learning, the school opened with fewer than 100 students after approval from the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools.

What started as a small, community-driven solution has grown into a full K–12 program serving families across Gilbert and beyond. Since then, the school has grown to include a High School with over 1,000 students in grades PreK-12.

Abstract mountain shapes representing growth and exploration in education, reflecting San Tan Charter School's commitment to inquiry-based learning and Montessori principles.

San Tan Charter School is an accredited member of AdvancED, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts rigorous, on-site reviews of educational institutions and systems to ensure all students realize their full potential.

Students and staff at San Tan Charter School celebrating an event, with a speaker at a podium, a police officer, and children participating enthusiastically in front of an audience.

School has grown alongside our families—expanding grade levels, adding programs, and receiving recognition for academics, athletics, and charter school excellence.

Our Private Montessori Preschool at the Recker Campus reflects our roots in Montessori education and provides a seamless transition into elementary school and beyond. Across all programs, we use an Inquiry-Based Learning Curriculum that gives every student the chance to explore, question, and connect concepts in meaningful ways.

Want to see how this comes to life? Visit our Learn Happy page to explore what learning looks like at San Tan.

Visit Learn Happy