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ASPIRE Academy at Connolly

Three students gather around a circuit board
Two students hold up dissection pieces with gloves on
Two students raise their hand

ASPIRE Academy at Connolly proudly serves gifted and twice-exceptional students from sixth- through eighth-grade. 

What is ASPIRE Academy at Connolly?

  • A self-contained gifted program located at Connolly Middle School 

  • Offering a small learning community with big school amenities

  • Provides exceptional academic rigor that meets students’ unique academic, social, and emotional learning needs

  • Fast-paced and challenging curriculum

  • Self-directed educational experiences allow students’ learning to become personal, relevant, and meaningful

  • Focus on project-based learning and extensions of curriculum and resources

  • Small learning community with big school amenities offering over 25 clubs and a full range of competitive sports.

  • Variety of math options from grade-level math to accelerated courses, allowing students to earn multiple high school math credits while still in middle school. 

  • Educational pathway to gifted high school options in the Tempe Union High School District.

  • Incorporates grade-level Arizona Academic Standards as well as the National Standards in Gifted and Talented Education

Learn About Applying for ASPIRE

ASPIRE Academy at Connolly logo

YOU'RE INVITED!

OPEN HOUSE NIGHT
December 4, 2025 
5:30 - 7p.m. 

Questions?
Contact Kelsey Garner
Instructional Support Teacher - ASPIRE
(480) 967-8933, Ext. 4832
kelsey.garner@tempeschools.org

A Day in the Life of ASPIRE Students

Fostering Leadership and Inclusion Through STEM-Based Activities
Social Studies Comes Alive for Middle School Students at ASPIRE
ASPIRE’s Project Based Learning Ignite Students’ Curiosity

I love being an ASPIRE student because we get more hands-on experience. We think differently. We don't think 'Two plus two equals four.' We think, 'What can we add to two plus two to make it not equal four?’

Lyra, ASPIRE Academy student

RECENT STUDENT AWARDS & RECOGNITION

  • Chief Science Officer Team of the Year 2025

  • ASPIRE student Seraphine Glass served on the Scholastic Scope Student Advisory Board 2024-2025

  • ASPIRE Student Xitlali Silva- 7th grade AVID student of the year, 2025

  • ASPIRE Student Addis Curd- Completed the Great Books Summer Program at Northwestern University, 2024

  • Combined, ASPIRE students completed over 1,000 volunteer hours in the 2024-2025 school year

  • Connolly Jazz Band (including ASPIRE students) was selected to perform at the Arizona Music Educator Conference, 2025

Student points to a part of a circuit board.