About Us

Welcome to American Leadership Academy West Foothills

Tuition-Free Pre-K-12 Charter School located in Waddell, AZ

American Leadership Academy West Foothills sits on Olive Avenue in Waddell, between the White Tank Mountains and the Loop 303, serving families from Waddell, Surprise, Litchfield Park, and the western Valley.

Students begin in Little Leaders preschool, move through elementary school, and continue next door through graduation, on a campus that has had a waitlist every year since it opened. Across both campuses, students share ALA’s academic approach, Guardian identity, and R.A.I.S.E. values.

West Foothills is also short drive from Luke Air Force Base and works with families stationed there each year.

K-12

Grades Served

Waddell, AZ

Located near

OUR MISSION

In support of the family, provide the best educational experience to as many students as possible in a moral and wholesome environment.

OUR VISION

Our vision is to cultivate the critical thinkers and innovators of tomorrow, giving them the foundation they need to LEARN. LEAD. CHANGE THE WORLD.

OUR VALUES

Through our R.A.I.S.E. values, we cultivate a culture of Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Service, and Excellence to guide our students in becoming exemplary leaders.

Tuition-Free K-12 Charter School Education

Little Leaders (Preschool & Pre-K)

Little Leaders

Preschool & Pre-K

For many children, Little Leaders is their first experience with school. West Foothills serves children beginning at age 3 through a preschool and Pre-K program that incorporates ALA’s Core Knowledge Sequence along with early academic skills and character development. Students begin practicing classroom routines, communication, early literacy, numbers, social development, and the independence that will become increasingly important in kindergarten.

Four Little Leaders students happily holding up their artwork in the front of class

Learn About Little LEaders

Elementary School (K-5)

Elementary School

Grades K-5

ALA West Foothills is one of the largest elementary schools in Arizona, and it has had a waitlist every year since it opened. Families tend to hear about it from other families. Size has not diluted the results: the campus has earned an A every eligible year and posts the highest average AASA proficiency among ALA's Arizona elementary campuses.

Three young students, two boys and one girl, are standing together in the foreground of the image. In the background, there are other students walking and standing around the school campus.

Learn About our Elementary Academics

High School (6-12)

High School

Grades 6-12

The neighboring secondary campus serves students in grades 6–12. Sixth grade begins the transition into a more independent secondary-school experience. Junior high school builds organization, responsibility, and preparation for high school. High school brings graduation requirements, advanced academics, college credit, electives, Fine Arts, athletics, and post-secondary planning.

The image shows three young women sitting on a bench in an outdoor setting, with a building and trees visible in the background.

JUnior high / High School Academics

What is a Charter School?

Charter schools are public schools that offer families another educational option while operating with greater flexibility in areas such as curriculum, school culture, and instructional approach.

At ALA West Foothills, that flexibility allows us to provide a values-based education focused on academic excellence, leadership, character, and family partnership.

Learn more about what is a charter school?

Our Founder

Glenn Way, Founder of American Leadership Academy

Glenn Way founded American Leadership Academy (ALA) with the vision of providing an exceptional K-12 educational experience for his family and community. Motivated by a desire to protect the family unit and help the youth of America understand who they are meant to be, he envisioned a school that fosters personal growth and self-expression in a moral and wholesome environment inclusive of a values-based curriculum. Glenn believes that every child is created to do something extraordinary, and education should be the platform that helps them discover their best selves.

Driven by concerns about the current state of education, Glenn sought to reform the system from the inside out. He wanted to disrupt traditional education by raising the bar and focusing not just on academic excellence but also on developing students into future leaders who value being great spouses and parents by providing them with the opportunity to grow emotionally and academically.

Glenn Way, ALA Founder

We want our kids to learn why they were created—not just to become the best astronauts, plumbers, or mathematicians, but to become the best spouses, parents, citizens, and leaders.

Join the ALA Family Today

ALA West Foothills gives families a Pre-K–12 school experience built on academic excellence, leadership, flexibility, and character development. Whether your child is beginning school for the first time or preparing for graduation, our goal is to provide a supportive environment where students can learn, lead, and grow with purpose.

Now Enrolling for 2026-2027

Preschool through Grade 12 · Public Tuition-Free Charter School

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