Liahona Preparatory Academy

Liahona Preparatory Academy is a regionally accredited[1] private school in Utah County, Utah, United States, that offers instruction to students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The school was founded by Brent and Kolleen DeGraff. The school blends core academics with the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Liahona has been in operation since 1998, and is named after an artifact described in The Book of Mormon.

Liahona teaches four basic classes: history, science, English, and math. It also offers electives such as Digital Journalism, Spanish, Drama, and career exploration. Currently, the school has almost 200 on-campus students. In 2014, 2017, and 2018, Liahona was recognized by BestSchool.org,[2] an independent ranking organization. Out of thousands of distance education programs nationwide, Liahona Preparatory Academy was ranked as one of the top 50 schools in America.

Location

Liahona Preparatory Academy (grades Pre-K through 12) is located just off I-15 at 2464 West 450 South in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Liahona Elementary (Pre-K to grade 4) is located at 801 North 300 East, Pleasant Grove.

Liahona has an accredited[3] distance education system through AdvancED. Each week, the students and teachers are filmed in the four core classes (History, Science, Math, and English). The weekly videos are available via the Internet and accessed by students worldwide.

Activities

Liahona boasts a nationally award-winning drama department. The school produces 3-6 shows each year in their black box theater on site, which includes their elementary, jr high and high school programs. In 2013, Liahona placed first in the duo/trio scene category and third in ensemble scenes at the National Shakespeare Acting Competition in Cedar City, Utah. In March 2014, they traveled to Southern California to compete in the Fullerton Theatre Competition. In Fall 2014, Liahona's Theatre Competition Team won the Overall National Shakespeare Championship for both High School and Junior High, as well as first and second place overall in Junior High monologues and second place in High School Duo/Trio scenes and Ensemble scenes. The 2014-2015 season includes Seussical the Musical in December, Everyman in March, The Giver in April, and the Utah Valley High School premiere of Melissa Leilani Larsen's new play, Martyr's Crossing.

Each year, Liahona students attend a week-long youth conference at Aspen Grove in Provo Canyon. There are activities, youth speakers, service projects, and entertainment. Liahona students also typically participate in a service trip. They have taken a service trip to Mexico to volunteer at the two orphanages that the school has adopted. Students participate in fundraising activities to raise money for the orphans. Students have also participated in a Christmas service project taking presents, food boxes, clothing, blankets, books, hygiene kits, and school supply bags to Navajo families near Chinle, Arizona. In 2019, they will be doing a Service Trip to the Philippines.

Students have the opportunity to gain elective credit by participating in the school's Digital Journalism course. The class is run using video conferencing, so students all over the world can participate. During the 2015-2016 school year, students ranging from Boston to Guam and in between held staff positions.

Athletics

Liahona has an athletic department that plays in the Utah School Sports Alliance. Their basketball team went 7-1 in 2007, winning the state championship against Lincoln Academy by 19. Their soccer team went 12-0, beating Lincoln Academy in the state championship by two in a shoot-out. In 2010, while playing 1A UHSAA, Liahona took second in state in basketball. In the USSA in 2014, Liahona's men's basketball team placed third in state, men's soccer placed second and women's soccer placed fourth.

Currently, the athletic department is under reorganization.

References
  1. "NWAC School Accreditation Summary". AdvancED. NWAC. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  2. http://www.thebestschools.org/rankings/best-online-high-school-diploma-programs/
  3. "NWAC School Accreditation Summary (Distance Ed)". AdvancED. NWAC. Retrieved 10 December 2012.

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