A Grande opportunity: How ASU Prep equipped this student for college and beyond

Elianna Haro [RIGHT] graduating from ASU Prep Casa Grande in May 2024 — Photo courtesy of Elianna Haro

For the most part, people are products of their foundations. When the time is put in, hard work meets preparation, good practices are set and experiences are gained — success and opportunities are almost always guaranteed. For Elianna Haro, ASU Preparatory Academy Casa Grande served as a foundational cornerstone to not only her academic successes but also her journey as an adult entering university for the first time.

That said, there was one elephant in the room that played a large motivating factor during her time in secondary education.

“I mean, if the free college courses aren't enough, then I don't know what is,” Haro laughed. One of the premiere offerings of all ASU Prep campuses is the ability to be dual-enrolled in both high school and for-credit college courses through ASU Online for all four years. 

At first, this jump was jarring for Haro — as it would be for anyone that age. 

“I was nervous in the beginning because I was 14, 15, and they're like, ‘Alright, here’s a college class,’ and you're like, ‘Wait, what?’ Haro said. “But the adjustment, honestly, wasn't bad at all. It felt just like any other class.” 

The age difference thing never really went away, but just became a comical occurrence as time went on for Haro.

“We would go into college class, and you would have 34-year-old women and men with a full family, and I'm just like, ‘Hi, I'm Ellie. I'm 15 years old!’” Haro said. 

Being the proverbial little fish in a big pond never rattled Haro; she even went on to actively prefer her college courses. 

“I enjoyed those classes a little bit more, because they were more in-depth, in the information given and knowledge gained,” Haro said. “You were able to just learn so much more.”

Haro’s quick acclimation can be attributed to her never feeling alone in these moments. This is because of the community of ASU Prep — both students and faculty — and their commitment to supporting those like Haro in these circumstances. 

Elianna Haro [LEFT] is seen with a friend after receiving their diplomas — Photo courtesy of Elianna Haro

“I also had some of my classmates as well that were taking those courses with me, so I felt like I had someone to go through this experience with, and I had someone to also help me with those courses,” Haro said. 

Beyond her fellow classmates, the faculty and staff always served as that pillar of support. 

“The teachers in general, they didn’t only care about my education, but they also cared about my personal life,” Haro said. “They were able to help me in so many different ways. We had more of a friendship-type bond, but they were able to differentiate when I was coming to them as a student and when I was coming to them for advice and as a friend.” 

Having that support system really helped Haro, especially in accommodating her extracurriculars as well. 

“ASU Prep was very good when I was a competitive cheerleader,” Haro said. “I was a competitive cheerleader for 15 years of my life, and I'm only 18, so for most of my life I've been in sports. They're very lean and very helpful, like when I had to go out of state and travel with my team. I was on Zoom calls almost every day that I missed with my teacher, and they were giving me little mini-lessons so I could stay caught up with all my classes.”

This level of care and support even extended to when Haro experienced an unexpected health crisis. 

“My sophomore year in high school, I was completely out half of the year because I had heart surgery,” Haro said. “They were able to help me and stay in-person for classes, so I didn't have to completely transfer online. And I went back halfway through the year.” 

Even after taking a combined six months off of school, Haro was still able to thrive and succeed. 

When asked how ASU Prep helped equip her for life after high school, Haro said succinctly: “In every way possible. They taught me pretty much everything.” 

In the end, Haro was able to obtain 34 transferable ASU college credits, which made her a sophomore walking into university. She now majors in marketing with a minor in communication, hoping to enter the sports marketing world in the future.

Elianna Haro after receiving her high school diploma — Photo courtesy of Elianna Haro

Looking back on her time, Haro had this to say to those considering enrolling their children at an ASU Prep school: “It's the school. They are just very welcoming and willing to help you with any of your circumstances. I had so many different circumstances that came along in high school, and they were able to help me through every single one of them.”

ASU Preparatory Academy is a tuition-free, college preparatory school chartered by ASU. ASU Prep has several campuses across the metro-Phoenix area and offers digital or hybrid learning options as well. Enrollment and registration remain open for all sites or the deadline for ASU Prep Digital’s Spring 2025 semester is December 13. 

For more information about in-person, on-campus enrollment, visit the ASU Prep enrollment page.