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Merit College Preparatory Academy

Q: Is Merit College Preparatory Academy a good school?

Merit College Preparatory Academy ranks 95 th of 138 Utah high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 7-12

95^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 138 Utah High Schools

Better than 31% of Utah high schools

Summary

Merit College Preparatory Academy is a public charter high school located in Springville, Utah, serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 493 students. The school is part of the Merit College Preparatory Academy District, which is ranked 69 out of 93 districts in Utah and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Over the years, Merit College Preparatory Academy has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, ranging from a high of 28th out of 123 Utah high schools in 2017-2018 to a low of 106th out of 138 high schools in 2023-2024. This performance is significantly lower than the nearby schools, such as Orem High (ranked 37th in 2023-2024), Utah County Academy of Science (ranked 2nd in 2023-2024), and Springville High (ranked 53rd in 2023-2024). The school's graduation rates, ranging from 81.0% to 88.8%, are also lower than the nearby schools, and its dropout rates, ranging from 7.8% to 16.5%, are higher.

Additionally, Merit College Preparatory Academy has experienced high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 23.8% to 48.5% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the nearby schools. The school's test scores in various subjects and grade levels are also generally lower than the state averages and the nearby schools. The increasing percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 22.25% in 2021-2022 to 38.34% in 2023-2024, suggests that the school may serve a population with greater socioeconomic challenges, which could contribute to the school's lower academic performance.

456

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,734

Per pupil spending ?

32%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1440 W Center Street
Springville, UT 84663

(801) 491-7600

District: Merit College Preparatory Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.3%

Hispanic:

22.8%

Two or more races:

2.4%

See top rated Utah high schools

Compare Merit College Preparatory Academy to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 80th percentile in 2015 → 31st in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Utah average (36% vs 43% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (50% vs 24% Utah)

!Ranking has slipped — down 49 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg36%

Utah avg43%

Middle school

124^th of 182

Utah public middle schools ?

Bottom 32%▲ up 5 pts since 2019

From bottom 27% (2019) to bottom 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Utah Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

95^th of 138

Utah public high schools ?

Bottom 31%▼ down 49 pts since 2015

From top 20% (2015) to bottom 31% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Utah High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

69^th of 93Merit College Preparatory Academy among Utah districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2025	31.7	124 of 182	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.9	136 of 210	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.8	154 of 216	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	167 of 209	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.5	173 of 213	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.9	163 of 222	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	45.2	170 of 243	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	39.5	182 of 238	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2022	41.9	118 of 191	38.2%	★★☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2025	34.1	95 of 138	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.0	106 of 138	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.4	99 of 139	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	57.3	47 of 131	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.3	67 of 129	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.8	68 of 136	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.4	28 of 123	77.2%	★★★★☆
2017	21.8	102 of 125	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	76.2	15 of 129	88.4%	★★★★☆
2015	66.2	26 of 131	80.2%	★★★★☆
2014	47.5	59 of 120	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	51.5	74 of 167	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	38.0	114 of 166	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	56.3	48 of 164	70.7%	★★★★☆
2010	44.9	86 of 153	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	50.7	69 of 148	53.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Utah percentile	Rating
2025	61.0	35 of 118	70.3%	★★★★☆
2024	36.7	79 of 123	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.3	53 of 122	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.0	26 of 123	78.9%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

White (2022)38th percentile+18 vs school

High school

White (2025)70th percentile+39 vs school

By subject vs Utah (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts48%~ state avg

Science42%-6 vs state

Mathematics32%-11 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, September 7, 2011

This school's focus is on the individual student. The following is a list of the points that they reach for:
Each student is acknowledged as being valued. Each teacher tries to know the name with the face of each student in the school, and not just within the classroom. They take time to talk with (not just "to") the students, even in the hallways. Other students that I have spoken with say "the teachers care..."
They do a lot of service activities which help the students have instant success. This builds their sense of teamwork and self.
Extra research in areas of interest is promoted.
The quality of instruction is high.
This year they added a 7th and 8th grade accelerated high school track, and the quality of that program is very high in comparison with others that I am aware of. This 7/8th program caters to the needs of home schooled children. The expectations are high, but are very attainable. I see that the students who attend this school are going to be well prepared for college. Indeed, Merit has a higher than average number of students accepted to their 1st choice college.
It is good to note that all of the student's info relating to assignments, due dates, and attendance; as well as current lunch money available totals, are all online via a password protected site. The parents are kept "in the know" via emails to their personal emails. I have had teachers alert me of what difficulties my children are experiencing, before they got discouraged. Because of this extra effort my students have been able to succeed each term, and are motivated to continue to do well on their own. This builds a valuable life skill.
The staff is very helpful. There is a very positive feel to the building and those who are the staff and teachers. My three children who attend Merit College Preparatory Academy no longer dread going to school, they actually look forward to school.
I also have a student with an IEP who attends Merit. Their program director and staff are the best I have worked with. They are proactive in their approach to my student's special needs. Close Quote

Schools Near Merit College Preparatory Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts (2025)		Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics (2025)		Utah Aspire Plus Science (2025)		RISE Mathematics (2025)		RISE Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts 10th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics 10th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Science 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Science 10th Grade	RISE Mathematics 7th Grade	RISE Mathematics 8th Grade	RISE Science 7th Grade	RISE Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Merit College Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	7-12	1440 W Center Street	Springville	84663	Utah County	Merit College Preparatory Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(801) 491-7600	456	33	13.9	32.0%	325 (71.3%)	2 (0.4%)	104 (22.8%)	7 (1.5%)	2 (0.4%)	5 (1.1%)	11 (2.4%)	34.1	95^th of 138 public high schools	31.2%		25	106^th of 138 public high schools	23.2%	11	50.0	45.1	36.1	10.6	47.9	22.0	35.0	28.8	36.6	47.8	$7,734	$551	$7,183
Springville High	Public	6-12	1205 E 900 S	Springville	84663	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 489-2870	1,665	74	22.6	22.9%	1,201 (72.1%)	12 (0.7%)	338 (20.3%)	9 (0.5%)	11 (0.7%)	16 (1.0%)	78 (4.7%)	60.6	41^st of 138 public high schools	70.3%		57	53^rd of 138 public high schools	61.6%	12		47.6		44.3		39.7					$7,954	$375	$7,579
Spanish Fork High	Public	9-12	158 N 630 West	Spanish Fork	84660	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 798-4060	1,640	69	23.6	19.8%	1,296 (79.0%)	14 (0.9%)	250 (15.2%)	2 (0.1%)	4 (0.2%)	19 (1.2%)	55 (3.4%)	31.8	98^th of 138 public high schools	29.0%		34.1	92^nd of 138 public high schools	33.3%	6		42.2		20.7		35.0					$8,293	$382	$7,910
Maple Mountain High	Public	7-12	51 N Spanish Fork Pkwy	Spanish Fork	84660	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 794-6740	1,902	74	25.7	11.6%	1,552 (81.6%)	7 (0.4%)	245 (12.9%)	7 (0.4%)	6 (0.3%)	9 (0.5%)	76 (4.0%)	44	80^th of 138 public high schools	42.0%		47.6	74^th of 138 public high schools	46.4%	6		52.6		27.1		31.9					$8,236	$502	$7,734
Independence High	Public	5-12	636 N Independence Ave	Provo	84601	Utah County	Provo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 374-4920	276	20	13.9	54.7%	105 (38.0%)	1 (0.4%)	145 (52.5%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.2%)	9 (3.3%)	9 (3.3%)	1.9	138^th of 138 public high schools	0.0%					(n/a)		18.4		0.0		12.5					$15,106	$779	$14,327
Provo Adult Education	Public	9-12	636 N Independence Ave	Provo	84601	Utah County	Provo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 374-4840	0	0	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Provo High	Public	7-12	1199 North Lakeshore Dr	Provo	84601	Utah County	Provo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 373-6550	2,023	79	25.5	34.9%	1,005 (49.7%)	13 (0.6%)	826 (40.8%)	27 (1.3%)	19 (0.9%)	61 (3.0%)	71 (3.5%)	17.6	118^th of 138 public high schools	14.5%		22.4	113^th of 138 public high schools	18.1%	5	32.7	41.7	25.2	19.3	28.1	25.8					$9,806	$484	$9,322
Timpview High	Public	9-12	3570 N 650 E	Provo	84604	Utah County	Provo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 221-9720	2,300	93	24.7	25.3%	1,437 (62.5%)	22 (1.0%)	585 (25.4%)	48 (2.1%)	11 (0.5%)	97 (4.2%)	100 (4.3%)	53.7	60^th of 138 public high schools	56.5%		67.6	33^rd of 138 public high schools	76.1%	27	49.9	53.0	46.3	36.8	40.9	32.5					$9,035	$473	$8,562
Salem Hills High	Public	9-12	150 N Skyhawk Blvd	Salem	84653	Utah County	Nebo District	No	No	No	No	(801) 423-3200	1,593	65	24.6	16.7%	1,319 (82.8%)	10 (0.6%)	200 (12.6%)	9 (0.6%)	3 (0.2%)	4 (0.3%)	48 (3.0%)	55.8	54^th of 138 public high schools	60.9%		62.1	41^st of 138 public high schools	70.3%	13		53.0		36.1		35.2					$8,456	$522	$7,934
Orem High	Public	10-12	175 S 400 E	Orem	84097	Utah County	Alpine District	No	No	No	No	(801) 610-8165	1,225	52	23.6	21.3%	822 (67.1%)	8 (0.7%)	293 (23.9%)	12 (1.0%)	4 (0.3%)	36 (2.9%)	50 (4.1%)	51.1	64^th of 138 public high schools	53.6%		64.4	37^th of 138 public high schools	73.2%	27		50.6		31.8		36.6					$9,355	$375	$8,979

Frequently Asked Questions about Merit College Preparatory Academy

What is the racial makeup of Merit College Preparatory Academy?

Students at Merit College Preparatory Academy are 71% White, 23% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% Pacific Islander.

How many students attend Merit College Preparatory Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 456 students attended Merit College Preparatory Academy.

What district is Merit College Preparatory Academy in?

Merit College Preparatory Academy

Is Merit College Preparatory Academy a good school?

Merit College Preparatory Academy ranks 95^th of 138 Utah high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Merit College Preparatory Academy!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Utah State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.