Maxwell Smith is the founding school leader for the tuition-free public charter school ASU Prep Tempe powered by The Levitt Lab, which is in the heart of ASU’s Tempe campus and will welcome students in ninth-12th grades beginning in fall 2025.

Created in partnership with economist, author and professor Steve Levitt, it offers a reimagined version of high school with a simple purpose: awaken the natural wonder within every student, nurture their curiosity and empower them to think critically, act boldly and lead confidently, according to a release.

While Smith will uphold many of the responsibilities of a traditional principal, his role as founding school leader goes beyond that.

“I’m the one who ensures The Levitt Lab’s vision becomes a reality,” Smith said in the release. “That means overseeing every aspect of the school — from enrollment to stakeholder engagement, building the school’s culture and creating partnerships so the impact of this reimagined model of education can spread system-wide.”

The Levitt Lab prioritizes purpose over grades, passion over pressure and progress over conformity. The curriculum is ideal for high school students who are ready to take charge of their education and see school as a place to grow, explore and discover, not just a series of boxes to check, the release states.

Students are supported by guides who focus on growth, ideas and goals rather than scores and grades. Guides work collaboratively with students to set academic and personal goals, then develop strategies to help them achieve these goals and explore new passions, it states.

Learn more about ASU Prep Tempe powered by The Levitt Lab, including how to enroll, at asuprep.asu.edu/tempe-levitt-lab.