Scottsdale Living & LEARNING Spring 2006

Perfect Location, Excellent School District

Even though housing prices are higher in Scottsdale than most other areas of the Valley, remind potential clients who are parents that there are many advantages to purchasing a home within the Scottsdale Unified School District boundaries, including:

Their child is assured to attend one of our outstanding 33 schools.
Their child will receive a “private education” at a "public school price".
Scottsdale Unified School District is Arizona’s Most Excelling School District!

Become an Open Enrollment Expert

Did you know that clients purchasing a home in a neighboring school district may enroll their child in a Scottsdale Unified School District school? SUSD accepts Open Enrollment applications 365 days of the year.

Open Enrollment packets are available at all of our 33 schools, on our Web site at http://www.susd.org/district/administrativeservices/openenroll.cfm and in the lobby of the Education Center (District office).

Here are just a few reasons why your client/parent should Open Enroll their children in Arizona’s Most Excelling School District:

We have 21 “EXCELLING” schools – the highest academic rating in the state, more than any other school district for the third consecutive year in a row.
We have more National Merit finalists than any other school district in Arizona.
SUSD outperforms state averages in both AIMS and Terra Nova tests at all grade levels and in all content areas.
SAT scores for our college-bound students were above the state and national averages in both English and math.

Once accepted to a SUSD school through the Open Enrollment process, parents will not need to fill out another application for the remainder of their child’s public school career. Parents will need to provide their own transportation to and from school. There are a limited number of our schools that are not accepting students through the Open Enrollment process because the school is at full capacity. Please have your client call the school they are interested in to to check Open Enrollment availability.

Choose Scottsdale Unified School District

Did you know that clients purchasing a home in the Unorganized Area where there is no school district (north of Pinnacle Peak Road, south of Jomax Road and east of Pima Road) may choose to enroll their child in Scottsdale Unified School District, Paradise Valley Unified School District or Cave Creek Unified School District?

By choosing Scottsdale Unified School District, their child will receive a top notch education at Copper Ridge Elementary School, Copper Ridge Middle School or Chaparral High School. All three schools are "Excelling" schools.

SUSD also provides transportation to and from school with two bus stops conveniently located at Happy Valley Road and Whispering Wind Drive and at Happy Valley and Alameda roads.

Why Scottsdale Unified School District?

Many times, when parents begin the search for a new home, their main priority is ensuring their children the best education possible. As Arizona’s Most Excelling School District, Scottsdale Unified School District has:

Great Teachers: Sharon Ewers named School Librarian of the Year by the Arizona Association of School Librarians, Natalie Laino and Marilyn Zolonedek named Rodel Exemplary teachers, and Rebecca Baker named Arizona’s Teacher of the Year for Gifted Learners... to name a few.

Great Schools: SUSD has 21 Excelling schools - the most of any school district in Arizona.

Great Programs: From the International Baccalaureate program and gifted classes to special education, EIS and arts education, Scottsdale Unified School District has a focus for every student.

Great Students: Our students score 30% (or higher) above state averages on AIMS and other state tests.

Construction to Begin This Summer at Chaparral and Saguaro High Schools

Hard hats, track hoes, dump trucks and construction crews are just some of the new sights at Chaparral and Saguaro High Schools this summer - which officially marks the start of Phase I construction at the schools.

Beginning June 9th, demolition crews will raze Chaparral High School’s west side of the auxiliary gym. In its place a new gym and vocation education building will be constructed. The estimated cost to rebuild Chaparral is $49 million. 3DI is the contractor and Orcutt/Winslow is the architectural firm for the project.

At Saguaro High School, the parking lot will be demolished to make way for a two-story "A Building". The estimated cost to rebuild Saguaro is $47 million. DL Withers is the contractor and DLR Group is the architectural firm for the project.

During the construction process, the administration is working hard to accommodate academics and athletics needs at the schools.

Construction at both schools should be completed by August 2009.

New Copper Ridge Math and Science Academy Now Accepting Applications

This specialized program offers incoming freshmen who have an aptitude for math and science the opportunity to excel in a unique learning environment. Opening August 21, 2006, at our Copper Ridge campus at DC Ranch.

Transportation will be provided to all students. Buses will pick up and drop off students at the high school nearest to their home.

The pre-registration form is now available at http://www.susd.org.

Parent Survey Results

The results of Scottsdale Unified School District’s Parent Survey are now available. The survey was conducted by Behavior Research Center in February and was presented to the Governing Board on March 7, 2006.

The purpose of the study was to measure attitudes among parents regarding the District, a new high school in the developing area and other issues being considered by administration.

The results from this study indicate that in general, parents are very satisfied with the Scottsdale Unified School District. They are supportive of its efforts to accommodate continued growth with a focus on academics and choice.

To view the Parent Survey, please visit: http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/presentations/2005-2006/RPTParentAttitudeStudy.pdf.