Scottsdale Unified School District is leading the way in Arizona education as 22 of its 33 schools received the state’s highest ranking for the 2007-08 school year. Twenty-two schools received the Excelling label, three are ranked Highly Performing, seven are Performing Plus and two are Performing.

The Department of Education ranks schools as Excelling, Highly Performing, Performing Plus, Performing, Under Performing and Failing. Ratings are based on student performance on state tests and graduation and dropout rates. Also, it was announced that 32 of Scottsdale’s 33 schools also made academic “Adequate Yearly Progress” under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Excelling Schools: Anasazi, Aztec, Cherokee, Cheyenne Traditional, Cochise, Copper Ridge, Desert Canyon, Hopi, Kiva, Laguna, Pima, Sequoya and Zuni Elementary Schools; Cocopah, Copper Ridge, Desert Canyon, Ingleside and Mountainside Middle Schools; Arcadia, Chaparral, Desert Mountain and Saguaro High Schools.

Highly Performing Schools: Tavan Elementary School, Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center and Mohave Middle School.

Performing Plus Schools: Hohokam, Navajo, Pueblo, Tonalea and Yavapai Elementary Schools, Coronado High School and Copper Ridge Math & Science Academy.*

Performing Schools: Supai Middle School, Sierra Vista Academy** (6-8) and Sierra Vista Academy** (High School).

* Copper Ridge Math & Science Academy received an AZ LEARNS classification; however, this program has moved to Saguaro High School for the 2008-09 school year.

**Sierra Vista Academy has earned the highest Education label possible for alternative schools which is "Performing."

---

Administration Building at Chaparral High School	Administration Building at Saguaro High School

Construction is almost complete at Arcadia, Chaparral, and Saguaro high schools. Last school year, construction on buildings was completed at Coronado and Desert Mountain high schools.

• During the summer at Arcadia High School, the auxiliary gym and the north grandstand buildings were demolished to make way for parking lot improvements on the west side of the campus and the new stadium bleachers, including a press box with viewing platform at the football field. Additionally, the new practice baseball and softball fields are in construction in the southeast section of the campus. This area was purchased from the R&G Ranch and was once an orange orchard. The estimated cost of construction at the school is $42.1 million. The dedication is set for November 7th.
• At Chaparral High School, demolition of the academic classroom building has been completed. All new permanent buildings on the site are complete and occupied. Site work in the new student parking lot and bus lane is ongoing with a completion date of these areas in early November. Following the completion of the parking lot, the tennis court area that is being used as temporary parking will be completed. The courts will be surfaced and the nets installed. This is scheduled for completion in January 2009. The Chaparral Band Boosters completed a concession building at the north bleachers, and the football boosters are in process of completing a new football field house that will be used this season. The estimated cost to rebuild Chaparral is $49 million. McCarthy is the contractor and Orcutt/Winslow is the architectural firm for the project. The dedication will take place on October 24th from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• At Saguaro High School, demolition of the 300 and 400 buildings and the north half of the 500 building took place over the summer months. The new north student parking lot is progressing well. Once this parking lot is complete in October, the new softball and baseball fields will be installed. Theses areas will be completed for the start of the softball and baseball season in February. The estimated cost to rebuild Saguaro is $47 million. DL Withers is the contractor and DLR Group is the architectural firm for the project.
• At Coronado, additional work is being done on the football and track areas. The lighting system at the football field will be replaced with new light poles located near the bleachers. The track will be renovated and upgraded to an eight lane track. The dedication is scheduled at 6 p.m. on October 15th.

During this construction process, the administrations at all sites are successfully balancing construction to accommodate academic and athletic needs at the schools with minimal disruption to the education process.

These projects were made possible thanks to voters who approved a $217 million bond in November 2004 to modernize Arcadia, Chaparral, Coronado and Saguaro high schools, make improvements to Desert Mountain High School, begin Phase II construction at Sierra Vista Academy and purchase land and buses. At this time, all projects are on time and on budget. The result will be outstanding centers of learning, arts and athletics for our children.

Please visit the Facility Utilization Information and Updates Web page for copies of the presentations that were given at the meeting on September 16th. As always, the Meeting Agenda, Spotlights, Board Briefs and other documents can also be found on the Governing Board Web page.

The September 24, 2008 Governing Board Meeting, was recorded. Click here to view.
NOTE: If you are within the SUSD network, use this link.

The video recording of the September 16th Board meeting is now posted at http://www.susd.org/district/facilities/utilization.cfm
Thank you for your patience.

The consolidation of Aztec and Zuni is being considered due to low student enrollment and to allow for better utilization of school facilities. The consolidation will allow for financial savings in current overhead and administrative costs. The enclosed map identifies the current and proposed boundaries.

The relocation of Cheyenne to the Aztec campus is being considered for better utilization of school facilities. The proposal will allow for future savings in construction bonds.

The Scottsdale Governing Board will consider the above recommendation at a public meeting at the following location and time:

October 30, 6:00 PM
Desert Mountain High School, Auditorium
12575 E. Via Linda
Scottsdale, AZ 85259

Read more...

Do you know an outstanding teacher in the Scottsdale Unified School District? Would you like that teacher to be recognized in the newspaper? The Scottsdale Republic runs a weekly feature highlighting a different SUSD teacher each week. To nominate a teacher for this feature, simply fill out the online Teacher Nomination Form.

*Please note that a high resolution photo must be submitted to be considered for publication.

To view Cherokee teacher Pam Hornbeck's nomination that ran in the Scottsdale Republic, please visit: http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/citizen/articles/2008/09/23/20080923sr-teacher0924hornbeck.html

Education Center  •  3811 N. 44th St.  •  Phoenix, AZ 85018  •  Phone: 480-484-6100  •  Fax: 480-484-6287