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SUSD Families Share Their Reasons, Experiences
SUSD families choose their specific schools for a variety of reasons. Some families gravitate toward the rigorous academics and numerous unique program offerings like IB, STEM, gifted, dual language immersion, CTE, AP and Honors. Others choose schools for their stand out athletics and arts programs. And, many families choose their schools for the community, parent involvement and neighborhood feel.
The students of Arcadia are always looking for ways to give back to their community. Some – the members of the National Honor Society, to be more specific – actively volunteer on and off campus to help those in need.
“NHS allows for its members to be more hands-on and connected to their surrounding communities,” NHS President Siddha Lennox said. “With the effort the club puts into bettering the community, the community feels appreciated and gives back in return, creating a more positive environment and culture.”
- Arcadia-Story
At Hopi Elementary School, Library Resource Specialist Traci Fish discovered a way to bridge the gap between her elementary students and the middle school they’ll soon attend through a creative art project.
Fish challenged Hopi students to design tissue boxes based on characters from their favorite books. It gave them a chance to work on their art skills and create an item that could be helpful for other students.
“I saw the idea on a librarian’s social media page and thought it would be fun to try,” Fish said. “The librarian had been doing it for years, and almost every student in her school participated. It had become a tradition within the school.”
- Hopi-Story
- Yavapai-Story
The Arizona School Administrators (ASA) organization has named Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel Arizona’s 2024-2025 Superintendent of the Year.
As such he is now a candidate for the ASA’s national organization, the AASA’s, contest for National Superintendent of the Year, according to a press release from the Scottsdale Unified School District.
The ASA is a nonprofit organization formed in 1971 and represents more than 1,500 school administrators across Arizona. The School Superintendents Association, known as AASA, is the organization of school system leaders that serves as the national voice for public education and school district leadership in Washington, D.C.
“Without a doubt, Dr. Menzel works tirelessly to the betterment of our school district and community,” Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board President Dr. Libby Hart-Wells said in the release. “This award is yet another testament to his leadership and dedication to quality education for all. On behalf of the Governing Board, we sincerely congratulate Dr. Menzel on this well-earned and well-deserved honor.”
Lea Mitchell SUSD Lea Mitchell, assistant superintendent of Educational Services “It’s the first time we’re putting all 30 of our schools, district departments, family and community services in one place so that all of our Scottsdale families and families across the Valley can really see everything that’s going on here,” Lea Mitchell, assistant superintendent of Educational Services, said.
In an exciting initiative that bridges the Atlantic, Arcadia High School joined forces with Lënster Lycée International School in Luxembourg to embark on a student exchange program that began with a musical flourish in 2023. This exchange, helmed by music teachers Louise Hottias and Richard Maxwell, brought students closer through the universal language of music and set the stage for a more profound cultural exchange.
Thanks to a social media message – and the power of the internet – Arcadia High’s Contemporary Music and Sound Class has been playing music with students from Lënster Lycée International School through virtual music sessions.
- Arcadia-Story
The students of Arcadia are all about working hard – but they don’t forget to play hard, too. Senior Ava Bramini has brought together the school’s most exuberant students through a brand new organization: Bingo Club.
- Arcadia-Story
Titan Times founder Ahva Ghazanfari was a junior at Arcadia High when one of her dreams became a reality. Now a year older, she has written many stories and expanded her dream of a school paper to one the whole Arcadia community reads in each month of the Arcadia News. The column shares stories that may not have otherwise been told while also providing high school students experience in the journalism industry.
“I think that more kids in high school should get out and start exploring what they like to do outside the classroom,” co-editor and writer Maya Campbell said. “Some kids like to write but essay writing is not for them, so I think that opportunities like this are a really good way to get involved.”
- Arcadia-Story
Numbers show the Scottsdale Unified School District is emerging as a leader in the academic recovery following the ill-effects of precautions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic where schools across the nation were forced to closed.
Across Arizona, performance by third- through eighth-grade students on the 2024 Arizona Academic Standards Assessments indicates continuing challenges for many school districts, Scottsdale Schools officials tell the Digital Free Press.
Families across the Valley of the Sun continue to choose Scottsdale Unified School District as local school officials say parents are choosing the local public school district for its strong academics, unique programs, and sense of community.
“SUSD felt like coming home,” said Navajo Elementary and Mohave Middle School parent Jenny Duran. “The long tenure of teachers and their support for gifted learners sets the district apart.”
- District-News
Scottsdale Unified School District’s (SUSD) Anasazi Elementary School is not only the starting point for the district’s globally recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme continuum, it is also home to the Arizona IB Association’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) 2024 Teacher of the Year, Angie Griffith.
Griffith, who teaches fifth grade at Anasazi, was nominated for the award by her teacher colleagues last spring. At an August staff meeting, she was surprised with news that she had been selected for the honor. She was officially recognized at the Arizona IB Schools’ quarterly meeting in September.
- Anasazi-Story
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Lucas Taylor is Mohave Middle School's newest Student Class President! The Scottsdale student's election by his peers is a significant and historic achievement, making him the district's first special needs student to win the election through a popular vote.
Just five years ago, Taylor was working on regulating his emotions and learning social skills, and, with the help of a supportive community, he is the first autistic student at his school to be named class president. He has also been able to transition from special-needs classes to full-time general education.
- mohave-story
Located in DC Ranch in the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD), Copper Ridge offers students the opportunity to stay at the same school starting at Pre-K until they graduate from middle school.
With students able to start at just 4 years old, the culture and community at Copper Ridge has grown since it first opened in 2001.
- Copper-Ridge-Story
Arcadia High School Theater has been working tirelessly for the past two months to put on its annual fall production. This semester’s play is the spy comedy Get Smart, which focuses on main character Max Smart, a top secret agent trying to save a princess from the evil organization Chaos. It’s set in the 1970s. Student actor Sarah Salt describes the play as “really fun because there are a lot of different roles [one can] play within the story.”
What really makes the play great this year is all the people involved. All the actors are working tirelessly at rehearsals in order to make the production extra special this time around. Arcadia technicians are also working around the clock in order to bring the 70s to modern society in a realistic and over-the-top manner.
Student director Lauren Guana said that the play is unique and interesting.
“The resurgence of such an old story makes this play really fun for young kids who’ll enjoy the spies, teens who will enjoy the humor, and adults who will like the call back to an old TV show,” she said.
According to Lauren, the play is a great one to bring the entire family to due to its multiple appeals. Opening night is October 17 at 7 p.m. in the Arcadia High School auditorium. There will be subsequent shows on the 18th and 19th. Arcadia Theater has been working overtime in order to get this play to theater-goers, and they hope everyone loves it just as much as they do!
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- Arcadia-Story
Arcadia’s dive team captains, seniors Avery Bowling and Mallory Yates, are throwing themselves into the deep end by juggling classes and practice – but they know how to take care of business. The two captains are seasoned divers who have been on the team all four years, love the sport, and are ready to conquer their final season at Arcadia.
- Arcadia-Story
The Scottsdale Charros are pleased to announce the date of the 71st Annual Scottsdale Parada Del Sol Historic Parade and Trail’s End Festival. This community event, which takes place throughout Old Town Scottsdale, will kick off with the parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. The popular Trail’s End Festival, an extravaganza of Western-themed fun for the whole family, runs from noon to 4 p.m.
The Scottsdale Parada Del Sol Historic Parade follows a route from Drinkwater Blvd. along Scottsdale Rd. and culminates at Brown Ave. and Indian School Rd. Following the parade, Scottsdale’s Old Town Historic District is transformed into a massive Western-style street party for the Trail’s End Festival.
Women make up about 34% of the STEM workforce, according to the American Association of University Women. That’s a number that students who are a part of Saguaro High School’s Sisters in STEM are trying to change.
Fiona Riley is a junior at the school and one of the presidents of the student-run organization. She said they run a number of events in the district and greater community to try to make science more accessible to everyone.
Coronado High School is excited to announce the launch of the Coronado Fire Science Academy on its campus, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
This innovative program is a collaborative effort between the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD), the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), the Scottsdale Fire Department, and the Scottsdale Charros. It is designed to provide students with hands-on experience and training in fire science and emergency medical services.
Scottsdale Unified School District is hosting its third annual College & Career Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at The Field House at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road.
At the fair, SUSD high school students and their families will have the opportunity to meet representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities from around the country, as well as local community colleges and technical schools, according to a press release.
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