In The News

(Chaparral courtesy photo)

The Chaparral girls missed the cut at the High School Golf National Invitational held July 11-13 at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina but the Firebirds bounced back to win the National Sandhills Shootout, the newly formed mini-tournament featuring the remaining 12 teams in the field.

Chaparral beat Ohio by four strokes to win the tournament. Yuer Li shot a 3-over-par 73, Mila Hu shot 78, as did Phoebe Brethower. Sonia Hu shot 85 and Lillian Broderick shot 91. Li tied for fourth place, four shots off the pace.

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At Scottsdale Unified School District in Arizona, helping students think critically is embedded in the district’s mission to inspire, motivate, and empower all learners. For physics and astrophysics teacher Steve Millam at Chaparral High School that mission takes place in the science lab, through hands-on investigations where students question, analyze, and interpret scientific data.

“Students will often accept what an authority says, but I don’t want them believing something just
because I said it. I want them believing what the evidence shows,” Millam explained. “Students often
find that their former ideas were wrong and I believe ‘surprise is a great teacher!’”

That kind of critical thinking—the ability to evaluate evidence, ask hard questions, and solve real-world problems—is exactly what prepares students for success in college, careers, and beyond.

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To borrow from Cole Porter, three local schools are “a melody from a symphony by Strauss.”

Not to mention “a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeare sonnet.”

Yes, these three schools are the tops.

On Feb. 18, the Arizona Educational Foundation announced 48 Arizona public schools have qualified for the prestigious A+ School of Excellence Award. 

This is the highest state-level recognition given to a public school.

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As the fall season winds down, high school sports programs are celebrating milestones, record-setting performances, and some of the most competitive campaigns in recent history. From undefeated football streaks to postseason breakthroughs, athletes from Arcadia High...

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Chaparral High School hosted the 2025 Future Ready Conference, an event presented by the Scottsdale Unified School District Career and Technical Education department in partnership with Scottsdale Rotary.

The full-day program brought together more than 480 CTE students to explore careers, develop professional skills and connect with industry leaders, according to a press release.

Students participated in workshops covering academic and workplace pathways, including:

Professional skills: Networking, personal branding, dress for success and tie-tying instruction

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Scottsdale City Council has unanimously adopted a major update to the city’s smoking ordinance, expanding protections against secondhand smoke and vapor in public spaces.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Getting caught with a vape pen in certain places in Scottsdale could now bring hundreds of dollars in fines.

City officials expanded Scottsdale’s smoking ordinance to include e-cigarettes. The idea came from a local teenager who collected signatures for the city council.

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School is in – and state grades are out, as well as a complex points system.

Scottsdale Unified School District celebrated an “A” grade, highlighted by nearly two dozen schools that aced their report cards.

“We are incredibly proud of our students, teachers, and staff for their hard work and dedication,” SUSD Superintendent Scott Menzel said. “Earning an ‘A’ rating once again reflects the strength of our academic programs and the deep partnership we share with our families and community.”

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Chaparral High School Theatre students will perform the musical ‘Ride the Cyclone’ later this year.

The show will run from Dec. 4-6 at 7 p.m. in the Chaparral Auditorium, according to a press release.

“Set in the quirky and mysterious town of Uranium City, “Ride the Cyclone” follows six members of the Saint Cassian High School Chamber Choir who meet an unexpected fate on a roller coaster. Guided by a fortune-telling machine...

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Scottsdale Unified School District will host its second annual Education Expo from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Saguaro High School, 6250 N. 82nd St. in Scottsdale. The event invites families to explore the district’s schools, programs and services.

Representatives from every SUSD school will be available to share information and answer questions for families considering educational options. Arizona’s open enrollment policy allows families to explore schools beyond their neighborhood boundaries to find the best fit for their student’s needs and interests.

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The Math and Science Academy (MSA) at Mohave Middle School is officially open. Following last year’s announcement by the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) of the program’s expansion from the MSA at Saguaro High School, the new academy at Mohave is now accepting students and is set to become a hub for academic excellence, innovation and opportunity.

To celebrate this milestone, Mohave Middle School will host an Open House this month to give current and prospective families an inside look at what the academy has to offer and why it's the right choice for students seeking a rigorous and future-focused education.

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The Scottsdale Unified School District has announced that Yavapai Elementary School has been recognized as a Blue Zones Project approved school, joining several other district campuses in earning the designation. 

The recognition reflects the district’s continued focus on student health and wellness, according to a press release.

The Blue Zones Project is based on research by National Geographic fellow and New York Times best-selling author Dan Buettner, who studied communities around the world where people live longer, healthier lives.

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Scottsdale Unified School District is opening its doors to future families with a series of kindergarten roundups and a districtwide expo, offering parents and students a firsthand look at classrooms, programs and community culture.

Dr. Christine Bonow, assistant superintendent of elementary and K-8 schools, said the events are designed to give families the tools they need to make informed choices about their child’s education.

“SUSD is proud to offer full day kindergarten at each of our elementary and K-8 schools,” Bonow said. “Kindergarten round ups are wonderful events offered three times per school year that provide prospective parents and children an opportunity to tour the school, meet with school administrators and see kindergarten classrooms in action.”

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SCOTTSDALE – Coronado High School’s new Fire Science Academy is a partnership with the Scottsdale Fire Department and the East Valley Institute of Technology that is preparing high schoolers to fight fires right on campus.

The program started this 2025-26 school year by walking students through the basic skills that could push them ahead in the fire academy after graduation.

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