SUSD Turns 130: A Legacy of Learning, A Future of Possibility 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The first day of school brought a familiar feeling to Scottsdale Unified School District — students filling hallways, teachers welcoming new classes and families beginning another school year together. 

However, this year, the first day carries a little more significance. 

On Monday, August 10, SUSD officially began its 130th school year, marking a milestone that traces the district’s story from a single schoolhouse in 1896 to a district serving students across 27 schools today. 

The theme for the historic year is “A Legacy of Learning,” a reflection of both where SUSD has been and where it is going. 

For 130 years, generations of students, educators, families and community members have helped shape the district. Today, that legacy is serving as a foundation for new opportunities designed to prepare students for an ever-changing future. 

That future includes an ambitious new focus on mathematics. Through its Math Powers Possibility initiative, SUSD has set a goal of increasing the percentage of eighth-grade students successfully completing Algebra I or higher from 25% to 75% by May 2030. 

The district sees Algebra I as an important gateway to advanced coursework, STEM pathways and the problem-solving skills students need beyond graduation. 

SUSD is also giving students a voice in another rapidly evolving area: artificial intelligence. 

This school year, SUSD Student AI Ambassadors will work alongside district leadership to help shape guidelines for the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence. The initiative is designed to ensure students are not simply learning how to use emerging technology but are part of the conversation about how it should be used in their schools and communities. 

The district is also expanding opportunities for students outside the traditional classroom. 

Monday marked the opening of a new, state-of-the-art Boys & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale Steve & Maria Sanghi Branch, located on the Tonalea Middle School campus. 

Serving youth from kindergarten through 12th grade, the new branch expands access to high-quality after-school and summer programming for students throughout South Scottsdale. The Club provides a safe and welcoming place where young people can build friendships, receive academic support, connect with caring mentors, explore new interests and develop skills for their future. 

The facility is designed to remove barriers to opportunity and give students access to experiences that may not otherwise be available to them. Programming includes academic support, leadership development, performing and visual arts, music, esports, sports and recreation, as well as hands-on STEAM learning. 

The new branch is one example of the many ways SUSD and its community partners are expanding opportunities for students beyond the traditional school day. That commitment continued throughout the summer as district staff worked to prepare students, classrooms and schools for the start of a new school year. 

SUSD’s commitment to students also continued through its summer meal program. The district’s Nutrition Services team served approximately 135,000 nutritious meals to local youth during the summer, helping ensure students had access to healthy meals even while school was out. Nutrition Services Director Patti Bilbrey was recognized as a Summer Hunger Hero for her leadership in the effort. 

As SUSD looks toward its next 130 years, the district is also focused on continuing to improve our school buildings and services.  

Following a unanimous 5-0 vote by the SUSD Governing Board, a $375 million special bond election will appear on the November 3, 2026, ballot. If approved by voters, the bond would provide long-term capital funding to modernize aging facilities, enhance school safety, upgrade classroom technology and replace aging school buses. 

By law, bond funds can only be used for capital infrastructure projects and cannot be used for daily operational costs or employee salaries.  

From the first Scottsdale schoolhouse in 1896 to classrooms filled with students in 2026, the story of SUSD has always been about more than buildings and school years. It is about the people who believe in the power of education and the communities that come together to give students the opportunity to succeed. 

As SUSD begins its 130th year, that legacy continues, not by simply looking back, but by using the lessons of the past to build what comes next. 

Important Dates 

• First Day of School: August 10, 2026 
• Voter Registration Deadline: October 5, 2026 
• Special Bond Election: November 3, 2026 

From 1896 to 2026, the legacy continues. 

Together, our focus is their future. 

Media Contacts:  

Kristine Harrington, (480) 404-2417, kristineharrington@susd.org;   

Cymphanie Sherman, 602-615-7325, csherman@susd.org 

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#ChooseSUSD 
With nearly 20,000 students in all schools, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) has been a premier choice for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public education for almost 130 years. Located northeast of metropolitan Phoenix, the District serves the educational needs of students and families in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Tempe, and Scottsdale. A highly experienced, professionally certified teaching staff fosters a diverse and rigorous educational environment that engages all students in world-class, future-focused learning. Offering gifted learning, special education, career and technical education, and a variety of athletics, arts and enrichment programs and clubs, SUSD provides the rich environment today’s students need to explore their interests, develop important social skills, and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, visit www.susd.org and follow along on social media: Facebook: @ScottsdaleUSD, Instagram: @ScottsdaleUnifiedSD, LinkedIn and YouTube.