About Our District

With 20,000 students across 29 physical campuses and one online high school, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) has been a premier choice for Pre-K through grade 12 public education for more than 128 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 to develop the potential in every individual learner. SUSD employs 3,000 people including about 1,500 teachers.

SUSD's schools consist of 15 elementary, 3 K-8, 6 middle, and 5 high schools including an online high school. 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. 

The district celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2021. Its boundaries include most, but not all, of the city of Scottsdale, almost all of the town of Paradise Valley, a section of the city of Phoenix and a section of the city of Tempe.

Vision

Engaging all students in world-class, future-focused learning

Mission

We inspire, motivate, and empower all to think critically, act collaboratively, and embrace diversity for a life of intellectual exploration, community engagement, and personal growth.

Values

Excellence:  We nurture a growth-minded culture of high expectations, creativity, persistence, and self-discipline.

Integrity:  We demonstrate honesty, transparency, and reliability through our words and actions.

Empathy:  We welcome all with kindness, love, compassion, and joy.

Trust:  We earn the confidence of stakeholders through accountability, openness, and authenticity.

Inclusion:  We create an equitable environment where everyone is respected, is treated with dignity, and has a sense of belonging.

Unity:  We connect across communities to advance educational opportunities for all.

Vision - Mission - Values

• Advanced Placement (AP) classes:  American/Arizona Government, American/Arizona History, Art History, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, English, Environmental Science, French, Japanese, Literature/Composition, Macroeconomics, Mandarin Chinese, Psychology, Spanish, Statistics, Studio Art, World History
   
• Career & Technical Education (CTE):  Biotechnology, Creative Musical Arts & Sciences, Culinary Arts, Engineering Design, Digital Communication, Film & TV, Graphic Design/Advertising Art, Information Technology, Marketing & Business, Nursing, Software Xevelopment, Sports Medicine, Technical Theatre,  Theatre
   
• Gifted Cluster Pre-K:  District-wide program housed at Kiva, Redfield and Tavan Elementary schools
   
• Honors classes:  Algebra, Astrophysics, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Earth & Space Science, English, Fashion/Textiles, French, Geometry/Trigonometry, Human Physiology/Anatomy, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Photography/Digital Media, Physics, Russian, Sculpture/3D Design, Spanish, Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus
   
• International Baccalaureate:  District-wide Diploma program housed at Desert Mountain High School since 1999; Mountainside Middle School and Desert Mountain High School became IB Middle Years program schools in 2020; Anasazi Elementary School is a Candidate School for the IB Primary Years program
   
• K-12 STEM and STEAM learning opportunities, including elementary, middle and high school robotics
   
• Math and Science Academy:  District-wide program housed at Saguaro High School that prepares students for success in the STEM field at the post-secondary level
   
• World Language offerings, including Spanish Immersion in Pre-K and Mandarin Immersion in Kindergarten

The Scottsdale Unified School District was founded in 1896 by Major Winfield Scott, also the founder of the city of Scottsdale. The first classes were taught by Aliza Bount, who, for health reasons, moved to Arizona from Illinois with her husband George and their three children. Classes were held in their adobe home, which was just south of what is now Civic Center Plaza and Second Street. Aliza Bount was paid $40 a month to teach the eight to 10 students from the seven families who resided in Scottsdale at that time.

The District's first bond election was held May 1, 1909, with 13 citizens voting "yes" and zero citizens voting "no." The amount of the bond, $5,000, was used to build our first school, now known as the "Little Red Schoolhouse." This building, also known at the time as Coronado School, is a historic site on Scottsdale Mall and now the home of the Scottsdale Historical Society.