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Two SUSD Schools Meet Growth Goals; Two Others Given More Time
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 20, 2019) – Two of four Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) schools put on a growth plan in October 2018 have met an initial, one-year goal of increasing their enrollments by at least 10%. Two schools with extenuating circumstances are being given more time to grow.
Last fall, the SUSD Governing Board endorsed a two-year growth plan for K-5 elementary schools Anasazi, Navajo and Yavapai, and K-8 school Echo Canyon. The schools were each tasked with increasing their enrollment by 10% by October 2019 and to more than 400 students by October 2020.
At its Nov. 19 Regular Meeting, the Board learned that Anasazi, 12121 N. 124th St., Scottsdale, and Echo Canyon, 4330 N. 62nd St., Scottsdale, have also met the final goal in half the time provided. Anasazi currently has a K-5 enrollment of 403 students and a Pre-K – 5 enrollment of 447 students; Echo Canyon has a K-8 enrollment of 400 students and a Pre-K – 8 enrollment of 418. The Governing Board accepted administrators’ recommendation to take both schools off the enrollment-monitoring list.
Echo Canyon Principal Kat Hughes says succeeding at growing her school’s enrollment over the past year has been a team effort. “We are thrilled to have the support of our Board, our district office and our community as we continue to provide SUSD students with a unique, hands-on, experiential learning environment emphasizing sustainability. We communicated to our staff and our community what we needed to accomplish, and not only have we seen our enrollment increase, but students’ test scores have improved, as well.”
Likewise, Principal Jennifer Waldron credits the Anasazi community with reaching the school’s enrollment goals ahead of schedule. “Anasazi’s strong academic history as a state “A”-rated school and our current pursuit to become a premier International Baccalaureate World School resulted in strong enrollment growth. We are celebrating that achievement, and want to thank our community, dedicated staff and SUSD for their devotion and support of Anasazi and the students we serve.”
Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Dr. Ibi Haghighat informed the Governing Board that enrollment growth at Navajo, temporarily located at 7501 E. Oak St., Scottsdale, and Yavapai, 701 N. Miller Rd., Scottsdale, has been more complex to achieve due to their special circumstances. Navajo students and staff were forced off their home campus at 4525 N. Granite Reef Rd., Scottsdale, by an Aug. 2018 fire, while Yavapai is hosting Hohokam Elementary School students and staff for the next two years while Hohokam is being renovated.
Navajo, along with Laguna Elementary, is pursuing Discovery Ed certification of its popular STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and music) curriculum. Yavapai growth will be part of a larger, future Governing Board conversation about stabilizing enrollment throughout the Coronado Learning Community.
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