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Schools
McDowell Mountain Ranch is unique in that Scottsdale Unified School District planned an educational complex, housing both elementary and middle schools on the same campus. This campus is located in the community of McDowell Mountain Ranch at the corner of Thompson’s Peak Parkway and McDowell Mountain Ranch Road. The High School for McDowell Mountain Ranch is Desert Mountain, located off of 128th street and Via Linda.
These schools are all excellent schools with Excelling scores from the state of Arizona. Parents and teachers are very involved with the education and learning experiences of the children. There are many events, musicals and Fun fundraisers that are very successful for the children, creating a community and assisting in funding the education opportunities.
Desert Canyon Elementary School
- Grades: Kindergarten through 5th grade
- Enrollment: Approximately 500 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
- Mascot: Coyotes
- School colors: Blue and silver
- Part of the Scottsdale Unified School District
The school’s mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment where students can learn and grow academically, socially, and emotionally. The school offers a variety of programs and services to support student learning, including a gifted program, special education services, English Language Learner support, and an after-school enrichment program.
In terms of academic achievement, Desert Canyon Elementary School has consistently performed above the state average on standardized tests. In the 2020-2021 school year, 74% of students met or exceeded grade level standards in English Language Arts, and 66% of students met or exceeded grade level standards in Math.
Desert Canyon Elementary School is part of the Scottsdale Unified School District. The district serves approximately 22,000 students across 30 schools in the Scottsdale area.
10203 E McDowell Mountain Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(480) 484-1700
https://www.susd.org/desertcanyon
Desert Canyon Middle School Grades: 6th through 8th grade
- Enrollment: Approximately 850 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
- Mascot: Rattlers
- School colors: Red and black
The school’s mission is to provide a challenging and supportive learning environment that promotes intellectual growth, personal responsibility, and respect for self and others. The school offers a variety of programs and services to support student learning, including honors classes, a gifted program, special education services, and a variety of elective courses.
In terms of academic achievement, Desert Canyon Middle School has consistently performed above the state average on standardized tests. In the 2019-2020 school year, 73% of students met or exceeded grade level standards in English Language Arts, and 60% of students met or exceeded grade level standards in Math.
Desert Canyon Middle School is part of the Scottsdale Unified School District. The district serves approximately 22,000 students across 30 schools in the Scottsdale area.
10203 E McDowell Mountain Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(480) 484-4600
https://www.susd.org/Domain/18
Notre Dame Preparatory High School
- Grades: 9th through 12th grade
- Enrollment: Approximately 1,200 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- Mascot: Saints
- School colors: Blue and white
Notre Dame Preparatory High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school’s mission is to provide a college preparatory education in the Catholic tradition that fosters intellectual, spiritual, and moral development. The school offers a rigorous academic curriculum that includes Advanced Placement courses, honors courses, and a variety of elective courses in the arts, sciences, and humanities.
In addition to its academic program, Notre Dame Preparatory High School offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including athletics, clubs, and service organizations. The school has won multiple state championships in a variety of sports, including football, basketball, and volleyball.
Notre Dame Preparatory High School is accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). The school is also affiliated with the Society of Mary, a Catholic religious order.
9701 E. Bell Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480) 634-8200
Basis Scottsdale Primary
- Grades: Kindergarten through 4th grade
- Enrollment: Approximately 550 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
- Curriculum: The school offers a rigorous curriculum that focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, as well as humanities, fine arts, and physical education.
- School hours: The school operates on a full-day schedule, Monday through Friday.
- Extracurricular activities: The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including robotics, chess club, science club, and music club.
Basis Scottsdale Primary is part of the Basis Charter Schools network, which operates several charter schools across the United States. The school is known for its rigorous academic program, which emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. The school’s STEM-focused curriculum is designed to prepare students for success in high school and beyond.
In terms of academic achievement, Basis Scottsdale Primary has consistently ranked highly in national and state rankings. In 2020, the school was ranked as the #1 Best Public Elementary School in Arizona by Niche.com, a website that ranks schools based on a variety of factors, including academic performance and student feedback.
Basis Scottsdale Primary is accredited by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools and is a member of the National Charter School Association.
10455 E Pinnacle Peak Pkwy
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(480) 289-2088.
https://www.basised.com/scottsdale-primary/
Basis Scottsdale
- Grades: 5th through 12th grade
- Enrollment: Approximately 1,200 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
- Curriculum: The school offers a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum that emphasizes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, as well as humanities, fine arts, and physical education.
- School hours: The school operates on a full-day schedule, Monday through Friday.
- Extracurricular activities: The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including robotics, debate, Model UN, music, and sports.
Basis Scottsdale is part of the Basis Charter Schools network, which operates several charter schools across the United States. The school is known for its rigorous academic program, which has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report and other organizations. In 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked Basis Scottsdale as the #2 Best High School in Arizona, #4 Charter School in the United States, and #7 High Schools in the United States.
The school’s curriculum is designed to prepare students for success in college and beyond. Students are required to take a minimum of six Advanced Placement courses in high school, and many students take even more. The school also offers a variety of elective courses, including languages, arts, and social sciences.
Basis Scottsdale is accredited by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools and is a member of the National Charter School Association. The school has a selective admissions process and may have a waiting list for enrollment.
11440 N. 136th St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
Phone number: (480) 451-7500
https://www.basised.com/scottsdale/
Scottsdale Ranch Park Preschool
- Age range: 2 years old through pre-kindergarten
- Enrollment: Approximately 100 students
- Student-teacher ratio: Varies by age group, with a maximum of 8:1 for the youngest children
- Curriculum: The preschool offers a play-based curriculum that focuses on social, emotional, and cognitive development, as well as early literacy and math skills.
- School hours: The preschool operates on a half-day schedule, Monday through Friday, with morning and afternoon sessions available.
- Extracurricular activities: The preschool offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including dance, soccer, and music classes.
Scottsdale Ranch Park Preschool is known for its nurturing, child-centered approach to early childhood education. The preschool’s play-based curriculum is designed to foster creativity, imagination, and a love of learning in young children. The preschool’s staff consists of experienced, qualified teachers who are passionate about working with young children.
In addition to its academic program, Scottsdale Ranch Park Preschool offers a variety of enrichment activities to enhance children’s learning and development. The preschool has a spacious outdoor play area with a playground, garden, and sand and water play areas.
Scottsdale Ranch Park Preschool is located within Scottsdale Ranch Park, which provides additional opportunities for outdoor play and exploration. The preschool is licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services and is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
10455 E. Via Linda
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
(480) 312-7771
https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/scottsdale-ranch-park-preschool
Scottsdale Preparatory Academy
- Grades: 6th through 12th grade
- Enrollment: Approximately 900 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
- Curriculum: The school offers a classical liberal arts curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, analysis, and communication skills, as well as STEM education, fine arts, and physical education.
- School hours: The school operates on a full-day schedule, Monday through Friday.
- Extracurricular activities: The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including Model UN, robotics, music, theater, and sports.
Scottsdale Preparatory Academy is part of the Great Hearts Academies network, which operates several charter schools across the United States. The school is known for its rigorous academic program, which is based on the classical model of education. The school’s curriculum is designed to prepare students for success in college and beyond, with a focus on developing the whole person.
Students at Scottsdale Preparatory Academy are required to take a wide range of courses in literature, history, math, science, foreign language, and the arts. The school also emphasizes character development, with a focus on the virtues of truth, goodness, and beauty. Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities and community service projects.
Scottsdale Preparatory Academy is accredited by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools and is a member of the National Charter School Association. The school has a selective admissions process and may have a waiting list for enrollment.
16537 N. 92nd Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480) 776-1970
https://scottsdaleprep.greatheartsamerica.org/
Desert Mountain High School
- Grades: 9th through 12th grade
- Enrollment: Approximately 2,400 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
- Curriculum: The school offers a wide range of courses in core academic subjects, as well as electives in areas such as fine arts, foreign languages, and career and technical education.
- School hours: The school operates on a full-day schedule, Monday through Friday.
- Extracurricular activities: The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including athletics, performing arts, academic clubs, and service clubs.
Desert Mountain High School is known for its strong academic program and competitive athletic teams. The school’s curriculum is designed to prepare students for college and careers, with a focus on critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills. Students are encouraged to take rigorous courses and to participate in extracurricular activities that align with their interests and goals.
In addition to its academic program, Desert Mountain High School offers a variety of extracurricular activities to enhance students’ learning and development. The school has a strong athletic program, with teams in sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, and swimming. The school also has a robust performing arts program, with opportunities for students to participate in theater productions, choir, band, and orchestra.
Desert Mountain High School is accredited by the Arizona State Board of Education and is a member of the National Honor Society. The school has a diverse student body and a supportive community of parents and educators.
12575 E. Via Linda
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
(480) 484-7000
Website: https://www.susd.org/dmhs/
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