Are you considering moving to Scottsdale, AZ, but want to ensure that the schools will be good for your kids before relocating? We understand that and highlight some of the best schools throughout The Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD).
In 2021, SUSD was named #5 in the state for having the best schools within their district. They are on a mission to provide top-rated education while creating a diverse and inclusive environment.
To help you find the #1 school for you and your family, consider creating a list of factors to look at before making your final decision. These can include:
- Test scores
- Classroom size
- College readiness measures
- AP participation rate
- Programs for gifted students
- Extracurricular programs
- Special programs: athletics, art, music, and STEM
- Awards such as Blue Ribbon or from the state
- School report card
Table of Contents
Best High Schools in Scottsdale
Scottsdale high schools are some of the top-rated schools throughout the entire state of Arizona. SUSD is the school district in Scottsdale and has one of the top athletics programs. Here are four of the most highly rated high schools to consider attending in Scottsdale:
Desert Mountain High School | #1 High School In The Scottsdale Unified District
- District: Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD)
- Type Of School: Public
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,750 students
- Teacher To Student Ratio: 20:1
- Address: 12575 E Vía Linda, Scottsdale, AZ 85259
- School Report Card
Since 1995, Desert Mountain High School has been a go-to public school for the community of Scottsdale. They have a wide variety of electives including: a media studio, theater, yearbook & newspaper, and an athletic program.
The students are able to choose between standard classes, honors, and Advance Placement (AP)– depending on their academic goals. And the school has accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
As the #1 school in the Scottsdale Unified School District, Desert Mountain High School offers an International Baccalaureate Program, an academic program for students throughout the world. The AP participation rate for Desert Mountain High School is 54%, and the graduation rate is 97%.
Whether you’re into athletics or are looking to join one of the many clubs on campus, there are plenty of extracurricular activities.
Chaparral High School | Highly-Rated Scottsdale High School
- District: Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD)
- Type Of School: Public
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,998
- Teacher To Student Ratio: 22:1
- Address: 6935 E Gold Dust Ave, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
- School Report Card
As the 37th-ranked school in the entire state of Arizona (#2 in Scottsdale), Chaparral High School provides excellent education and inclusion throughout its campus. 98% of their students graduate, which is well above the state average, 53% take at least one Advance Placement (AP) test, and each student leaves prepared for college.
If you’re looking to join an after-school extracurricular activity, you have plenty of clubs and sports teams to choose from. For sports, here are a few examples of the teams you can join: football, golf, swimming, volleyball, cross country, badminton, basketball, track & field, and tennis. When it comes to clubs, here are some examples: Culinary, FIDM Fashion Club, Photography, Orchestra, Pre-Med, Rescue Relief, and Song Writing.
Saguaro High School | Top Football Team In Arizona
- District: Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD)
- Type Of School: Public
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,183
- Teacher To Student Ratio: 19:1
- Address: 6250 N 82nd St, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
- School Report Card
Saguaro High School was named the #1 school for football throughout the entire state of Arizona! With 97% of the students graduating, Saguaro is Cognia STEM Certified, offers a Math & Science Academy, and is part of the Arizona Department of Education Seal of Biliteracy Program. Besides football, Saguaro provides golf, volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, baseball, track & field, tennis, and cross country.
If sports aren’t your thing, don’t worry because plenty of clubs are available. For clubs, you have everything from animation, dance, the fellowship of Christian athletes, creative writing, graphic design, cybersecurity, and ping pong.
When it comes to AP testing, 35% of the students have taken at least one exam, and 23% have passed at least of the exams they’ve taken.
Coronado High School | Talented Marching Band
- District: Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD)
- Type Of School: Public
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 703
- Teacher To Student Ratio: 16:1
- Address: 7501 E Virginia Ave, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
- School Report Card
Coronado High School in Scottsdale, AZ, has a graduation rate of 83% and is considered #5 among the top schools within SUSD. 34% of the students take at least one AP test during their high school years. If you’re interested in taking an AP course but don’t quite feel ready for the workload, there is a PreAP program through Coronado High School that allows you to get prepared and set yourself up for success.
PreAP Courses:
- English I
- English I Honors
- English 2
- English 2 Honors
- World History
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Biology
- Biology Honors
- Chemistry
- Chemistry Honors
If you’re looking to join a sports team during high school, check out these: football, volleyball, swim, cheer, band, basketball, wrestling, soccer, baseball, track, and tennis.
Another aspect that makes Coronado High School unique is its clubs since they’re not the “same old, same old” you find in most schools. You can choose between Advanced Vocal Ensemble, eSports, Key club, Nado Nation, Remote Control (RC) Car Club, and Thespian Club.
The teachers and facility staff are committed to providing one-of-a-kind education while creating a safe and nurturing environment where students feel welcomed.
Best Elementary Schools in Scottsdale
With some of the best elementary schools in Scottsdale and the state of Arizona, the city of Scottsdale provides high-quality education that helps to set your kids up for success. Here are the top four elementary schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District.
Cheyenne Traditional School | #1 Scottsdale Elementary School
- District: Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD)
- Type Of School: Public
- Grades: PK-8
- Enrollment: 859
- Teacher To Student Ratio: 18:1
- Address: 13636 N 100th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Cheyenne Traditional School is one of the top elementary schools in Arizona, ranking #5 out of the options available throughout the state. 82% of the students are at or above the standards for reading, and 81% of the students are at or above the standards for math. Some academic programs they offer are Traditional Philosophies, Saxon Math, and Spalding Language Arts.
For extracurriculars, the students can join the Kids Club (scheduled before school) or the Enrichment Zone.
They approach the school day with the mindset of utilizing the time in the classroom to the full potential while trying to reduce activities that don’t provide value to what they’re learning.
Sequoya Elementary School | A+ School Of Excellence
- District: Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD)
- Type Of School: Public
- Grades: K-5
- Enrollment: 493
- Teacher To Student Ratio: 17:1
- Address: 11808 N 64th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Scoring 98.91/100 for quality, Sequoya Elementary School is a great school and provides incredible educational opportunities. Out of their entire student body, 86% of their students are scoring at or above the proficient level for math, and 84% of their students are at or above the proficient level for reading.
What makes Sequoya Elementary School stand out is their Honors Approach. This program is for students who are gifted, and to qualify, they have to score a 97% or higher on the CogAt test or the NNAT2–allowing the students within this program to continue to get challenged and not get bored at a normal pace.
In addition to the Honors Program, you have the option of taking a foreign language of the student’s choice through their award-winning Duolingo.
Desert Canyon Elementary | Honors Diversity
- District: Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD)
- Type Of School: Public
- Grades: PK-5
- Enrollment: 398
- Teacher To Student Ratio: 13:1
- Address: 10203 E McDowell Mountain Ranch Rd A, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Desert Canyon Elementary has a wide variety of classes and programs available for the students, but the two that stand out are Mandarin DLI and the Gifted Program. The gifted program is where students who score a certain percentage on the CogAT or the NNAT2 can join an accelerated educational program. For the extracurricular programs, you have the option of the Kids Club and the Enrichment Zone.
Cochise Elementary School | Opened In 1980
- District: Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD)
- Type Of School: Public
- Grades: PK-5
- Enrollment: 554
- Teacher To Student Ratio: 15:1
- Address: 9451 N 84th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Focused on providing programs that challenge the students, Cochise Elementary School offers three main academic programs: gifted services, Spanish enrichment, and rigorous academics. You also have the Kids Club and Enrichment Zone for fun extracurricular activities.
Best Private Schools in Scottsdale
Private Schools in Scottsdale are some of the best options throughout Arizona. These schools look to provide higher education and to help students have a better chance of getting accepted into their dream university. If you’re looking to send your child to a private school in Scottsdale, AZ, here are the top four options.
Rancho Solano Preparatory School
- Grades: PK-12
- Address: 9180 East Vía de Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
- Phone: (480) 646-8200
- Tuition: Depending on the grade level, the tuition will vary. Let’s say for PK you are attending 5 full days a week, your yearly tuition is $18,000. Then for K-5th, it will be $18,975. 6th-8th your tuition is $20,750, and then 9th-12th, it will be $23,500. It’s important to note that these tuition prices do not include additional fees that vary based on grade.
As a place for high-achieving students, Rancho Solano Preparatory School works to provide high-quality education that gets uniquely tailored to each student and their individual needs.
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Thunderbird Adventist Academy
- Grades: 9-12
- Address: 7410 E Sutton Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
- Phone: (480) 948-3300
- Enrollment: 150
- Tuition: If you are a day student, then the tuition is $10,800, and if you plan to live in a dorm, the tuition will be $19,200. These prices do not include the additional fees for meals, uniforms, or textbooks.
With the option of students living in a dorm room on campus, Thunderbird Adventists Academy is a Christian private school in Scottsdale that allows students to explore the passions God has given them and goes above and beyond the “traditional” classes you would find in a high school. Their students test within the top 90% for the SAT and ACT scores throughout the entire state of Arizona.
Here are a few of the classes they offer:
- Aviation
- Computer Technology
- English
- Fine Arts
- Photography & Videography
- Religion
- Science
- Social Science
Notre Dame Preparatory High School
- Grades: 9-12
- Address: 9701 E Bell Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
- Phone: (480) 634-8200
- Enrollment: 800
- Tuition: The base tuition is $19,100, but if you can prove you are a practicing Catholic, then it will be dropped to $16,350.
Notre Dame Preparatory High School is on a mission to create a space that teaches “Reverence, Respect, and Responsibility.” Whether you’re into sports or want to try your hand at the arts (choir, dance, digital video, drama, guitar orchestra, jazz ensemble, and visual arts), there is something for everyone!
Ville De Marie Academy
- Grades: K-12th
- Address: 8524 E Thomas Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
- Phone: (480) 947-9441
- Enrollment: 197
- Tuition: For Kindergarten-8th, the tuition is $5,350 and for 9th-12th, the tuition is $6,650. If you have more than one child enrolled at the school, there is a discount.
As a school that is loyal to the Magisterium of the Church, they focus on teaching the principles of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Scottsdale Schools FAQ
Here are some of the commonly asked questions regarding schools in Scottsdale, AZ.
What are the best public schools in Scottsdale?
For High School, the top-rated options are: Desert Mountain High School, Chaparral High School, Saguaro High School, and Coronado High School.
Then for Elementary schools, the high-quality options are: Cheyenne Traditional School, Sequoya Elementary School, Desert Canyon Elementary, and Cochise Elementary School.
What are the best Scottsdale private schools?
The top-rated private schools in Scottsdale, AZ, include: Rancho Solano Preparatory School, Thunderbird Adventist Academy, Notre Dame Preparatory High School, and Ville De Marie Academy.
Are Scottsdale schools good?
Yes, schools in Scottsdale are some of the best, top-rated schools throughout the entire state of Arizona.
Are you thinking about moving to Scottsdale, AZ? We know the best neighborhoods in Scottsdale to consider living in, so click here. And when the time is right, Mentors Moving is here to help make this transition seamless. As a professional moving company, each of our crew members goes through 160+ hours of training to ensure you only receive high-quality relocation services! Call us at (480) 376-1009 for a free quote!
