Peoria Unified School District
Encyclopedia
Peoria Unified School District #11 provides primary
and secondary
education
for most of Peoria, Arizona
, parts of Glendale
and Youngtown
, Arizona, and a small portion of Surprise, Arizona
, and northwestern Maricopa County. With 39 schools, it is the third largest school district in Arizona.
The following year the district opened with a class size of three students. Maricopa County was considering merging Peoria District #11 with Washington Elementary School District
#6. According to William Bartlett: One day early in July, Mr. Mann, stopped a covered wagon along Grand Avenue; the wagon had several children inside. Mann discovered that the driver had 9 children and was heading to Phoenix or anywhere else that would provide employment, and told the driver "You have got a job right here". Eight of the Bills children enrolled in Peoria School and District 11 survived.
In 1905, the first building was destroyed by fire; a bond election to build a new school passed by only one vote. A controversy arose about how many rooms the new school should have; many residents claimed that Peoria would never need more than two rooms in a school. A $3,200 two-room school was finally built on 83rd Avenue and Madison Street.
in Glendale and Peoria.
In January 2005, the Marshall Ranch Jazz Band, under the direction of Jill Mahoney, was selected to perform along with Joey Sellers
at the International Association for Jazz Education in Long Beach, California.
In May 2007, the PUSD Governing Board voted to completely close all high school campuses during lunch by taking away parental choice. A number of other metro Phoenix districts have made similar changes recently.
The PUSD Governing Board instituted a closed campus for the 2006–2007 school year. Despite a walkout, continuing rancor and conflict at the board meetings, and a petition signed by over 2600 parents and students, the governing board has stood firm on this, and students are now required to stay on campus throughout lunch time. Despite the new policy appearing to be a reversal of a policy approved in the 2005-2006 year, which allowed juniors and seniors with C averages to leave with parental permission forms signed, district spokesman Jim Cummings said the new rules do not alter past policy. The closed campus policy has remained in high schools throughout the district in the 2007-2008 year, and is scheduled to continue.
In March 2009, Peoria's Superintendent announced that up to 900 teachers may lose their positions in the district. This will most likely only affect those teachers who have only taught in the district for less than two years. In addition, teachers that are eligible for retirement or those who have retired already and are working under contract may be next on the chopping block. "We are preparing for the worst, but hoping for the very best," said Dr. Denton Santarelli, the Peoria Unified School District superintendent.
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
for most of Peoria, Arizona
Peoria, Arizona
Peoria is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in the U.S. state of Arizona. Located primarily in Maricopa County, it is a major suburb of Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau releases, the population of the city is 154,065. Peoria is currently the sixth largest city in Arizona for land...
, parts of Glendale
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
and Youngtown
Youngtown, Arizona
Youngtown is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to 2008 Census Bureau and Arizona Department of Commerce estimates, the population of the town is 6,522.Youngtown is the nation's oldest retirement community...
, Arizona, and a small portion of Surprise, Arizona
Surprise, Arizona
Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. The population was 30,848 at the 2000 census; however, rapid growth has boosted the city's population to 117,517 at the 2010 census, an increase of 281%...
, and northwestern Maricopa County. With 39 schools, it is the third largest school district in Arizona.
Early history
Peoria Unified School District #11 began in 1888, covering 49 square miles (127 km²). During the first school year, the class size fluctuated from 5 to 15 students.The following year the district opened with a class size of three students. Maricopa County was considering merging Peoria District #11 with Washington Elementary School District
Washington Elementary School District
The Washington Elementary School District provides education for more than 25,300 students in the north central Phoenix and east Glendale areas of Arizona...
#6. According to William Bartlett: One day early in July, Mr. Mann, stopped a covered wagon along Grand Avenue; the wagon had several children inside. Mann discovered that the driver had 9 children and was heading to Phoenix or anywhere else that would provide employment, and told the driver "You have got a job right here". Eight of the Bills children enrolled in Peoria School and District 11 survived.
In 1905, the first building was destroyed by fire; a bond election to build a new school passed by only one vote. A controversy arose about how many rooms the new school should have; many residents claimed that Peoria would never need more than two rooms in a school. A $3,200 two-room school was finally built on 83rd Avenue and Madison Street.
Recent history
Today, Peoria Unified School District contains 31 elementary schools, 7 high schools, an online school and a transitional high school. There are about 37,000 students in the district. Over the past twenty years, the district has built at least one school per year because of rapid growthUrban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
in Glendale and Peoria.
In January 2005, the Marshall Ranch Jazz Band, under the direction of Jill Mahoney, was selected to perform along with Joey Sellers
Joey Sellers
Joey Sellers is an American composer, arranger, and trombonist.-Background:Sellers grew up in Arizona and graduated from Arizona State University. He freelanced for years in New York City and Los Angeles and was Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University...
at the International Association for Jazz Education in Long Beach, California.
In May 2007, the PUSD Governing Board voted to completely close all high school campuses during lunch by taking away parental choice. A number of other metro Phoenix districts have made similar changes recently.
The PUSD Governing Board instituted a closed campus for the 2006–2007 school year. Despite a walkout, continuing rancor and conflict at the board meetings, and a petition signed by over 2600 parents and students, the governing board has stood firm on this, and students are now required to stay on campus throughout lunch time. Despite the new policy appearing to be a reversal of a policy approved in the 2005-2006 year, which allowed juniors and seniors with C averages to leave with parental permission forms signed, district spokesman Jim Cummings said the new rules do not alter past policy. The closed campus policy has remained in high schools throughout the district in the 2007-2008 year, and is scheduled to continue.
In March 2009, Peoria's Superintendent announced that up to 900 teachers may lose their positions in the district. This will most likely only affect those teachers who have only taught in the district for less than two years. In addition, teachers that are eligible for retirement or those who have retired already and are working under contract may be next on the chopping block. "We are preparing for the worst, but hoping for the very best," said Dr. Denton Santarelli, the Peoria Unified School District superintendent.
List of high schools
- Cactus High SchoolCactus High SchoolCactus High School is a public secondary school located in Glendale, Arizona, United States. The high school is currently a part of the Peoria Unified School District. The school opened its doors in August 1977, since which it has maintained an Excelling academic status...
-- Cactus High School Website - Centennial High School -- High School Website
- Ironwood High SchoolIronwood High SchoolIronwood High School is a public secondary school located in Glendale, Arizona, United States. The high school is currently a part of the Peoria Unified School District. The school opened its doors in August 1986, since which it has maintained an Excelling academic status...
-- Ironwood High School Website - Liberty High SchoolLiberty High School (Peoria, Arizona)Liberty High School is a public secondary school located in Peoria, Arizona, United States. The high school is currently a part of the Peoria Unified School District. The school opened its doors in August 2006 due to overcrowding at Sunrise Mountain High School and rapid population growth in...
-- Liberty High School Website - Peoria High SchoolPeoria High School (Arizona)Peoria High School is a public secondary school located in Peoria, Arizona, United States. The high school is currently a part of the Peoria Unified School District. The school opened its doors in August 1919, since which it has maintained an Excelling academic status...
-- Peoria High School Website - Raymond S. Kellis High SchoolRaymond S. Kellis High SchoolRaymond S. Kellis High School is a public secondary school located in Glendale, Arizona, United States. The high school is currently a part of the Peoria Unified School District. The school opened its doors in August 2004 due to overcrowding at Peoria High School and rapid population growth in the...
-- Raymond S. Kellis High School Website - Sunrise Mountain High SchoolSunrise Mountain High SchoolSunrise Mountain High School is a public secondary school located in Peoria, Arizona, United States. The high school is currently a part of the Peoria Unified School District. The school opened its doors in August 1996, since which it has maintained an Excelling academic status...
-- Sunrise Mountain High School Website
List of elementary schools
- Alta Loma
- Apache
- Canyon
- Cheyenne
- Copperwood
- Cotton Boll
- Country Meadows
- Coyote Hills
- Desert Harbor
- Desert Palms
- Desert Valley
- Foothills
- Frontier
- Heritage
- Ira Murphy
- Kachina
- Lake Pleasant
- Marshall Ranch
- Oakwood
- Oasis
- Parkridge
- Paseo Verde
- Peoria
- Pioneer
- Sahuaro Ranch
- Santa Fe
- Sky View
- Sun Valley
- Sundance
- Vistancia
- Zuni Hills
Other schools and assets
- Peoria Transition Center Website - Transition Center For Students With Disciplinarian Issues
- KNOW - Cable channel ran by the district in the cities of Glendale and Peoria. It displays classes, interviews, board meetings, and children's programming. KNOW 99's Website