Gilbert Unified School District #41 (GUSD), also known as Gilbert Public Schools (GPS), is a school district based in Gilbert, Arizona, United States in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The 60.26-square-mile (156.1 km2) district is the 7th largest in Arizona, and serves over 34,000 students at 39 schools across Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa, Arizona.

Gilbert Public Schools
Seal of GPS
Address
140 S. Gilbert Rd.
, Maricopa, Arizona, 85296
United States
Coordinates33°21′09″N 111°42′06″W / 33.3524°N 111.7018°W / 33.3524; -111.7018
District information
TypePublic
MottoTechnology. Scholarship. Innovation.
GradesPre K-12
Established1913[1]
SuperintendentDr. Shane McCord[2]
School board5 members
Chair of the boardDr. J. Charles Santa Cruz[2]
Governing agencyGilbert Public Schools Board
Schools39[3]
Budget$293,190,000 (2016-17)[3]
NCES District ID0403400[3]
Students and staff
Students34,335 (2018-2019)[3]
Teachers1,898.25 (2018-2019)[3]
Staff1,983.40 (2018-2019)[3]
Student–teacher ratio18.09 (2018-2019)[3]
Other information
Teachers' unionsArizona Education Association
Websitewww.gilbertschools.net
text
Gilbert High School was built in 1917. It now houses the Gilbert Public School District Office. The structure is listed as historical by the Gilbert Heritage District.

In 2018, the district was awarded "4th Best School District in America" by the National Council for Home Safety and Security and "Best Public School/District" in the Best of Gilbert 2018 issue of the East Valley Tribune.[4][5] As of spring 2019, thirteen GPS schools have earned the "A+ School of Excellence™ Award" from the Arizona Educational Foundation.[6]

History

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Gilbert Elementary School was built in 1913. It is located at 10 S. Gilbert Rd. and now houses the Gilbert Historical Museum. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1900, the first school, in Gilbert, was built on the southwest corner of Baseline and Cooper Roads.[1] This school was moved, in 1909, to the northeast corner of Guadalupe and Cooper Roads. It was named Highland because it was the highest land south of the Salt River.[1] These schools were part of the Mesa Unified School District#4.[1][7]

In 1913, with the completion of its first elementary school, the Gilbert School District #41 was formed.[1] The new school was located on the corner of Elliot and Gilbert roads, and consisted of four classrooms, two offices, an auditorium and a full basement below the auditorium.[7] In 1977, the building closed for classroom use and in 1982 it became the Gilbert Historical Museum.[1][7]

In 1917, an election was held "for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a high school" in the recently formed Gilbert School District #41.[8] Gilbert's first high school, Gilbert High School, opened in 1917 on the southwest corner of Gilbert and Elliot roads.[9] The first graduating class, consisting of 4 graduates, was in 1918.[9] Gilbert High School has since been relocated, and the original site is now the Gilbert Public Schools district administration building.[9]

Since opening its first school in 1913, Gilbert Public Schools has grown to serve over 35,000 students at 40 schools across Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa, Arizona.[6]

Schools

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Schools in the district include: 26 elementary schools (Pre K-6); 6 junior high schools (7-8), 5 high schools (9-12), 2 Academies, 1 Global academy, and 1 Alternative Education (7-12).[10]

High schools

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Name Canyon Valley Campo Verde Desert Ridge Gilbert Highland Mesquite
Location Mesa Gilbert Mesa Gilbert Gilbert Gilbert
Opened 2010 2009 2002 1918,
1987 (current building)
1993 1998
Colors Purple,
black
Dark green,
copper
Cardinal red,
black
Black,
gold
Teal,
black
Royal blue,
silver
Mascot Lion Coyote Jaguar Tiger Hawk Wildcat
Principal Chad Fitzgerald Tyler Dumas[11] DJ Spetz Brian Winter Brian Yee Shawn Lynch[12]
Athletic
conference[13]
N/A 5A 6A 6A 6A 4A
Enrollment
(2018, 100th Day)[14]
1985 2709 2059 3046 1635
Website(s) Official Official Official Official Official Official

Junior high schools

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Name Desert Ridge Greenfield Highland Mesquite South Valley
Location Mesa Gilbert Mesa Gilbert Gilbert
Colors Purple,
teal,
black
Green,
gold
Maroon,
gold,
blue
Blue,
silver
Red,
white,
black
Mascot Rattler Grizzly Hurricane Mustang Sabercat
Principal Jean Woods Jodi Smith[15] Sean Jonaitis Dan Johnson Tyler Dumas
Feeder
for (HS)
Desert Ridge Gilbert,
Highland
Highland Mesquite,
Gilbert
Campo Verde
Enrollment
(2018, 100th Day)[14]
1234 905 1216 994 1013
Website(s) Official Official Official Official Official

Elementary schools

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(Enrollment 100th Day, 2018)

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Source:[14]

  • Ashland Ranch - 819
  • Augusta Ranch - 1019
  • Boulder Creek - 633
  • Burk - 382
  • Canyon Rim - 842
  • Carol Rae Ranch - 572
  • Finley Farms - 652
  • Gilbert Elementary - 527
  • Greenfield Elementary - 955
  • Harris - 460
  • Highland Park - 888
  • Houston - 395
  • Islands - N/A
  • Meridian - 831
  • Mesquite - 599
  • Oak Tree - 580
  • Patterson - 601
  • Pioneer - 553
  • Playa del Rey - 460
  • Quartz Hill - 663
  • Settler's Point - 634
  • Sonoma Ranch - 476
  • Spectrum - 624
  • Superstition Springs - 714
  • Towne Meadows - 711
  • Val Vista Lakes - 539

Academies and alternative education

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  • Canyon Valley School (Grades 9-12) - Alternative Education (322 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[14]
  • Distance Learning Online (Grades 7-12) — Gilbert Public Schools offers its own online schooling program through its Distance Learning Center. Classes range from History to Physical Education. Gilbert accepts credits earned from major online schools, such as Primavera.[16]
  • Global Academy - opened August, 2011
  • Gilbert Classical Academy (Grades 7-12) — opened August 2007; replacing the GPS Technology and Leadership Academy (526 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[14]
  • Neely Traditional Academy (Grades K-6) — also known as Neely Elementary (779 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[14]
  • Performance Academy at Mesquite Elementary (Grades 4-8)
  • Traditional Program at Canyon Rim Elementary (Grades K-6)
  • Traditional Program at Spectrum Elementary (Grades K-6)

Awards

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Gilbert School District". hdsouth. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "District Leadership". Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Gilbert Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Best School Districts in America 2018". National Council for Home Safety and Security. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Best Public School/District". East Valley Tribune. p. 52. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Arizona Education Foundation 2019 A+ School of Excellence™ Winners". Gilbert Public Schools. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  7. ^ a b c "Gilbert history: The 1st Gilbert Elementary School". azcentral. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  8. ^ Birdsall, Alice M. (1920). Report of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Arizona, Volume 20. Bancroft-Whitney. p. 418.
  9. ^ a b c "Gilbert High School graduates 100th class". azfamily. Retrieved Feb 9, 2019.
  10. ^ "School Listing / GPS Schools". gilbertschools. Archived from the original on 2011-10-17. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  11. ^ "About CVHS / Our School". www.gilbertschools.net. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  12. ^ "About Mesquite High / Our School". www.gilbertschools.net. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  13. ^ 2011‐2012 2012‐2013 Conference Placement Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Arizona Interscholastic Association, 2010-10-1
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Schools" (PDF). www.gilbertschools.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-20. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  15. ^ "About Greenfield Junior / Our School". www.gilbertschools.net. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  16. ^ "Primavera Online High School". Primaveratech.org. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  17. ^ Hayley Ringle (16 April 2011). "Higley celebrates district's first A+ school award". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  18. ^ Saunders, Diane (11 October 2009). "Jack Daley School named national Blue Ribbon School". Eastern Arizona Courier. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  19. ^ Gersema, Emily (6 November 2009). "Traditional school a big hit in Gilbert". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
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