Gilbert Public Schools
Gilbert Public Schools (GPS), previously known as Gilbert Unified School District (GUSD), is a school district based in Gilbert, Arizona, United States. GPS covers most of Gilbert and parts of Mesa and Chandler.
[edit] Schools
Schools in the district include: twenty-seven elementary schools which accommodate grades kindergarten through sixth; six junior high schools (seventh and eighth grades) and five high schools (ninth to twelfth).[1]
[edit] High schools
| Name | Campo Verde | Desert Ridge | Gilbert | Highland | Mesquite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Gilbert | Mesa | Gilbert | Gilbert | Gilbert |
| Opened | 2009 | 2002 | 1918, 1987 (current building) |
1993 | 1998 |
| Colors | Dark green, copper |
Cardinal red, black |
Black, gold |
Teal, black |
Royal blue, silver |
| Mascot | Coyote | Jaguar | Tiger | Hawk | Wildcat |
| Principal | Jared Ryan | Dan Coombs | J. Charles Santa Cruz | Domonic Salce | Cecilia Peterson |
| Athletic conference[2] |
4A | 5A | 5A | 5A | 5A |
| Enrollment (2010-10-20)[3] |
1,520 | 2,518 | 2,768 | 2,954 | 2,451 |
| Website(s) | Official | Official | Official | Official | Official |
[edit] Junior high schools
| Name | Desert Ridge | Gilbert | Greenfield | Highland | Mesquite* | South Valley |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Mesa | Gilbert | Gilbert | Mesa | Gilbert | Gilbert |
| Colors | Purple, green, black |
Black, gold |
Green, gold |
Maroon, gold, blue |
Blue, silver |
Red, white, black |
| Mascot | Rattler | Tiger | Grizzly | Hurricane | Mustang | Sabercat |
| Principal | Jean Woods | Kevin Rainey | Joyce Meyer | Brian Yee | Ron Izzett | Brian Jaeger |
| Feeder for (HS) |
Desert Ridge | Gilbert, Mesquite, Highland |
Gilbert, Highland |
Highland, Desert Ridge |
Mesquite, Gilbert |
Campo Verde, Mesquite |
| Enrollment (2010-10-20)[3] |
1,300 | 694 | 952 | 1,285 | 899 | 1,196 |
| Website(s) | Official | Official | Official | Official | Official | Official |
- Mesquite Junior High School was Gilbert high school, until the district expanded
[edit] Elementary schools
| Name | Mascot | Enrollment (2010-10-20)[3] |
|---|---|---|
| Ashland Ranch | Roadrunner | 886 |
| Augusta Ranch | Rattler | 1,095 |
| Boulder Creek | Bulldog | 737 |
| Burk | Bobcat | 490 |
| Canyon Rim | Cougar | 1,036 |
| Carol Rae Ranch | Coyote | 690 |
| Finley Farms | Falcon | 843 |
| Gilbert | Tiger | 698 |
| Greenfield | Gator | 628 |
| Harris | Hawk | 513 |
| Highland Park | Hornet | 927 |
| Houston | Husky | 580 |
| Islands | Dolphin | 639 |
| Meridian | Mustang | 971 |
| Mesquite | Mountain Lion | 754 |
| Neely Traditional Academy | Knight | 844 |
| Oak Tree | Eagle | 673 |
| Patterson | Panther | 640 |
| Pioneer | Prospector | 537 |
| Playa del Rey | Sun King | 603 |
| Quartz Hill | Trail Blazer | 809 |
| Settler's Point | Lion | 736 |
| Sonoma Ranch | Stallion | 627 |
| Spectrum | All Star | 709 |
| Superstition Springs | Sidewinder | 699 |
| Towne Meadows | Timber Wolf | 780 |
| Val Vista Lakes | Viking | 596 |
[edit] Award Schools
Playa del Rey opened in 1994. April 2011 was the second time the school has received the A+ 'School of Excellence' award. The Principal Robyn Conrad was named Arizona's principal of the year in October 2010.[4]
Neely Traditional Academy is an elementary school in Gilbert, Arizona, United States. The school was opened in 1981, and became a traditional academy in 1999. Neely received the National Blue Ribbon School award in 2009.[5][6]
[edit] Academies and alternative education
- Canyon Valley School (Grades 7-12)
- 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.[7]
- Gilbert Classical Academy (Grades 7-12) — opened August 2007; replaced the Tech & Leadership Academy
- Neely Traditional Academy (Grades K-6) — also known as Neely Elementary
[edit] Controversies and Challenges
Gilbert Public Schools Governng Board faces numerous challenges from a public charging the board is divided ideologically.[8]
Residents asked board member Helen Hollands to step down after she took a position with the adjacent Mesa Public Schools district as director of communications and marketing, claiming this paid position was an irreconcilable conflict with her fiduciary duty as a board member of Gilbert Public Schools.[9]
The school district also struggles with complying with open meeting laws. Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board established a procedure in September for placing topics on future meeting agendas without violating the Open Meeting Law, ending months of discussion, accusations and complaints about the board.[10]
Enforcing new anti-bullying laws provoked controversy. A National Board Certified Teacher who reported bullying in her third grade classroom at Meridian Elementary School has been placed on administrative leave pending a public hearing on 20 charges against her.[11]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "School Listing / GPS Schools". Gilbertschools.net. http://gilbertschools.net/domain/466. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
- ^ 2011‐2012 2012‐2013 Conference Placement, Arizona Interscholastic Association, 2010-10-1
- ^ a b c http://gilbertschools.net/information/enrollprofile.php
- ^ Hayley Ringle (16 April 2011). "Higley celebrates district's first A+ school award". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2011/04/26/20110426gilbert-higley-school-district-A-plus-schools.html. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- ^ Saunders, Diane (11 October 2009). "Jack Daley School named national Blue Ribbon School". Eastern Arizona Courier. http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2009/10/12/news/doc4acfc1eff2e13586199814.txt. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ Gersema, Emily (6 November 2009). "Traditional school a big hit in Gilbert". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/11/06/20091106gr-traditional1106.html. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ "Primavera Online High School". Primaveratech.org. http://www.primaveratech.org/. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
- ^ Hayley Ringle (7 February 2012). "Gilbert Public Schools Board Divided Some in Survey Suspect". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2012/02/07/20120207gilbert-public-schools-board-divided-some-in-survey-suspect.html. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ Hayley Ringle (11 January 2012). "Gilbert School Board Changes Meeting Dates for Member". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2012/01/11/20120111gilbert-school-board-changes-meeting-dates-accommodate-members-schedule.html. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ Hayley Ringle (11 January 2012). "Gilbert's top stories of 2011: big changes, controversies". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2011/12/21/20111221gilbert-2011-top-stories-year-in-review.html. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Gilbert Public Schools Firing Teacher Who Reported Bullying, Racial Discrimination and Retaliation". westernconnections.com. http://westernconnections.com/. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Gilbert Watch
- Board member website
- Informative and Authentic
- Education Action Committee
- GPS Volunteer Network
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