Gilbert Public Schools

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.
Gilbert
, Maricopa, Arizona, 85296
United States
Coordinates33°21′09″N 111°42′06″W
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[4]
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
WebsiteDistrict Website
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.[5][6] As of spring 2019, thirteen GPS schools have earned the "A+ School of Excellence™ Award" from the Arizona Educational Foundation.[7]

History
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][8]

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.[8] In 1977, the building closed for classroom use and in 1982 it became the Gilbert Historical Museum.[1][8]

In 1917, an election was held "for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a high school" in the recently formed Gilbert School District #41.[9] Gilbert's first high school, Gilbert High School, opened in 1917 on the southwest corner of Gilbert and Elliot roads.[10] The first graduating class, consisting of 4 graduates, was in 1918.[10] Gilbert High School has since been relocated, and the original site is now the Gilbert Public Schools district administration building.[10]

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.[7]

On March 13, 2020, Gilbert Public Schools made an announcement to the community, announcing all schools would be shut down until further notice, due to COVID-19 (coronavirus).


Schools

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).[11]

High schools
Name Canyon Valley Campo Verde Desert Ridge Gilbert Highland Mesquite
Location MesaGilbertMesaGilbertGilbertGilbert
Opened 2010200920021918,
1987 (current building)		19931998
Colors Purple,
black		Dark green,
copper		Cardinal red,
black		Black,
gold		Teal,
black		Royal blue,
silver
Mascot LionCoyoteJaguarTigerHawkWildcat
Principal Chad FitzgeraldKrista CoxDJ SpetzBrian WinterMelinda MurphyJoyce Meyer
Athletic
conference[12]		 N/A5A6A5A6A4A
Enrollment
(2018, 100th Day)[13]		 19852709205930461635
Website(s) OfficialOfficialOfficialOfficialOfficialOfficial

Junior high schools
Name Desert Ridge Greenfield Highland Mesquite South Valley
Location MesaGilbertMesaGilbertGilbert
Colors Purple,
teal,
black		Green,
gold		Maroon,
gold,
blue		Blue,
silver		Red,
white,
black
Mascot RattlerGrizzlyHurricaneMustangSabercat
Principal Jean WoodsBrian YeeLisa CreaserDan JohnsonTyler Dumas
Feeder
for (HS)		 Desert RidgeGilbert,
Highland		Highland,
Desert Ridge		Mesquite,
Gilbert		Campo Verde,
Mesquite
Enrollment
(2018, 100th Day)[13]		 123490512169941013
Website(s) OfficialOfficialOfficialOfficialOfficial

(Enrollment 100th Day, 2018)[13]
  • 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
  • Canyon Valley School (Grades 9-12) - Alternative Education (322 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[13]
  • 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.[14]
  • 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)[13]
  • Neely Traditional Academy (Grades K-6) — also known as Neely Elementary (779 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[13]
  • 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

See also

References
  1. "Gilbert School District". hdsouth. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  2. "District Leadership". Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  3. "Search For Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  4. "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Gilbert Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  5. "Best School Districts in America 2018". National Council for Home Safety and Security. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  6. "Best Public School/District". East Valley Tribune. p. 52. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  7. "Arizona Education Foundation 2019 A+ School of Excellence™ Winners". Gilbert Public Schoold. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  8. "Gilbert history: The 1st Gilbert Elementary School". azcentral. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  9. 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.
  10. "Gilbert High School graduates 100th class". azfamily. Retrieved Feb 9, 2019.
  11. "School Listing / GPS Schools". gilbertschools. Archived from the original on 2011-10-17. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  12. 2011‐2012 2012‐2013 Conference Placement Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Arizona Interscholastic Association, 2010-10-1
  13. "Schools" (PDF). www.gilbertschools.net. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  14. "Primavera Online High School". Primaveratech.org. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  15. Hayley Ringle (16 April 2011). "Higley celebrates district's first A+ school award". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  16. Saunders, Diane (11 October 2009). "Jack Daley School named national Blue Ribbon School". Eastern Arizona Courier. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  17. Gersema, Emily (6 November 2009). "Traditional school a big hit in Gilbert". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
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