Introduction:

"A" rated Dysart Schools was voted best Public School District two years in a row, and is among the top-rated in the state of Arizona. The district is home to the #6 ranked K-8 school in Arizona (Freedom Traditional Academy), and the #22 ranked high school in Arizona (Shadow Ridge High School). Overall, Dysart has 18 “A” rated and 4 “B” rated schools, many of which out-rank our local counterparts. Additionally, Freedom Traditional Academy has had the highest test scores of any school in the cities of Surprise and El Mirage for two years in a row.

Academics:

Dysart Schools have been recognized both nationally and internationally with AdvancED Accreditation, and are dedicated to serving the needs of all children with high quality academic coursework, before-and after-school programs, and services for the entire community. Boasting a graduation rate that exceeds both the state and national average, the Dysart Unified School District prepares all students to be ready for college and career through excellence and success.

Strong academics, arts, and athletic programs are an integral part of each school, and ensuring students are equipped with the skills necessary to meet the challenges and opportunities in a 21st Century society are at the heart of our mission and vision. Dysart Schools offers one of the largest selections of academic pathways in the state, allowing students a personalized learning experience while meeting Arizona Academic Standards. Opportunities include full-day kindergarten, Career and Technical Education, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and gifted and special education programs.

Arts:

Dysart provides students the opportunity to explore their artistic side through an expansive fine arts program, where students participate in a progressive, performance-based curriculum that encourages them to reach their academic, creative, and expressive potential. Dysart students earned the most Arizona State Seals for Arts Proficiency across the state this year with 228.

Athletics:

Earning 10 state championships in 2023-2024, Dysart Schools are highly competitive in athletics, and offer great opportunities for all students. Dysart offers competitive athletic classes to help students hone their athletic skills and abilities during the school day, and we aim to provide positive experiences and guide our student athletes toward realizing their full potential.

Demographics:

Dysart Unified School District serves over 23,000 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students in the Northwest Phoenix Metropolitan area. The district encompasses 140 square miles, serving parts of El Mirage, Glendale, Surprise, Youngtown, and Maricopa County. The district is home to 16 elementary schools, four middle schools, four comprehensive high schools, a preschool, and one alternative program.

1920s:

The Dysart Unified School District celebrated its 100th year of educating the community in the 2020-2021 school year. In 1920, local farmer Nathaniel Martin Dysart wanted his daughter to attend a school. He didn’t want her to walk the 5 miles though, as it required crossing the Agua Fria River, which was known to flood at times. So he donated a piece of his own land, convened a three-person governing board, and officially established the Dysart Public Schools on July 16, 1920.

1930s:

What started out as a one-room schoolhouse with less than 10 students, serving first through eighth grade, quickly became a growing part of the community. Enrollment increased to more than 200 by 1937, when the district hired it’s seventh teacher.

1950s:

In 1951 the original one room schoolhouse was tragically destroyed by a fire. Despite the loss, Dysart continued to focus on educating local students, and two new elementary schools, El Mirage and Luke were built by the end of the decade.

1960s:

By the 1960s, Dysart had grown so much it was in need of a high school. The district’s first ninth grade students attended the newly built Dysart High School in 1962. The first graduates in the history of Dysart were with the class of 1966.

1970s:

In 1977 the Dysart Unified School District was officially established. Before 1975 districts were forced by legislation to remain separate entities for elementary and high school levels. With the legislative change, the Dysart consolidated the system into a K-12 unified school district.

1980s:

Kingswood Elementary School was built in 1989 on news that growth was on the horizon in the Northwest Valley. Developers were buying up land and building homes at a rapid rate, attracting more and more families and business to the area.

21st Century:

In 2001 the hypergrowth began in the Dysart Unified School District with the addition of West Point Elementary School. Between 2002 and 2010, 14 elementary schools and three high schools were built to accommodate the influx.

Today:

Today as the Dysart Unified School District celebrates its 100th anniversary, it now has a community of nearly 24,000 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students. The district encompasses a massive 140 square miles and is home to 20 K-8 schools, four comprehensive high schools, a preschool, and one alternative program.