Education in the Desert Foothills of Arizona

REAL ESTATE

EXPERTISE

AREA INFO

Ridgecrest Realty

PO Box 7530
Cave Creek, AZ 85327

Phone:(480) 488-1999
Fax: (480) 488-0638

Education in Arizona The Cave Creek Unified School District includes a high school, a middle school, and two elementary schools. The school district offers an excellent education to the children within the boundaries of our 144 square mile school district. The district includes the towns of Cave Creek and Carefree, portions of Phoenix and Scottsdale and areas under county jurisdiction.

Cave Creek's school district has a rich history. The first school was located along Cave Creek on the Howard Ranch in the 1880's. In 1950 Cave Creek had a little white school house. In 1960 a new four room school house was built, including a corral in the back for student's horses. Another four room school house was built in 1964. Since 1964 a swelling enrollment warranted new schools. In 1973 Black Mountain Elementary School was completed. By 1983 construction started on the Cactus Shadows High School. In 1989, a new school, the beautiful Desert Arroyo Middle School and the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center opened. In 1995 Cactus Shadows High School was moved to a new set of buildings, and the old school was converted to an elementary school, Desert Sun Elementary School.

Besides a comprehensive academic curriculum, there are many extra programs offered that have been the source of various national and state awards. Gifted programs for academically talented students, preschool for handicapped children, student testing, special speech and reading tutoring, psychological services, plus many athletic programs,chorus, and band round out the curriculum.

The largest institution of higher learning in the area is the Arizona State University, located in Tempe, about a 50 minute drive from Carefree and Cave Creek. Today it is the 5th largest university in the nation , encompassing nearly 700 acres of modern facilities at the main campus. There are two satellite campuses, with a third one in the planning. Maricopa County also has nine community colleges that offer two year degrees and transfer credits. Maricopa County Community College has recently purchased land in the Carefree area for a local community college site. Beyond state and county systems many other fine educational institutions make their homes in valley.