Agua Fria Union High School District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Agua Fria Union High School District |
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| Address | |
| 1481 North Eliseo Felix Jr. Way Avondale, Arizona, 85323-2154 United States |
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| Coordinates | 33°27′09″N 112°20′10″W / 33.4524°N 112.3360°W |
| District information | |
| Type | Public |
| Motto | Creating Choice. Crafting Character. Cultivating Community. |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Established | 1955 |
| Superintendent | Mark Yslas |
| Deputy Superintendent(s) |
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| Schools | 6 |
| Budget | $88.5 million (2021–2022) |
| District ID | 0400450 |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 9,219 (2021–2022) |
| Teachers | 433.10 |
| Staff | 796.95 |
| Student-teacher ratio | 21.28 |
| Colors | Old Glory Red, Old Glory Blue, White |
The Agua Fria Union High School District (AFUHSD) is a group of high schools in Arizona. It serves students in cities like Goodyear, Buckeye, Avondale, Waddell, and Litchfield Park, Arizona. This district started in 1955.
The district has six high schools. It also runs a special program called "Coldwater Academy." This program helps students catch up on credits they might have missed.
Contents
Discovering the District's Past
The city of Avondale did not have its own high school district for a while. So, the city paid other schools to teach its high school students. In 1952, school districts from Avondale and Litchfield Park decided to create a new high school district together.
The Agua Fria Union High School District No. 216 was officially formed in 1955. A year later, the district's first high school, Agua Fria High School, opened in Avondale. This new school helped share the students who were going to Litchfield High School.
Several leaders have guided the district over the years. Doug Wilson was the superintendent from 1999 to 2006. Dudley Butts took over until 2009. Then, Dennis Runyan, who was the principal of Millennium High School, became the interim superintendent. Mr. Runyan led the district until 2020. After him, Mark Yslas became the superintendent.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the AFUHSD used distance learning. This meant students learned from home, which changed some high school traditions.
Communities Served by AFUHSD
The Agua Fria Union High School District serves many towns and areas. These include Goodyear, Buckeye, Avondale, Litchfield Park, and the community of Waddell. All these places are in the West Valley part of Arizona.
In May 2022, the district suggested a change for Canyon View High School. They wanted to include it in the nearby city of Buckeye. This change would allow the school to hire a full-time police officer from the Buckeye Police Department.
Understanding Student Life and Learning
Academic Achievements and Progress
The Arizona Department of Education tracks how students perform on the ACT test. They look at scores for different groups of students. Scores are divided into four levels, with Level 1 being the lowest and Level 4 being the highest.
In the 2021-2022 school year, for English Language Arts:
- 26% of students were at Level 1.
- 29% were at Level 2.
- 34% were at Level 3.
- 10% were at Level 4.
For math, in the same school year:
- 35% of students were at Level 1.
- 30% were at Level 2.
- 25% were at Level 3.
- 9% were at Level 4.
Student Diversity in the District
In the 2021-2022 school year, the district had 9,219 students. There were also 433 teachers and 363 staff members. This means there were about 21 students for every teacher.
The students in the district come from many different backgrounds:
- 9.75% African American
- 3.23% Asian
- 49.4% Hispanic
- 0.83% American Indian
- 0.39% Pacific Islander
- 3.34% Two or More Races
- 33.06% White
The number of Hispanic students has grown steadily since 2018. This has made the district a place where many different groups of students are represented.
Funding and Support for Schools
The Agua Fria Union High School District uses special funding called "bonds" to pay for projects. These bonds help build new schools or improve existing ones. For example, in 2005, the district proposed a large bond to help build Verrado High School. They also used funds to move district offices and renovate other schools.
The district also applies for grants. In 2008, they received a grant to make schools more energy-efficient. This included adding low-flow faucets and smart irrigation systems at Agua Fria High School and Millennium High School.
What Students Learn: Curriculum
The Agua Fria Union High School District has a similar plan for what students learn across all its schools. However, some courses might only be available at certain schools.
Earning College Credits in High School
The district offers dual enrollment classes. These classes are taught by qualified teachers from the Maricopa County Community College District. This means students can earn both high school and college credits at the same time!
The specific dual enrollment classes depend on the school:
- Verrado High School offers classes like Spanish II, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, and Sports Medicine.
- Millennium High School has classes such as AP United States History, Algebra 3, and Culinary Arts.
- Canyon View High School provides options like Sports Medicine, AP Biology, and agriculture-related classes.
The district also offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes. These are challenging college-level courses in subjects like math, English, science, and arts. Students at Millennium High School can also take International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These are similar to AP classes and can lead to an IB Diploma.
Exploring Fine Arts Programs
The Agua Fria Union High School District has many fine arts programs. Students can take courses in band, choir, dance, and other visual arts.
In 2019, Desert Edge High School started a fine arts showcase. This event highlights the amazing art programs offered in the district. Desert Edge also has a special program called the Conservatory of Arts and Design. This program helps students dive deeper into their artistic talents.
High Schools in the District
The Agua Fria Union High School District serves students from ninth to twelfth grade. The district also has an alternative high school program called "Coldwater Academy." This program helps students who might be at risk of not graduating. It started in 2007.
Each student is assigned to a specific school based on where they live. For example, students living in Avondale usually go to Agua Fria High School. Sometimes, exceptions are made, like for students in the International Baccalaureate program. However, these exceptions depend on how much space the school has.
These attendance zones have sometimes caused discussions. When Verrado High School opened, some students who lived close enough to walk to Desert Edge High School were assigned to Verrado. This meant they needed a different way to get to school.
Meet the High Schools
- Agua Fria High School was the first high school built in the district. It opened in 1956. In the 2021–2022 school year, it had 1,608 students. The principal is Autumn Daniels, and their mascot is the Owl.
- Millennium High School was the second high school. It opened in 1979 as Agua Fria North and became its own school in 1999. In 2021-2022, it had 1,965 students. It is the only school in the district with the International Baccalaureate program. The principal is Nichole Bundy, and their mascot is the Tiger.
- Desert Edge High School was the third high school, built in 2002. It had 1,786 students in 2021-2022. The principal is Gretchen Hann, and their mascot is the Scorpion.
- Verrado High School was the fourth high school, built in 2006. It had 1,715 students in 2021-2022. The principal is Nathaniel Showman, and their mascot is the Viper.
- Canyon View High School was the fifth high school, built in 2018. It had 1,899 students in 2021-2022. The principal is Lyn Reid, and their mascot is the Jaguar.
- Goodyear High School is the newest high school in the district. It opened for the 2025-2026 school year. The principal is Jason Linn, and their mascot is the Maverick.
Images for kids
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Verrado High School
See also
In Spanish: Distrito Escolar de Agua Fría para niños
- List of school districts in Arizona
- Education in Arizona
