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 grades 9 through 12. The district covers several towns like Goodyear, Buckeye, Avondale, Waddell, and Litchfield Park, Arizona. It was started in 1955.
The district currently has five high schools. A new high school is planned to open in the 2025-2026 school year. AFUHSD also has a special program to help students catch up on credits they might have missed.
Contents
History of the District
The city of Avondale did not have its own high school district for a long time. Students from Avondale had to go to high schools in other areas. In 1952, local school districts met to solve this problem. They decided to create a new high school district.
The Agua Fria Union High School District No. 216 was officially formed in 1955. Just one year later, the district's first high school, Agua Fria High School, opened in Avondale. This new school helped serve many students in the area.
Over the years, several leaders have served as superintendent for the district. Mark Yslas is the current superintendent, taking on the role in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the district used distance learning. This changed how students learned and affected some school traditions.
Communities Served
The Agua Fria Union High School District serves many communities. These include Goodyear, Buckeye, Avondale, and Litchfield Park, Arizona. It also serves the area of Waddell. All these places are part of the West Valley area near Phoenix.
In 2022, the district worked to include Canyon View High School more closely with the city of Buckeye. This change allowed the school to hire a full-time police officer from the Buckeye Police Department. This helps keep students safe.
About the Students
Learning and Academics
The district works to help students do well in their classes. The Arizona Department of Education tracks how students perform on tests like the ACT. These scores help schools understand how students are learning.
In the 2021-2022 school year, many students showed strong skills in English and Math. The district aims to help all students reach their best learning levels.
Student Diversity
In the 2021-2022 school year, the district had 9,219 students. There were also many teachers and staff members. The student-to-teacher ratio was about 21 students for every teacher. This means teachers can give more attention to students.
The district has a diverse student body. Students come from many different backgrounds. For example, about half of the students are Hispanic. The number of Hispanic students has grown steadily since 2018. This makes the district a place where many different cultures come together.
Funding and Projects
The Agua Fria Union High School District uses different ways to pay for school projects. They use things called "bonds" and "overrides." These are ways to get money for building new schools or improving old ones.
For example, in 2005, the district asked voters to approve money for Verrado High School. This money helped with building costs and renovating other schools. The district also tries to get grants. In 2008, they applied for a grant to make schools more energy-efficient. This included adding water-saving features and smart watering systems.
What Students Learn
The Agua Fria Union High School district has a consistent plan for what students learn. While all schools follow the same basic plan, some courses might be offered only at certain schools.
College-Level Classes
The district offers special "dual enrollment" classes. These classes let high school students earn college credits at the same time. Teachers who are qualified can teach these courses. Students can take classes like Spanish, Anatomy, and Pre-calculus for college credit.
The district also offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes. These are challenging college-level courses. Students can take AP classes in subjects like math, English, science, and art. Doing well in AP classes can help students earn college credit. Millennium High School also offers International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These are similar to AP classes and can lead to an IB Diploma.
Arts Programs
The Agua Fria Union High School district also has great programs for the arts. Students can take classes in band, choir, dance, and visual arts. Desert Edge High School has a special "Conservatory of Arts and Design." This program helps students explore their talents in music and other arts.
Our Schools
The Agua Fria Union High School district serves students from ninth to twelfth grade. They also have an alternative high school program called "Coldwater Academy." This program helps students who might need extra support to graduate. It started in 2007.
The district uses "attendance zones" to decide which school students go to. For example, students living in Avondale usually go to Agua Fria High School. Sometimes, exceptions are made, like for students in the IB program. These decisions depend on how much space a school has. These zones have sometimes caused discussions, especially when new schools open and zones change.
High Schools in the District
- 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 and became a separate school in 1999. It had 1,965 students in 2021-2022. 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 planned sixth high school for the district. It is expected to open in the 2025 school year. The principal is Jason Linn, and the 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
