Page 24—2012-2013 Fountain Hills Community Guide
Fountain Hills Unified School District Fountain Hills Unified School District covers more than 19 square miles and also draws from the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and Goldfield Ranch to make up the student population. The four main schools included in the district are Fountain Hills High School (grades 9-12), Fountain Hills Middle School (grades 6-8), Four Peaks Elementary (grades 4-5 and recently merged onto the FHMS campus), and McDowell Mountain Elementary (grades preK-3). FHUSD is proud to be able to keep the student/ teacher ratios well within board-mandated guidelines with a staff of 118 highly qualified teachers. Working hand-in-hand, the administrators and teachers have meticulously molded a strong educational curriculum as the focal point of Fountain Hills’ daily instructional program. The district has also continued the award-winning Fountain Hills Mentoring Program, started by MCO Properties 10 years ago. This program pairs Fountain Hills residents with elementary students who are in need of extra academic attention, which operates at around 100 members throughout the school year. Tom Lawrence was brought on to serve as interim Superintendent for the 2012-13 academic year, having served the district since 1987 as an educator, assistant principal, assistant superintendent and, most recently, high school principal.. The School District remains the largest employer in Fountain Hills. There are 118 certified staff positions and 67 classified staff positions currently supported by the district.
Administration
The district’s administrative office is located at 16000 E. Palisades Blvd. on the high school campus. The telephone number is (480) 664-5000. The district maintains a Web site at www.fhusd.org. Technology upgrades of the district’s facilities with modern computer hardware, software and infrastructure are overseen by the director of technology. A budget advisory team and a benefits review committee continue to assist the superintendent with recommendations in those areas.
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Adjacent to the administrative office is the District Learning Center. This facility provides a meeting place for the school board as well as local classes, clubs and teacher development meetings.
For newcomers
Following is important information for newcomers to the community and district: • Entrance age requirements — Pupils entering kindergarten must be five years of age on or before Aug. 31. A certified birth certificate must be presented at registration so a copy can be made. • Immunization — All enrolling students must provide proof of immunization as required by Arizona state law. Residents should make sure their child’s records are forwarded to the appropriate school in Fountain Hills. • Open enrollment — Children who do not live in the district may be admitted through open enrollment. Parents must provide transportation for pupils not living in Fountain Hills. • Students living in designated areas are provided bus transportation. Residents can contact the administration office for specific information, bus routes and schedules. A bus with a wheelchair lift is available for students with special needs. • Each school has an equipped nurse’s room staffed with an accredited nurse’s aide. The district’s registered nurse serves all four campuses, visits each on a regular schedule and is available within minutes when needed. • Accommodations for those with disabilities — All facilities are handicap accessible; each school provides state-mandated special education for children with special requirements. • Crosswalks and crossing guards are provided at main intersections near the elementary schools, and bicycle racks are installed at each school. The following is a description of each school and some of the programs offered:
McDowell Mountain Elementary School
McDowell Mountain Elementary School, 14825 N. Fayette Drive, currently serves students from the pre-kindergarten level to third grade. The third grade class was added to the campus following the 2011 site consolidation. The school mission statement is: “The McDowell Mountain students, staff, parents and community will cooperatively provide a safe, child-centered environment that builds self esteem, self discipline and the essential skills for lifelong learning, while adapting to the differences of others and by using responsible decision making, students will exhibit citizenship with the motivation to invent, dream, explore and communicate in our changing world.” One of the ways the school has worked to maintain student excellence is through developing a partnership with the Fountain Hills Mentoring Program. (continued on page 26)