Gilbert Public Schools

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Gilbert Public Schools
Seal of GPS
Address
140 S. Gilbert Rd.
Gilbert
, Maricopa, Arizona, 85296
United States
Coordinates33°21′09″N 111°42′06″W / 33.3524°N 111.7018°W / 33.3524; -111.7018
District information
TypePublic
MottoTechnology. Scholarship. Innovation.
GradesPre K-12
Established1913[1]
SuperintendentShane McCord[2]
School board5 members
Governing agencyGilbert Public Schools Board
Schools39[3]
Budget$293,190,000 (2016-17)[3]
NCES District ID0403400[3]
Students and staff
Students34,335 (2018-2019)[3]
Teachers1,898.25 (2018-2019)[3]
Staff1,983.40 (2018-2019)[3]
Student–teacher ratio18.09 (2018-2019)[3]
Other information
Teachers' unionsArizona Education Association
Websitewww.gilbertschools.net
text
Gilbert High School was built in 1917. It now houses the Gilbert Public School District Office. The structure is listed as historical by the Gilbert Heritage District.

Gilbert Unified School District #41 (GUSD), also known as Gilbert Public Schools (GPS), is a school district based in Gilbert, Arizona, United States in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The 60.26-square-mile (156.1 km2) district is the 7th largest in Arizona, and serves over 34,000 students at 39 schools across Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa, Arizona.

In 2018, the district was awarded "4th Best School District in America" by the National Council for Home Safety and Security and "Best Public School/District" in the Best of Gilbert 2018 issue of the East Valley Tribune.[4][5] As of 2025, fifteen GPS schools have earned the "A+ School of Excellence™ Award" from the Arizona Educational Foundation.[6] And all GPS schools have achieved either an 'A' or 'B' letter grade for the 23/24 school year, rating them as excellent or highly performing by the Arizona Department of Education.[7]

History

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Gilbert Elementary School was built in 1913. It is located at 10 S. Gilbert Rd. and now houses the Gilbert Historical Museum. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1900, the first school, in Gilbert, was built on the southwest corner of Baseline and Cooper Roads.[1] This school was moved, in 1909, to the northeast corner of Guadalupe and Cooper Roads. It was named Highland because it was the highest land south of the Salt River.[1] These schools were part of the Mesa Unified School District#4.[1][8]

In 1913, with the completion of its first elementary school, the Gilbert School District #41 was formed.[1] The new school was located on the corner of Elliot and Gilbert roads, and consisted of four classrooms, two offices, an auditorium and a full basement below the auditorium.[8] In 1977, the building closed for classroom use and in 1982 it became the Gilbert Historical Museum.[1][8]

In 1917, an election was held "for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a high school" in the recently formed Gilbert School District #41.[9] Gilbert's first high school, Gilbert High School, opened in 1917 on the southwest corner of Gilbert and Elliot roads.[10] The first graduating class, consisting of 4 graduates, was in 1918.[10] Gilbert High School has since been relocated, and the original site is now the Gilbert Public Schools district administration building.[10]

Since opening its first school in 1913, Gilbert Public Schools has grown to serve over 35,000 students at 40 schools across Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa, Arizona.[6]

Schools

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Schools in the district include: 26 elementary schools (Pre K-6); 6 junior high schools (7-8), 5 high schools (9-12), 2 Academies, 1 Global academy, and 1 Alternative Education (7-12).[11]

High schools

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Name Canyon Valley Campo Verde Desert Ridge Gilbert Highland Mesquite
Location Mesa Gilbert Mesa Gilbert Gilbert Gilbert
Opened 2010 2009 2002 1918,
1987 (current building)		 1993 1998
Colors Purple,
black		 Dark green,
copper		 Cardinal red,
black		 Black,
gold		 Teal,
black		 Royal blue,
silver
Mascot Lion Coyote Jaguar Tiger Hawk Wildcat
Principal Adam Strock Tyler Dumas[12] Scott Smith Lucas Blackburn Brian Yee Shawn Lynch[13]
Athletic
conference[14] 		N/A 5A 6A 6A 6A 4A
Enrollment
(2018, 100th Day)[15] 		1985 2709 2059 3046 1635
Website(s) Official Official Official Official Official Official

Junior high schools

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Name Desert Ridge Greenfield Highland Mesquite South Valley
Location Mesa Gilbert Mesa Gilbert Gilbert
Colors Purple,
teal,
black		 Green,
gold		 Maroon,
gold,
blue		 Blue,
silver		 Red,
white,
black
Mascot Rattler Grizzly Hurricane Mustang Sabercat
Principal Eric Cruz Jodi Smith[16] Sean Jonaitis Kari Castro Jonathan Schley
Feeder
for (HS) 		Desert Ridge Gilbert,
Highland		 Highland Mesquite,
Gilbert		 Campo Verde
Enrollment
(2018, 100th Day)[15] 		1234 905 1216 994 1013
Website(s) Official Official Official Official Official

Elementary schools

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(Enrollment 100th Day, 2018)

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Source:[15]

  • Ashland Ranch - 819
  • Augusta Ranch - 1019
  • Boulder Creek - 633
  • Burk - 382
  • Canyon Rim - 842
  • Carol Rae Ranch - 572
  • Finley Farms - 652
  • Gilbert Elementary - 527
  • Greenfield Elementary - 955
  • Harris - 460
  • Highland Park - 888
  • Islands - N/A
  • Meridian - 831
  • Mesquite - 599
  • Neely Traditional Academy - N/A
  • Oak Tree - 580
  • Patterson - 601
  • Pioneer - 553
  • Playa del Rey - 460
  • Quartz Hill - 663
  • Settler's Point - 634
  • Sonoma Ranch - 476
  • Spectrum - 624
  • Superstition Springs - 714
  • Towne Meadows - 711
  • Val Vista Lakes - 539

Academies and alternative education

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  • Canyon Valley School (Grades 7-12) - Alternative Education (322 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[15]
  • Distance Learning Online (Grades 7-12) — Gilbert Public Schools offers its own online schooling program through its Distance Learning Center. Classes range from History to Physical Education. Gilbert accepts credits earned from major online schools, such as Primavera.[17]
  • Global Academy - opened August, 2011
  • Gilbert Classical Academy (Grades 7-12) — opened August 2007; replacing the GPS Technology and Leadership Academy (526 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[15]
  • Neely Traditional Academy (Grades K-6) — (779 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[15]
  • Performance Academy at Mesquite Elementary (Grades 4-8)
  • Traditional Program at Canyon Rim Elementary (Grades K-6)
  • Traditional Program at Spectrum Elementary (Grades K-6)

Awards

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Gilbert School District". hdsouth. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  2. ^ "Governing Board & Superintendent". Gilbert Public Schools District. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Gilbert Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Best School Districts in America 2018". National Council for Home Safety and Security. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  5. ^ "Best Public School/District". East Valley Tribune. May 27, 2018. p. 52. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Arizona Education Foundation A+ School of Excellence™". Arizona Education Foundation.
  7. ^ Arizona Department of Education. "A-F School and LEA Letter Grades | State Board of Education". azsbe.az.gov. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "Gilbert history: The 1st Gilbert Elementary School". azcentral. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  9. ^ Birdsall, Alice M. (1920). Report of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Arizona, Volume 20. Bancroft-Whitney. p. 418.
  10. ^ a b c "Gilbert High School graduates 100th class". azfamily. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  11. ^ "School Listing / GPS Schools". gilbertschools. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  12. ^ "About CVHS / Our School". www.gilbertschools.net. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "About Mesquite High / Our School". www.gilbertschools.net. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  14. ^ 2011‐2012 2012‐2013 Conference Placement Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Arizona Interscholastic Association, 2010-10-1
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Schools" (PDF). www.gilbertschools.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  16. ^ "About Greenfield Junior / Our School". www.gilbertschools.net. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Primavera Online High School". Primaveratech.org. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  18. ^ Saunders, Diane (October 11, 2009). "Jack Daley School named national Blue Ribbon School". Eastern Arizona Courier. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  19. ^ Gersema, Emily (November 6, 2009). "Traditional school a big hit in Gilbert". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  20. ^ Gilbert Public Schools (November 26, 2024). "Neely Traditional and Gilbert Classical Earn Top Rankings from U.S. News & World Report". neelytraditionalacademy.gilbertschools.net. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
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