Arcadia High School

4703 East Indian School Road

School District

Scottsdale Unified District
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:20
Type

public

School Map for Scottsdale Unified District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 26, 2025

We love our Arcadia High School experience. Teachers and administrators are talented, committed, and motivated to ensure students reach their full potential! Go Titans !
Submitted by parent on November 19, 2024

Arcadia High School is an amazing community and neighborhood school. Our family was choosing between an all girls college prep school and Arcadia and we're so glad we landed at Arcadia. From the front desk, Bal, Laura and Melissa, are amazing and welcome you from the beginning. The principal, Dr. Janelle Danskey, has done so much to not only lift and improve academics, attendance and the schools overall grade in the district and state, but she's doing so much to physically improve the school. Most of the teachers have masters degrees, actually like being at Arcadia so they stay, and love the students. As both a parent and a member of the PTO, I'm above and beyond glad we chose Arcadia for our daughter. The extra curricular activities, sports, theater and arts have been incredible. The academics and just number of AP, Honors and extended class such as Business and Sports Medicine is unparalleled. Our daughter is enjoying her challenging courses, feel full support from her teachers, and is loving the freedom of choice that high school academics offers. As a parent, the selling points to us were: 1. One lunch- the entire school eats lunch at the same time which is fantastic and allows clubs to also meet during lunch.2. Campus Design- the entire campus opens to a center grassy knoll. Students see each other, pass in the open air, and enjoy some sunshine.3. Counseling Staff- You keep the same counselor your entire 4 years and families also keep the same counselor which builds amazing trust based relationships.4. The fact that the student gets to choose to take Honors, AP and Dual Enrollment classes. They do not have to test in. What power!Thank you Arcadia High School for being a beacon of light in Arizona. Go Titans!
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2024

I am a parent of a current student, past student and still have one more coming up. Arcadia has been a great school for my kids! So many options to take advanced courses, as well as additional support from teachers either during their lunch time or after school during their free after school tutoring program. My girls have felt safe while at school, and supported by their teachers and administrators. They both have participated in sports as well and have loved the opportunities of the many clubs and activities offered. Arcadia is a wonderful school and I would highly recommend it!
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2024

I am a parent of a past student as well as a current students. Both have different interests and are on different treks. One was more athletic but very academic. Our other student- loves history and speech and debate. We have always appreciated that the teachers and administration have gone above and beyond for each of our students. We love that sports, art, music and great academic programs are available. Great variety of clubs too! We are proud Titans!
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2020

This school is an A+ in my book. The Arcadia name is known by many colleges as a great school and one that prepares students for future academics and careers.
Submitted by parent on March 06, 2017

It is scary how this school appears so perfect in writing but when you look at that great school ratings score of 5, it is so disappointing. If I were a parent moving here from out of state, the reviews vs the scores would make me confused. Veritas is rated a 10 and its is just a mile away, what could they be offering so different where their teachers make significantly less and the curriculum is of a liberal arts mind. Discipline and the art of actually thinking with content dive? Something is wrong in the Scottsdale school district and while parents are praising the almighty Titan, I think we should collectively figure out the eroding issue. The schools that have the best ratings within this district, are also schools that have active parent participation as well as a financial demographic that exceeds the median income in this state. But what about their schools where the majority is a minority or ESL children? With those variables in consideration this number looks different and this reflects Arcadia high school when one looks at the true scores. Why has this high school not been able to maintain its rating of 9 over the past decade? If a school cannot reach its most challenging demographic, there is something internally corrupting these variables. It is not challenging to educate my child, the upper class caucasian student whose parents are college educated; but what about the child that has no access to tutors, internet, additional support, and in some cases even transportation? So should we cease open enrollment to get the numbers where they should be? It might be warranted so that a true accurate picture could be displayed to the family that erroneously sees this school as an academic powerhouse, but we would not want to eliminate diversity in this school even though this population might be currently used as props. Whatever the opinion, there is something eroding with this great schools score and something that should be fixed sooner than later. Hopefully the new superintendent figures it out.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2017

Moved here from Texas where my daughter was one of 283 nationwide students admitted to one of the top high schools in America. Culture shock on how far behind we are and how we are failing our children. She was issued books in 9th grade she had received in 5th grade. Arcadia was a clannish run high school with little interest in her well-being. Male students were acknowledged for achievements far less than hers (she received $80K in scholarship money for example). They pretended they were succeeding at bullying because they weren't looking for it and didn't see it. Meaningless signs and gestures don't cure the problem. Even worse? One of her teachers dressed like a professional streetwalker with half her body hanging out of her clothes and constantly bullied and belittled my child with no meaningful criticism. In all academic years she was National Honor Society and is so again in college but this teacher deliberately kept her out of NHS in high school with no academic reason ... it could be because my daughter was a published author in junior high school and this teacher still struggles with any sort of recognition for her work. She suffered from anxiety disorder and the school was well aware of that yet deliberatel chose to suddenly misspell her name on her diploma and mispronounce her name (the only student whose name was mispronounced) and could have cared less how it made her feel and claims they suddenly after years of spelling it right were going by the birth certificate which they were not. Their interpretation of the birth certificate was wrong. When we take egos and politics out of school maybe I will feel less that those who an do and those who can't ... but this school totally failed my child.
Submitted by other on November 14, 2016

I haven't gone there yet, but both my aunt and uncle go there right now, they love it! They made friends that weren't from their previous school, and isn't complaining about anything, I am currently an 8th grader, and want to go to arcadia, but my parents kind of want me to go to Xavier, bleh, 7 hours of homework every single night!!!
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2016

3 of my kids attend this school. My fourth will in two years. The new leadership by Mr. Slater has transformed the school over the past couple years. My three kids are excelling academically and socially. The assistant principals are very in tune to the students needs. Mr. Moony (the assistant principal) is extremely responsive to any issues that ever arise including bullying or substance abuse. There is a fantastic open communication policy at this school between parents and administration. The campus is very inviting with a large open lawn surrounded by classroom buildings. There are dozens of clubs and activities as well as excellent sport programs. Finally, the school is large enough to not have any cliques dominating the social scene. Kids are either from the immediate neighborhood or open enroll. Most of my kids friends open enroll and are appreciative of this policy as they recognize this as an exclellent educational venue. We live in Arcadia and had several options for high school including two top private schools. Arcadia turned out to be an excellent choice and exceeded my expectations.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2014

I am the mom of 3 children who attended Arcadia High School; 2 are now in college, one is still there. This is a school that embraces teaching the whole person, and offer students great academics with AP and dual enrollment classes in every academic subject, the opporutunity to participate in clubs and sports including 3 no-cut sports, and access to a wide variety of unique and high caliber CTE and fine arts offerings. My older children both were admitted to their top choice colleges early decision, one with a merit scholarship. All 3 of my children were able to play a varsity sport, take all college prep classes, and even create their own independent study curriculum in art. Every teacher goes beyond classroom teaching to support student growth, and there is an active, devoted parent organization that raises funds to support the classroom and coordinates volunteers all over campus. But you should decide for yourself. Arcadia offers weekly tours to prosepctive students and their parents, and to community members who want to see what a great school looks like. Just call the front office to make your appointment.
Submitted by student on January 14, 2014

I go to Arcadia and i found that it is very lacking in respect for the teachers as well as the students. Freshman are harassed by some of the teachers and students, but this is passed off as just messing around. Some teachers are just amazing and are able to create a classroom that is a home away from home, a place where the students feel safe. This school is a place for kids who are quite social and kind of lax on the idea of getting into a good college. I am not saying that about all of the students but most just talk about things that are not worth typing up in this review. If you want to truly challenge your kid in terms of science and math don't go to Arcadia, however if your kid is interested in filming and such they should got Arcadia.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2014

I think it's a great school, I was more impressed with the curriculum they have for the students and the safe campus. My son really enjoys the school and the environment.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2014

We have been very happy with Arcadia High School. My child attended a private school from K-8, so I was originally nervous about the transition. However, the transition couldn't have been more smooth and we have been impressed with the teachers and staff. Our child is challenged in honors classes and is very happy at Arcadia. We have zero complaints.
Submitted by parent on December 08, 2013

It's a better option than other Phoenix schools and coming from another state I am realizing how far behind even the "best" schools are. G&T here is average student in other states. There is a refusal to believe that Arizona is behind 95% of the nation in education and the PTO is run by stay at home moms who don't have a clue what the real world is like. They celebrate medicrity instead of encourage success.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2013

We've been happy with the academic and overall life experiences at Arcadia. The school gives freshman the whole campus the first half-day of school. Faculty and staff return emails promptly. Students have a nice mix of backgrounds. Honors and AP classes are open to those wanting to try. Many extracurricular opportunities for each student to express and learn in their way. Good parental support, but it'd be nice if more came to parent-related meetings. Some, like a previous reviewer, would prefer more control. We think Arcadia prepares kids to succeed in the real world. As always, it's difficult to accurately compare with other schools because we haven't moved from school-to-school. Arcadia is for us.
Submitted by other on January 10, 2013

This is a very chaotic school which the public knows little about. Students eat in class and take cell phone calls in class. The walkways each period find students walking during class and they are rarely questioned as to where they should be. Last year during Market Day, students put together a t-shirt with a pro-drug message, there were no consequences, and were allowed to take part in this event. Ask the school what percentage of those who enroll in an AP course actually sit for the AP exam. Last year there was a large fight during lunch which looked like a small riot. Another good question would be to ask the teachers which if any administrators do they think actually have leadership abilities. There is no discipline, students are very poorly behaved, class size is ltoo large for the school to be effective. This is a very, very poor school. If you are serious about your child getting a good education, do not send them to this school.
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2010

I am so pleased with the growth that my child has achieved since he transfered to this school.
Submitted by student on November 02, 2009

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Submitted by student on March 16, 2009

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Submitted by parent on February 17, 2009

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