Tucson Newcomers Guide

presented by Tucson Home Magazine and Tucson Guide

All You Need to Know

EDUCATION

Finding the right school for you or your child can be an arduous task. Here we provide you with helpful questions to ask when reviewing your options, as well as contact information on local districts, private schools, colleges, and technical schools. Also included: local resources for afterschool child care.

PRIMARY & SECONDARY SCHOOLS

THINGS TO ASK WHEN SELECTING A SCHOOL

Whether you are considering public or private schools, there are certain things you will want to know:

  • Call the school and ask for an information packet.
  • When inquiring about private and charter schools, ask if the school is accredited and by whom.
  • Ask about average class size.
  • Ask to see the curriculum, including a list of classes offered.
  • For high schools, ask how many of their graduates go on to college and what schools they are admitted to.
  • Ask about the qualifications of their teachers and what they look for in applicants.
  • Visit prospective schools and observe what's going on in classrooms.
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS

In Arizona, children who are six years old before September 1 may enter first grade, and children five years old before September 1 may enter kindergarten. Children entering Arizona public schools must be immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT), as well as measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and polio. Some districts require a hepatitis A and/or B series.

To find out which Pima County school district you are in, refer to our map, or phone the Pima County School Superintendent's Office at 520-740-8451 or visit www.schools.pima.gov

PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Altar Valley School District
Southwest of Tucson.
www.altarvalley.com
520-822-1484
Amphitheater Public Schools
Central Tucson.
www.amphi.com
520-696-5000
Catalina Foothills School District
North of Tucson.
www.cfsd.k12.az.us
520-299-6446
Continental School District
Green Valley.
www.csd39.org
520-625-4581
Flowing Wells School District
Westside of Tucson.
www.flowingwellsschools.org
520-696-8800
Indian Oasis-Baboquivari Unified School District
Southwest of Tucson, serves primarily those students residing on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation.
www.iobusd40.org
520-383-6746
Marana Unified School District
Northwest of Tucson.
www.maranausd.org
520-682-3243
Sahuarita Unified School District
South of Tucson near Green Valley.
www.sahuarita.k12.az.us
520-625-3502
Sunnyside Unified School District
On the city's south side.
www.sunnysideud.k12.az.us
520-545-2000
Tanque Verde Unified School District
In northeast Tucson.
www.tanq.org
520-749-5751
Tucson Unified School District
Central Tucson. The district's administrative offices are at 1010 E. 10th St.
www.tusd.k12.az.us
520-225-6000
Vail School District
Southeast of Tucson.
www.vail.k12.az.us
520-879-2002
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ARIZONA STATE SCHOOLS FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND

Tucson is the location of the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, at 1200 W. Speedway Blvd. 520-770-3700 (TDD/Voice), www.asdb.state.az.us.

For more information about public and special education or for complete profiles of every school district in the state, phone the Arizona Department of Education's public information office at 800-352-4558, or visit www.ade.state.az.us.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Tucson's long list of private schools includes some with state and national reputations for educational excellence. Private schools in Arizona are self-regulating. The Arizona Department of Education, Southern Arizona office (628-6791) recommends that parents considering a private school check its reputation with other parents whose children have studied there.

LOCAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WITH ACCREDITATION OR STATE APPROVAL
Catholic Schools Superintendent
www.diocesetucson.org
520-838-2547
Immaculate Heart Academy
Prekindergarten-grade 8.
www.immaculateheartschool.com
520-297-6672
Immaculate Heart High School
Grades 9-12.
www.immaculateheartschool.com
520-297-2851
Our Mother of Sorrows School
Prekindergarten-grade 8.
www.omosschool.com
520-747-1027
St. Ambrose School
Prekindergarten-grade 8.
www.stambroseschool.com
520-882-8678
St. Augustine Catholic High School
Grades 9-12.
www.staugustinehigh.com
520-751-8300
St. Cyril of Alexandria School
Kindergarten-grade 8.
www.stcyril.com
520-881-4240
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School
Prekindergarten–grade 7.
www.seastucson.org
520-219-7650
St. John the Evangelist School
Kindergarten-grade 8.
520-624-7409
St. Joseph Catholic School
Kindergarten-grade 8.
520-747-3060
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Preschool
Prekindergarten only.
www.stthomaspreschool.com
520-577-0503
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School
Kindergarten-grade 8.
www.sspptucson.org
520-325-2431
Salpointe Catholic High School
Grades 9-12.
www.salpointe.org
520-327-6581
San Miguel Catholic High
School Grades 9–12.
www.sanmiguelhigh.com
520-294-6403
San Xavier Mission School
Kindergarten-grade 8.
www.sanxaviermission.org
520-294-0628
Santa Cruz School
Prekindergarten-grade 8.
http://santacruzcatholicschool.com/
520-624-2093
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OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Abbie Loveland Tuller School
Prekindergarten-grade 8.
www.tullerschool.com
520-747-1142
Ascension Lutheran School
Prekindergarten–grade 5.
www.ascensiontucson.org
520-742-6229
Casa Niños School of Montessori
Age 12 mo.–grade 4.
www.casaninos.org
520-751-1454 (east campus)
297-3898 (northwest campus)
Casas Christian School
Kindergarten–grade 8.
www.casaschristianschool.com
520-297-0922
Castlehill Country Day School
Age 2-grade 5.
www.castlehillschool.com
520-795-0008
Cornerstone Christian Academy
Kindergarten–grade 6.
www.cca-tucson.org
520-529-7080
Desert Christian School
Kindergarten–grade 12.
www.desertchristianschools.org
520-901-5499
Dove Christian School
Grades 2–12.
520-696-0884
Faith Community Church Academy
Prekindergarten–grade 6.
www.fcatucson.org
520-742-4189
Fenster School Grades 9-12.
www.fenster-school.com
520-749-3340
Green Fields Country Day School
Kindergarten-grade 12.
www.greenfields.org
520-297-2288
International School of Tucson
Ages 3–11. 4
www.internationalschooloftucson.com
520-0406-0552
Kino School
Kindergarten-grade 12.
www.kino-school.org
520-297-7278
Palo Verde Christian School
Kindergarten-grade 8.
www.pvctucson.com
520-327-6683
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy
Grades 6–12.
www.prca-tucson.org
520-797-0107
St. Gregory College Preparatory School
Grades 6-12.
www.stgregoryschool.org
520-327-6395
St. Michael's Parish Day School
Kindergarten-grade 8.
www.stmichael.net
520-722-8478
Satori School
Age 2 1/2-grade 1.
www.satorischool.org
520-887-4003
Tucson Community School
Preschool and kindergarten
www.tucsoncommunityschool.org
520-326-9212
Tucson Hebrew Academy
Kindergarten-grade 8.
www.tucsonhebrew.org
520-529-3888
Tucson Waldorf School
Prekindergarten-grade 8.
www.tucsonwaldorf.org
520-325-5514
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CHARTER SCHOOLS

Charter schools are designed to provide students and parents with educational choices beyond traditional public and private institutions. Arizona has hundreds of charter schools-more than many other states. Tucson has more than 75 operating charter schools, and that number continues to grow.

Since charter schools are not held to the same educational regulations as other public schools, be sure to do some homework before enrolling your child. Find out if the school's curriculum meets your child's needs, and talk to the parents of students who are enrolled.

For more information about charter schools in Arizona, phone 800-352-4558, or visit www.ade.state.az.us.

HIGHER EDUCATION

BUSINESS, TECHNICAL & TRADE SCHOOLS

Dozens of Tucson schools offer a wide range of courses in professional training for entry-level through advanced positions. We list just a small sampling here for your convenience.

Apollo College
3550 N. Oracle Rd.
www.apollocollege.edu
520-888-5885
The Art Center Design College
2525 N. Country Club Rd.
www.theartcenter.edu
520-325-0123
Brown Mackie College–Tucson
4585 E. Speedway Blvd.
www.brownmackie.edu/tucson
520-327-6866
Cortiva Institute
6390 E. Broadway Blvd.
www.cortiva.com
520-623-2160
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
5355 E. Granite St., Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
www.erau.edu
520-747-5540
ITT Technical Institute
1455 W. River Rd.
www.itt-tech. edu
520-408-7488
Pima Medical Institute
3350 E. Grant Rd., Ste. 200.
www.pmi.edu
888-635-5219
The Providence Institute
3400 E. Speedway Blvd., Ste. 114
www.providenceinstitute.com
520-323- 0203
Tucson College
7310 E. 22nd St.
www.tucsoncollege.edu
520-296-3261
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PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Pima Community College (PCC) is a two-year college with several campuses in Tucson, as well as branches in Green Valley, Gila County, and Nogales. The college provides a curriculum of general education, college transfer, and occupational education courses, offering more than 100 areas of study.

General Information
www.pima.edu
520-206-4500
Community Campus
401 N. Bonita Ave.
520-206-3933
Corporate & Community Education (noncredit classes)
401 N. Bonita Ave.
520-206-6579
Desert Vista
5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz
520- 206-5000
Downtown Campus
1255 N. Stone Ave.
520-206-7176
East Campus
8181 E. Irvington Rd.
520-206-7000
Northeast Education Center
7816 E. Wrightstown Rd.
520-206-2525
Northwest Campus
7600 N. Shannon Rd.
520-206-2200
West Campus
2202 W. Anklam Rd.
520-206-6699
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THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Established in 1885, The University of Arizona campus today—a lovely oasis in the middle of the city—occupies 387 acres and has 157 buildings on the main campus, plus another 25 on the medical campus. It ranks among the top 20 US public universities receiving research monies, with $362 million awarded in 2005–2006, according to the most current statistics. 621-2211, www.arizona.edu.

The U of A also has a branch campus in Sierra Vista, located at 1140 N. Colombo Ave. 520-458-8278.

Also, the U of A offers its Evening and Weekend Campus, featuring classes after 5 p.m. and on weekends. 626-2073, www.ceao.arizona.edu/ewc.

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

The University of Phoenix (UOP) is a private university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Established in 1976, UOP's mission is to provide educational opportunities to working adults, enabling them to continue working while pursuing their education. Visit www.phoenix.edu for more information.

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX LOCATIONS

555 E. River Rd.520-239-4955
300 S. Craycroft Rd. 520-408-8202
52104 Fort Huachuca520-459-1093
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OTHER ACCREDITED ARIZONA COLLEGES

Cochise College
Douglas Campus
4190 W. State Hwy. 80
www.cochise.edu
800-966-7943
Cochise College
Sierra Vista Campus
901 N. Colombo Ave.
www.cochise.edu
520-515-0500
Northern Arizona University, Tucson
401 N. Bonita Ave. Ste. A140
www.distance.nau.edu/tucson
520-879-7900
Park University, Davis-Monthan AFB,
5355 E. Granite St.
www.park.edu/davi
520-748-8266
Prescott College
2233 E. Speedway Blvd.
www.prescott.edu
520-319-9868
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CHILDCARE

DAY-CARE CENTERS, CHILD CARE, AFTER-SCHOOL & SUMMER PROGRAMS

  • Check with the Southern Arizona branch of the Department of Health Services, Office of Child Care Licensing at 400 W. Congress St., Ste. 100, 628-6540, before selecting a day-care center or preschool for your child. Every center or preschool in Arizona serving five or more children is required to be licensed and regulated by the state, and you can check the files for inspections that have taken place within the past three years and any complaints that have been made.

  • Many public schools provide afterschool supervision for children of working parents, so check with your child’s school first. Numerous private day-care facilities offer late-afternoon care for elementary-age youngsters, and you can also check with your local YMCA.

  • The YMCA and Tucson Parks and Recreation Department both offer a variety of all-day summer programs.


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