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 district is the 7th largest in Arizona, and serves over 34,000 students at 39 schools across Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa.

In 2018, the district was named "4th Best School District in America" by the National Council for Home Safety and SecurityNational Council for Home Safety and Security and "Best Public School/District" in the "Best of Gilbert 2018" issue of the East Valley Tribune. As of 2025, fifteen GPS schools have earned the "A+ School of Excellence™ Award" from the Arizona Educational Foundation. All GPS schools 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.

History

In 1900, the first school in Gilbert was built on the southwest corner of Baseline and Cooper roads. This school was moved in 1909 to the northeast corner of Guadalupe and Cooper roads. It was named Highland because this was the highest land south of the Salt River. It was part of the Mesa Unified School District #4.

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

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

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.

Schools

Schools in the district include 26 elementary schools (Pre K–6); six junior high schools (7–8), five high schools (9–12), two academies, one global academy, and one alternative education school (7–12).

High schools 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 Scott Smith Lucas Blackburn Brian Yee Shawn Lynch Athleticconference2011‐2012 2012‐2013 Conference Placement , Arizona Interscholastic Association, 2010-10-1 N/A 5A 6A 6A 6A 4A Enrollment(2018, 100th day) 1985 2709 2059 3046 1635 Website Official Official Official Official Official Official

Junior high schools 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 SmithSean Jonaitis Kari Castro Jonathan Schley Feederfor (HS) Desert Ridge Gilbert,Highland Highland Mesquite,Gilbert Campo Verde Enrollment(2018, 100th day) 1234 905 1216 994 1013 Website Official Official Official Official Official

Elementary schools Enrollment on 100th day, 2018

Source:

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 Canyon Valley School (grades 7-12) - alternative education (322 enrolled as of 100th day 2018) 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. Gilbert Classical Academy (grades 7-12) - opened August 2007, replacing the GPS Technology and Leadership Academy (526 enrolled as of 100th day 2018) Global Academy - opened August, 2011 Neely Traditional Academy (grades K-6; 779 enrolled as of 100th day 2018) 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 The district was named "4th Best School District in America" by the National Council for Home Safety and Security in 2017 and 2018. GPS has been voted "Best Public School/District" in the "Best of the Best" annual issues of the East Valley TribuneEast Valley Tribune for five consecutive years, starting in 2019. Fifteen GPS schools had earned the "A+ School of Excellence™ Award" from the Arizona Educational Foundation as of spring 2025. Neely Traditional Academy (grades K-6) is an elementary school in Gilbert. The school was opened in 1981, and became in 1999. Neely received the National Blue Ribbon School award in 2009 and 2023.

See also East Valley Institute of Technology Mesa Public Schools

References

External links