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Desert Edge High School

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Coordinates: 33°26′16″N 112°23′55″W / 33.4379°N 112.3985°W / 33.4379; -112.3985
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Desert Edge High School
Address
Map
15778 West Yuma Road

Goodyear
,
Arizona
85338

United States
Coordinates33°26′16″N 112°23′55″W / 33.4379°N 112.3985°W / 33.4379; -112.3985
Information
School typePublic high school
Established2002; 22 years ago (2002)
School districtAgua Fria Union High School District
CEEB code030194[3]
NCES School ID040045002273[1]
PrincipalGretchen Hann[2]
Staff84.30 (on FTE basis)[1]
Enrollment1,991 (2022-2023)[1]
Student to teacher ratio23.62[1]
Color(s)    Copper, White, and Black
Athletics conferenceAIA
MascotScorpion
Team nameScorpions
USNWR ranking6,197[4]
Websitewww.aguafria.org/dehs Edit this at Wikidata

Desert Edge High School is a public high school in Goodyear, Arizona, United States. Operated by the Agua Fria Union High School District, it is the third school in the district.

Construction on Desert Edge began in 2002. Designed by architect EMC2 Group, the school was constructed in two phases; the first was completed in 2002 by contractor Sun Eagle Construction, while the second was completed in 2005 by contractor Adolfson and Peterson Construction, who concurrently worked on Verrado High School. The campus was designed as a green building with design elements to reduce energy and water usage.

Desert Edge opened in 2002 to a class of 138 freshmen. As of 2022, the school offers 15 Advanced Placement courses. The school's demographics largely consist of Caucasian and Hispanic and Latino American students. Desert Edge is ranked 6,197th nationally by U.S. News and World Report and 112nd in Arizona.

History

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Planning and opening

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Desert Edge High School was completed in two phases. Architect EMC2 Group was contracted to construct Desert Edge High School prior to 2002, and contracted Sun Eagle Construction to complete the first phase.[5]

Desert Edge opened in August 2002 to a class of 138 freshmen, accepting sophomores in 2003, juniors in 2004, and seniors in 2005. Leslie Anderson was selected as the school's first principal.[6] By the time Desert Edge opened, Wigwam Creek Middle School in the Litchfield Elementary School District (LESD) had experienced multiple delays from its initial May 2002 completion date, forcing Desert Edge to accommodate 750 students in the LESD.[7]

Funding and expansions

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Since 2005, Desert Edge has used fundraisers to support its programs, such as its athletic program. In 2005, it held a golf fundraiser at the Tuscany Falls golf course in PebbleCreek.[8] To incentivize lower-income students, Desert Edge started a rewards program in 2003; it then partnered with a local IHOP restaurant to offer gift cards.[6]

In 2005, the AFUHSD proposed a 90,000 sq ft (8,400 m2) expansion to Desert Edge's campus. The project was completed that same year by Adolfson and Peterson Construction, who were concurrently contracted to construct Verrado High School,[5] totaling $12.7 million in costs, $9.1 million of which was paid for using funds from the Arizona School Facilities Board (SFB), while the remaining $3.6 million was paid for using standard District B bond funds. Construction was completed four weeks ahead of schedule and $450,000 under budget.[9]

During the construction of Verrado High School, the AFUHSD considered rezoning the attendance zones, reducing Desert Edge's student population by 120 students and placing them at Verrado. The plan presented complications for students who required an alternate mode of transportation to attend Verrado, when they were able to walk to Desert Edge. The AFUHSD ultimately let these students stay at Desert Edge.[10]

Campus

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Desert Edge High School was designed by architecture firm EMC2 Group and constructed in two phases; the first phase was constructed by Sun Eagle Construction, while Adolfson and Peterson Construction completed the second phase.[5] The phases were completed in time for the 2002-2003 and 2005-2006 school years, respectively.[11] The second phase included additions to the classroom wings and gymnasium, as well as a new maintenance building and auditorium.[12] Additional companies involved in the project include engineering company LSW Engineers and clean energy consultant Green Ideas.[13]

The campus covers 218,783 sq ft (20,325.6 m2) and has a capacity of 1,600 students. The main campus consists of classrooms, administrative areas, a media center, a gymnasium, a 522-seat fine arts auditorium, a career technology area, and a student bookstore. Desert Edge uses informational interactive kiosks to provide information on, among other things, the water and electricity savings of the building, bus routes, and the weather.[11] The campus is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.[12] Several expansions have been added to the campus since it opened in 2002, including a new field house in 2019.[14]

Designed as an energy efficient building, Desert Edge implements multiple high-performance energy saving strategies, such as daylighting and demand controlled ventilation. Water efficient strategies implemented at Desert Edge include water-cooled chillers with a water-side economizer. Adjacent water-based cooling towers use a chiller bypass, taking advantage of Arizona's arid climate. These water efficient strategies ultimately resulted in a 38% reduction in water savings as compared to the requirements laid out in the Energy Policy Act of 1992.[13] The energy efficiency of building materials was also considered; the school's masonry walls use R-19 cavity insulation, while its metal deck roof uses R-30 insulation. The school's windows are dual-paned with a U-factor of 0.33.[11] The roofing system is Energy Star rated, and low-emitting adhesives, sealants, and paints were used. To reduce the amount of formaldehyde, agri-fiber board was used in regards to cabinetry.[12] In 2010, solar panels were installed on the roof of the school's campus, as part of a clean energy initiative by the Agua Fria Union High School District.[15] Adolfson and Peterson Construction sought to install solar panels during the construction of the second phase, but a lack of funding delayed the contractor's plans.[12]

In addition, Desert Edge's campus engages in outdoor sustainable practices, such as drip irrigation and xeriscaping. Indoors, motion and daylight sensors are used that automatically turn off lights, depending on if people are present in the room and what the time of day is. These practices further increase the energy efficiency of Desert Edge, especially in comparison to other, more conventional schools.[16] Additionally, carbon dioxide sensors signal a shut off signal to the fan coil when the rooms are unoccupied.[12]

Academics

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Enrollment

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Student body composition as of 2022[17]
Race and ethnicity Total
Hispanic 58.0% 58
 
White 21.7% 21.7
 
Black 12.4% 12.4
 
Two or more Races 3.7% 3.7
 
Asian 2.5% 2.5
 
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.8% 0.8
 
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.8% 0.8
 
Sex Total
Male 53% 53
 
Female 47% 47
 

As of the 2020-2021 school year, Desert Edge High School had an enrollment of 1,786 students and 83.80 classroom teachers (on FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 21.31.[1] As of 2019, 45% of students are on free or reduced lunch.[18]

A majority minority is present in the student body at Desert Edge. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that in 2020 and 2021, the ethnic demographics of students was 22.2% Caucasian, 57.1% Hispanic and Latino American, 12.7% African American, 2.6% Asian American, and 5.2% other including American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander American, and multiple raced backgrounds.[1]

Awards

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In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Desert Edge High School 6,197th nationally and 112nd among schools in Arizona.[4] The Washington Post placed Desert Edge 1,796th on its "America's Most Challenging High Schools" list for 2015.[19]

Curriculum

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Consistent with curriculum at other high schools in the district, curriculum at Desert Edge High School typically includes four years of English, mathematics, and three years of laboratory-based sciences and history. Students also take one year of a foreign language, two years of a fine arts class, and four years of an elective class.[20]

Desert Edge offers a range of Advanced Placement (AP) classes, focusing on English, mathematics, science, history, art, and foreign languages. These classes allow students to earn college credit.[20] As of 2022, there are 17 AP classes offered, with about a third of students taking at least one AP class. About 45% of students pass their AP tests.[21]

In 2006, Desert Edge began a cooperative relationship with Estrella Mountain Community College, allowing students to earn college credits in the Maricopa Community College District after school at Desert Edge.[22] That same year, Desert Edge partnered with the Academy of Finance to offer classes in personal finance.[23]

Since 2010, Desert Edge has offered a program for middle school students to enroll in high school classes through the adjacent Avondale Elementary School District.[24] For at-risk students, Desert Edge offers three programs: an instructional program for students removed from a class for behavioral issues, a credit recovery program for students who fail their classes, and an alternative school for students who have difficulty learning in traditional classes.[25]

As part of the AFUHSD, sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Desert Edge can attend online classes through the school. These classes are taken outside of school hours, and a fee is required.[26]

A ProPublica report in 2016 found that around a fifth of students take the SAT or ACT, and 2% are in a gifted and talented program.[27] As of 2022, Desert Edge students had an average SAT composite score of 1110 out of 1600.[21] The Arizona Board of Regents found that, for the 2015-2016 school year, 53.3% of students attended some form of post-secondary education.[28]

Extracurricular activities

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Athletics

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Desert Edge High School fields 22 varsity teams, including badminton, track/cross country, football, golf, swimming, volleyball, basketball, soccer, wrestling, baseball/softball, and tennis; additionally, Desert Edge has an esports team. These teams compete under the Desert Edge Scorpions moniker in the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA).[2] In the AIA, the Desert Edge Scorpions compete in the 5A conference and in Division II, as of 2023.[29]

Music

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The Desert Edge music program is represented by the Desert Edge Music Organization, which organizes an annual music festival known as "Edgestock".[30] Desert Edge's choir program consists of five curricular choirs and two varsity groups, and boasts 180 students, as of 2022.[31] To fund its band program, Desert Edge receives funding and instruments from the Giving Music the Edge program, a collaboration between local home builder Fulton Homes and alternative rock station KEDJ. The program raised $13,000 towards Desert Edge's band within its first year,[32] followed by a $3,000 donation.[33]

Other activities

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Students at Desert Edge operate a television station under the callsign DETV. The station broadcasts morning announcements every school day and a weekly 10-minute show.[34]

In March 2020, Raytheon Technologies donated $2,000 to Desert Edge to start a VEX Robotics team.[35]

Notable alumni

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Notable alumni from Desert Edge include Mitchell Watt, basketball player for Reyer Venezia of the Lega Basket Serie A.[36]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Search for Public Schools - Desert Edge High School (040045002273)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Desert Edge High School". AIAOnline. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  3. ^ "CEEB Lookup Master List" (PDF). Brevard College. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, AZ - US News Best High Schools". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Photo Gallery" (PDF). Arizona School Facilities Board. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Fascenelli, Nora (March 7, 2003). "Club hopes to give new school the edge". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix.
  7. ^ Mendoza, Monica (July 22, 2002). "Delays force student relocation". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix.
  8. ^ Carr, Kelly (May 10, 2006). "Desert Edge High will hold first golf fund-raiser Saturday". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix.
  9. ^ "Desert Edge High School Phase II" (PDF). Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  10. ^ Kelly, Carr (August 22, 2005). "Agua Fria board heeds parents: lets 120 students stay at Desert Edge High". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix.
  11. ^ a b c American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (2011). Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings: Achieving 50% Energy Savings Toward a Net Zero Energy Building. ISBN 9781936504138.
  12. ^ a b c d e Livingston, Heather (April 11, 2005). "Emc2Group Designs First LEED High School". American Institute of Architects. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Green Schools Case Study: Desert Edge High School" (PDF). Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Sorenson, Eric (May 10, 2019). "New Desert Edge Field House "Raises The Bar"". Sports360AZ. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  15. ^ Gordon, Megan (January 16, 2011). "All Agua Fria high schools will have solar panels". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  16. ^ Jeffery, Yvonne; Barclay, Liz; Grosvenor, Michael (April 15, 2008). Green Living For Dummies. Hoboken: Wiley. ISBN 9780470370636.
  17. ^ "Desert Edge High School". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  18. ^ "Arizona Department of Education Health & Nutrition Services Free and Reduced Report" (PDF). Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  19. ^ O'Grady, Patrick (April 22, 2015). "21 Arizona high schools make national 'most challenging' list; 4 included in top 10". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  20. ^ a b "2022/2023 Course Description Book". Agua Fria Union High School District. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Desert Edge High School Test Scores and Academics". Niche. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  22. ^ Carr, Kelly (February 15, 2006). "High school offers college-credit English". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix.
  23. ^ Leung, Lily (August 18, 2007). "Program aims to make teens financially savvy: financial academy offers real-life experience for students at Desert Edge". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix.
  24. ^ Serrato, Lauren (April 27, 2022). "AESD offers fast-track high school program". West Valley View. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  25. ^ Kelly, Carr (March 15, 2006). "Computer lab helps at-risk kids: Desert Edge High students get assistance from 3 programs". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix.
  26. ^ "Online Classes". Agua Fria Union High School District. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  27. ^ "Miseducation | Desert Edge High School". ProPublica. October 16, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  28. ^ "College Going of 2015-16 Arizona Public High School Graduates" (PDF). Arizona Board of Regents. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  29. ^ "AIA Constitution, Bylaws, Policies and Procedures" (PDF). Arizona Interscholastic Association. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  30. ^ Carr, Kelly (April 12, 2006). "Edgestock rocks young musicians' world: high school opens stage to show talent". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix.
  31. ^ Serrato, Lauren (April 23, 2022). "WV woman grows Desert Edge choir program". West Valley View. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  32. ^ Moody, Annemarie (April 28, 2007). "Desert Edge accepts band donations: Fulton, KEDJ do their part to help". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix.
  33. ^ "Program boosts Desert Edge band". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix. May 23, 2007.
  34. ^ West, Bryan (May 21, 2018). "Students at Desert Edge High School in Goodyear are going live with the news". KPNX. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  35. ^ Polansky, Seth (March 1, 2020). "Desert Edge awarded $2,000 by Raytheon to launch VEX Robotics team". AZPreps365. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  36. ^ "Get to Know the New Warriors - Summer League Standouts". National Basketball Association. October 16, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
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