City: Phoenix, AZ

Category: Education

Telephone: (602) 764-1100

Address: 4502 N. Central Ave.

Description: Phoenix Union is one of the largest high school districts in the nation, serving more than 25,000 students. But what sets this district apart from other high school districts in the Valley is its 10 magnet programs and 1 magnet high school. The magnet concept is how the district complies with a federal court order to desegregate its schools. Students often choose schools outside their neighborhoods because they’re interested in a certain program at another school. Whatever their choice, they receive free transportation to that school. A magnet school, as described by the district, provides both specialized and advanced preparation to students with special needs or ambitions. In addition to specialized courses, the schools offer a full slate of basic curriculum, athletics, clubs, and student government. Here are a few examples of magnet programs: medical and health studies at Alhambra High School in west Phoenix; computer and marine/environmental studies at Carl Hayden High School in west Phoenix; an international baccalaureate program for college-bound students at North High School in central Phoenix; and performing/visual arts, aviation/aerospace, and law-related studies at South Mountain High School in south Phoenix. Camelback High School also launched a new program in 2010 called “GEARS” (Game and Web Design, Engineering, Architecture, Robotics, and Sustainability), which includes special classes for students interested in those subject areas. Central High School is now a Cambridge International Center, the first in Arizona.Metro Tech High School, formerly a vocational-technical school, has now become a comprehensive 4-year high school and offers both regular academic classes and more than 25 career-vocational programs.