City: Tucson, AZ

Category: Education

Telephone: (520) 209-7500

Address: 2101 E. River Rd.

Description: Bounded roughly by the mountains to the north, Camino Seco to the east, Snyder Road and Sunrise Drive to the south, and 1st Avenue on the west, Catalina Foothills School District (CFSD), also commonly known as District 16, has 1 preschool and 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. Bus transportation is provided for most of the district’s students.CFSD’s schools emphasize academics and the arts and have strict discipline policies. Students score in the top 10 percent of the nation and are among the highest in the state on standardized tests. The average CFSD student reads and computes 1 full year above grade level. Spanish-language instruction is provided starting in kindergarten.The district operates an intergenerational orchestra—the Foothills Phil—open to all interested musicians. Its CARE program, based at each elementary school, is open to enrolled elementary students for before- and after-school enrichment and is especially valuable to families with both parents working. Like most of the valley school districts, school starts in early-August and ends in late May. The district offices on E. River Road formerly housed its first school designed by famous local architect Josias Joesler.