Sandra Day O'Connor High School (Arizona)

Sandra Day O'Connor High School
Location
Map
25250 N. 35th Ave
Phoenix, Arizona 85083
Coordinates33°43′03″N 112°08′18″W / 33.717391°N 112.138358°W / 33.717391; -112.138358
Information
TypePublic
MottoExpect the best. Get the best. Be the best.[3]
Established2002
PrincipalLynn Miller
Staff115.20 (FTE)[1]
Enrollment2,604 (2023-24)[2]
Student to teacher ratio21.56[1]
Color(s)Royal Blue and Metallic Gold
   
MascotEagle
RivalMountain Ridge High School
NewspaperThe Talon
Websitesdohs.dvusd.org

Sandra Day O’Connor High School (SDOHS), part of the Deer Valley Unified School District, is a public high school located just west of I-17 and north of Happy Valley Road in Phoenix, Arizona. The school had a 97.1% graduation rate in 2018.[4] SDOHS was first awarded the A+ School of Excellence distinction in 2018 and it was renewed in 2023.[5]

The campus, which first opened in fall 2002, is named after former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who grew up in Arizona, served as an assistant attorney general, was member of the state senate, and eventually became the first woman appointed as a Supreme Court Justice.[6]

Athletics

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Special Programs

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The Academy of Advanced Studies and Civic Engagement[7]

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Formerly known as the Academy of American Studies, students can apply to be a part of this 4-year program that both focuses on civic engagement and college preparation. Academy students are grouped together into a cohort of students in their grade. Academy Students take AP Human Geography, AP World History, AP United States History, and AP United States Government and Politics. In addition to Advanced Placement courses, Academy students take an online/hybrid U.S. history course as well as participate in an internship in their senior year.

The program is tied together by several trips throughout a student's 4 years in the Academy. Underclassmen have previously had the opportunity to go to the Renaissance festival, the Titan Missile Museum, and the Phoenix Crime Lab & Phoenix Police Museum. Summer Institute trips are offered to all Academy students and have previously included destinations such as Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington D.C., and Crow Canyon.

Gifted Academy [8]

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SDOHS's Gifted Academy affords the most motivated students the chance at an academically rigorous education. Using a gifted cluster model, the Gifted Academy keeps gifted students together and assigns them to teachers with highly gifted endorsements and qualifications. Gifted courses are enhanced with problem-based, project-based, and cross curricular learning opportunities focusing on the gifted learner and allowing for a more enriching experience.

SDOHS's long list of Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses gives Gifted Academy students the opportunity to explore different fields and disciplines of study while also gaining college credit. Additionally, AP Seminar and AP Research are two courses students can take to earn a Capstone Diploma.

Although open to all students, most Gifted Academy students graduate with SDOHS's Certificate of Advanced Academics, which supplements their diploma and serves as an indication of their rigorous course work above and beyond the requirements.

Air Force Junior ROTC[9]

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Starting in 2006, SDOHS began offering an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) program. This program has won back-to-back unit awards from 2009 up to the 2014 school year. The program allows students to learn about the military while also developing life skills and enhancing their leadership abilities.

Statistics

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As of the 2023-2024 school year, 2,604 students attend SDOHS. Caucasian students make up the majority at 72.0% of the student body. Students identified as of Hispanic or Latino origins make up 13.4% of students and Asians are at 7.5%. According to the Arizona Department of Education, in 2023, 52% of juniors at SDOHS passed the ELA section of the ACT, and 46% passed the mathematics section. Additionally, 47% of juniors passed the state science assessment. SDOHS was rated an "A" school in 2023 by the Arizona Department of Education. [10]

Demographics[11]
Race/Ethnicity White Hispanic or Latino Asian Two or More Races African-American Other
Number of Students 1874 350 194 101 64 21
Percentage of Students 72.0% 13.4% 7.5% 3.9% 2.5% 0.8%

Feeder Schools[12]

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  • Stetson Hills School (K-8)
  • Inspiration Mountain School (K-8)
  • Desert Sage Elementary School (K-6)
  • Las Brisas Elementary School (K-6)
  • Hillcrest Middle School (7-8)
Student Outcomes[13]
Class of 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
4-year College or University 51% 52% 51% 56% 60% 57%
2-year 35% 33% 36% 25% 21% 24%
Tech/Trade School 4% 4% 6% 6% 7% 7%
Armed Forces 3% 4% 4% 4% 2% 2%
Work 7% 7% 4% 9% 7% 6%

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Sandra Day O'Connor High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Accountability & Research Data". September 23, 2019.
  3. ^ "SDOHS School Profile" (PDF).
  4. ^ "AZ School Report Cards | School Information". azreportcards.azed.gov.
  5. ^ "LIST OF A+ SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE® AWARDEES | Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF®)".
  6. ^ "About Us / Mission/Vision/Motto/Goals". dvusd.org.
  7. ^ "The Academy of Civic Engagement and Advanced Studies / The Academy of Civic Engagement and Advanced".
  8. ^ "Gifted Academy / Information & Application".
  9. ^ "Departments / Air Force Junior ROTC".
  10. ^ "Accountability & Research Data". September 23, 2019.
  11. ^ "Accountability & Research Data". September 23, 2019.
  12. ^ "General School Information / DVUSD School Boundary Maps".
  13. ^ "SDOHS School Profile / School Profile".
  14. ^ "Arizona high school golfer with Down syndrome continues to inspire". The Arizona Republic.
  15. ^ Obert, Richard (February 26, 2020). "Rylee Holtorf, Jocelyn Erickson could start Sandra Day O'Connor softball dynasty". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  16. ^ "MLB Draft: Sandra Day O'Connor (Phoenix) slugger Nolan Gorman drafted by St. Louis Cardinals". USA TODAY High School Sports. June 5, 2018.
  17. ^ Fuoco-Karasinski, Christina (February 3, 2022). "'Pretty Surreal Moment': Valley's Matthew Knies skates to the Olympics". Phoenix.org. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  18. ^ "Celebrities who attended Phoenix high schools". The Arizona Republic.
  19. ^ "Bralen Trice, Washington Huskies, Edge". 247Sports. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  20. ^ Chapman, Ryan (April 18, 2023). "OU Softball: Three Sooners Selected in WPF Draft". Sports Illustrated Oklahoma Sooners News, Analysis and More. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
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