Our Legacy

Tempe School District No. 3 is officially established, becoming the third school district in Maricopa County.

Tempe schools, which began 20 years before Tempe officially incorporated as a Town, laid the foundation for future educational growth and development, with an initial enrollment of 43 children.

The District began its journey with a vision to provide quality education for all children in the region…a vision that continues today.

The above photo was taken in 1905 from the top of Tempe Butte or “A” Mountain. The approximate population of Tempe in 1877 was 100, increasing to 885 in 1900. 

Possibly the first photo of students attending Tempe schools, this image depicts students in front of a one-room adobe school.

The school, built in 1878, is the District’s second one-room adobe school and was built on the southeast corner of Eighth Street (University) and Mill Avenue. It was 20-feet wide by 40-feet long with three windows on the west and three on the east. Local volunteers built the school, and it was furnished with handmade wooden furniture.

The original Rural Schoolhouse was built in the early 1900s on the site of the current Tempe Elementary District Office. 

Tempe schools saw a period of expansion and growth in the early 1900s. State records of 1904 show that Johnson District No. 29 likely merged with Tempe Elementary School District. In 1907, Tempe citizens petitioned the County to establish a Union High School District, thus marking the beginnings of the Tempe Union High School District No. 213.

The District’s first superintendent, Benjamin H. Scudder served in a joint role, leading both Tempe Elementary and Tempe Union High School districts from 1908-1912.

In 1915, the first eight rooms of the new Tenth Street Grammar School were completed, making it the District’s third school.

Teacher Lucille Scudder’s first-grade class of 1910 poses (in photo) in front of the Eighth Street School. Miss Scudder, who later married another Tempe Elementary School District teacher, Eddie Scales, is not pictured. She was a daughter of B.H. Scudder, the first joint superintendent of Tempe elementary and high school districts.

F.J. Sullivan, then principal of Tempe Grammar School, became the next superintendent in July, 1912. Sullivan took a leave of absence in early 1914 to continue his education, but he never returned.

One of the original five TUHSD Board of Education members, J. Oscar Mullen, became the third superintendent, serving from July 1914 through June 1918. R.J. Shirley succeeded Mullen, serving as the fourth superintendent for approximately two years.

Courses at Tempe schools in the 1920s included carpentry and expanded to include physical education for all students.

Boys worked on their carpentry projects in the fenced yard at Rural School.

In the 1920s, physical education became mandatory in elementary schools. 

In this 1925 photo, Rural School student Andrew Morton reads in the window sill.

School buildings received significant updates during this decade. In August 1926, the Board gave the directive to wire the Eighth Street School for electricity. The 10th Street School received a gasoline heater, a new roof, and other repairs in the mid-to-late 1920s.

Before the end of the decade, in September 1929, the Town of Tempe became a city.

As Arizona began feeling the effects of the Great Depression, the new 16-room Tempe Grammar School opened in September 1931. 

First-graders from the school take their class photo with their teacher, Flora Thew (center of photo).

In 1933, schools installed gas and equipment to provide hot meals to students. This marked the birth of the school lunch program for TD3.

After serving as principal of Tempe Grammar School from 1934 - 1937, Harvey M. McKemy became the first Tempe Elementary School District Superintendent in 1938. The previous superintendents served both Tempe Union High School and Tempe Elementary School Districts. McKemy would become the longest-serving Tempe Elementary School District Superintendent, filling this role until 1962.

The 1940s were a decade of major growth in Tempe’s population from about 2,960 to more than 7,600 by the end of the decade.

From 1941 to 1959, World War II and the restless post-war period would bring still sparsely-populated Arizona - and little Tempe - the first spurts of rapid growth that would be a way of life for decades to come. With the war came military bases, new people, new businesses, and a need for new schools.

Children paid a penny for a glass of milk provided in a federal program. Gasoline rationing forced the reduction of some programs, but learning and growing continued, as you can see in the photo of Mrs. James fifth-grade classroom. 

Sports programs flourished for boys and girls as they participated in baseball, softball, volleyball, swimming, and many other activities.

At the beginning of the 1950s, the three Tempe schools had an enrollment of 1,921 with substantial growth on the horizon. 

In the spring of 1951, the Wayne Ritter School, at Tyler Street and Rural Road, was completed and opened with Augusta T. Carminati serving as Principal. 

This photo pictures Manuel Luque, Bus Driver and Truant Officer, in 1952, (photo courtesy of the Tempe History Museum).

In April 1953, the District expanded its boundaries to include Rural School serving grades 5-8 and Guadalupe School, now known as Frank Elementary, serving grades 1-4.

Mitchell School welcomed students for the first time in September 1953.

H. M. McKemy Intermediate School, originally Concorda School, opened in March, 1958. It consisted of 21 general classrooms, five special classrooms, a library, and a cafetorium across the 15-acre campus.

Thew School opened in September, 1958. The school was named after Flora Thew who, after she retired in 1961 at the age of 70, was the longest continuously-employed classroom teacher in Arizona, serving all of her 49 years in TD3 teaching first grade.

Tempe’s population, less than 25,000 at the end of the 1950s, more than doubled during the 1960s. 

To accommodate the population growth, ten new schools were built between 1961 and 1969: Holdeman (1961), New Rural School (1962), Gililland/Mosley (1963), Laird/Shamley (1964), Meyer (1965), Evans (1966), Hudson/Spracale (1967), Scales (1969), Getz (1969), and Curry (1969). In September 1969, District enrollment reached 10,862 students. 

On June 25, 1962, Harvey M. McKemy (pictured here) retired after nearly three decades as head of Tempe Elementary School District. In his 28 years, McKemy managed the tremendous growth in the city and oversaw the construction of six new schools. During his time, he saw the two-school, 10-teacher District grow into a $2-million growing operation.

Sam Fees was named Superintendent in 1962 and remained in that position until 1975. During this time of monumental growth, Fees directed the construction of 18 schools. Fees was often seen carrying blueprints under his arm as he trekked around the District, checking on the many building projects underway.

By 1970, the once sleepy little town of Tempe had grown to 25 square miles with 63,550 residents.

TD3 enrollment reached its all-time peak of 13,540 in 1975, and the building boom that started in the 1960s continued through this decade to accommodate the additional students. The District built 11 schools and a maintenance facility during the 1970s: Carminati (1971), Connolly (1972), Arredondo (1972), Bustoz (1974), Nevitt (1974), Ward (1974), Aguilar (1975), Rover (1975), Wood (1975), Brogan Center (1977), Fuller (1977) and Fees (1979).

Learning centers, equipped with a tape recorder, listening box, and headsets helped children across the District and at Holdeman School (in photo) to develop their reading skills.

Superintendent Fees was granted medical leave in the summer of 1975, and the Board appointed Robert P. Curry to serve as acting Superintendent for the 1975-1976 school year. Fees was later reassigned as “District Administrator” and also served as director of operations until his retirement in 1981.

At a special meeting In May 1976, the Governing Board announced it had selected Dr. Ralph Goitia, then superintendent of Phoenix Elementary District No. 1, to lead the District. Dr. Goitia would serve as TD3 Superintendent for 12 years.

The 1980s ushered in a time of unique developments across the District, including land sales, school leases, and technology.

A contract to build a permanent Getz School was approved in 1980 along with a plan for TD3, Kyrene, and Tempe Union to all use the new school. That same year, the Board authorized the sale of eight acres of land on Vine Street to the City of Tempe. The land had been purchased five years earlier when enrollment was rapidly increasing.

In 1982, the Board approved a plan for the closure of Mitchell, Rural, and Ward schools. All three schools would be leased to various organizations during the decade, including the Jewish Centers of Greater Phoenix, Childsplay, and Arizona State University.

A pilot program was initiated at Meyer, Rural, and Connolly schools to use “micro computers” in classrooms and a learning laboratory for instruction and practice in math, grammar, early reading, spelling, and social studies.

A fun run (pictured in photo) through the neighborhood was Bustoz School students’ way of celebrating the school’s 10th birthday in 1985. Students also used the event to raise money for the American Cancer Society and to spread awareness of cancer prevention.

In 1987, Superintendent Dr. Ralph Goitia announced his plans to retire in June, 1988. The Board began a superintendent search about one year prior and received more than 70 applications. They selected Dr. Agustin A. “Augie” Orci to begin serving as superintendent on July 1, 1988. Dr. Orci had served as associate superintendent for instruction in Clark County School District, Nevada and had grown up in Arizona.

Pictured above, Connolly Computer Club members show off the MacIntosh computer they won in a national competition. 

Throughout the 1990s, the Technology Strategic Plan Action Team implemented numerous Bond projects designed to bring modern technology into the schools and District.

Both the District’s new office and the Smith’s (Frys) market next door were completed and opened in the summer of 1991. Disappearing in their wake were the Bivins Education Center and the “new” Rural School, which had stood on the site. The new District office was named the Sanchez Administration Center in honor of former 15-year Board member, Dr. George M. Sanchez, a popular, well-respected, and skilled eye-health care practitioner who treated his patients and their families with respect and kindness.

The non-profit TIE (Tempe Impact Education) Foundation was formed in October, 1990 and continues to support and fund the needs of District children and teachers to this day.

Three Superintendents led TD3 during the 1990s. Dr. Augie Orci retired in 1993. Dr. Mary Ann Lawson took over serving as Superintendent for five years from 1994 to 1999. Dr. John Baracy, who had served as Superintendent in the Roosevelt Elementary School District guided TD3 into a new century, serving as Superintendent from 1999 to 2004.

The new century marked a time of rebuilding and repurposing for several schools within the Tempe Elementary District.

After a renovation, Ward School was reopened as Ward Traditional Academy in 2005 serving students in grades K-8.

Thew and Holdeman schools were rebuilt in 2008 and continue to serve K-5 students. Scales Elementary was also rebuilt in 2008, and the school reopened as Scales Technology Academy (pictured above) committed to excellence in education and technology integration.

The District’s oldest remaining school, Broadmor, was rebuilt the following year, 54 years after opening its doors in 1955.

The Brogan Center was rebuilt in 2009 and serves as the District’s Transportation, Facilities Management, and Nutrition Services hub.

In 2009, Evans Elementary School was repurposed and has served as an alternative school as well as a preschool.

Similar to the previous decade, three Superintendents led the staff and students of TD3 between 2000 and 2010. Dr. John Baracy, who had joined TD3 in 1999 left for another opportunity in 2004. Debra Gomez, who had been serving as an associate superintendent, led TD3 for one year, before the Governing Board hired Dr. Arthur Tate to serve as Superintendent for six years through 2011.

The work of repurposing and rebuilding schools continued through this decade bringing new schools and opportunities for students.

McKemy Middle School was closed at the end of the 2010-2011 school year due to declining enrollment. In 2013, the school was repurposed and reopened as Tempe Academy of International Studies – McKemy Campus, becoming an International Baccalaureate World School in 2015. It was rebuilt in 2020, and the name was changed once again to McKemy Academy of International Studies.

Bustoz Elementary School merged into Fuller Elementary School and Meyer Elementary merged into Hudson (Spracale) Elementary School at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Bustoz was repurposed as TD3 Professional Learning Center at Bustoz, a professional development center for teachers and staff.

Fees Middle School transitioned to Fees College Preparatory Middle School in 2011. That same year, Aguilar School was rebuilt. Laird (Shamley) School, now serving K-8 students, was rebuilt in 2016. In 2017, Arredondo School was rebuilt. Also that year, Meyer School was remodeled and reopened as Meyer Montessori in August. 

Frank School, which was originally built in 1929 and rebuilt in 1967, was rebuilt once again in 2018 (pictured here) along with Nevitt School. The rebuilt Frank Elementary School incorporated the architecture from the Guadalupe community in which it was built and included a bell tower containing the original Guadalupe School bell, which was originally rung to alert the local school children that it was time to come to school.

Superintendent Dr. Arthur Tate left the District in 2011 for another opportunity. The Board hired long-time TD3 leader Christine Hoddy Busch as Superintendent in 2011.

During this decade, Tempe Elementary School District celebrates 150 years of community-inspired education. 

Since 1874, when the Tempe Elementary School District became the third school district in Maricopa County, we have focused on our mission of inspiring excellence… Every Child… Every Adult… Every day. Details of our upcoming sesquicentennial celebrations will be posted on our website!

School construction continued with a newly rebuilt Wood Elementary opening in 2020 and Gililland (Mosley) Middle School opening in 2022.

After ten years as Superintendent and nearly 35 years in education, Christine Hoddy Busch retired. The Governing Board hired Dr. James Driscoll in 2021 as Tempe Elementary School District’s 11th leader.