Our School

Cherokee Elementary School, nestled in Paradise Valley at the foot of Camelback within the Scottsdale Unified School District.

We meet the needs of our students by working hand-in-hand with our supportive community.  Parents applaud our talented staff, our positive climate and culture, and the ability to use our incredible resources to serve the needs of all children.  Our school is highly ranked, has earned a letter grade of an A from the Department of Education and is an Arizona Education Foundation A+ School of Excellence.

Despite being a part of the Scottsdale Unified School District, Cherokee Elementary School's campus is nestled in the beautiful town of Paradise Valley. Boasting breathtaking views of Mummy Mountain and Piestewa Peak. 

The campus underwent a significant redevelopment starting with the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Governing Board's decision on October 16, 2018, to use voter-approved bonds for the project. The redevelopment was a well-planned and executed process involving various stakeholders and was overseen by Phoenix-based project architect Orcutt Winslow, selected by the SUSD Governing Board on December 11, 2018. The Governing Board unanimously approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of just over $23 million with contractor Core Construction on December 3rd for the construction.

The first Cherokee Project Community Forum was held on December 17, 2018, and met seven times between then and July 24, 2019. The Cherokee Visioning Committee, which included representatives from the district, school, and community, held its first meeting on January 16, 2019, and convened six times until June 26, 2019. Construction crews broke ground on January 13, 2020. The rebuild was complete and the new building officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 2nd, 2021.

A standout feature of the remodel is the addition of a real school bus, which has been altered to create an interactive experience for students inside the school's library. This unique feature pays homage to Barbara Park, the author of the Junie B. Jones series, who claimed that the inspiration for her character came from her time spent at Cherokee Elementary School. In honor of the first Junie B. Jones novel, the school leaders added a “Stupid Smelly Bus” experience in the new school.

The campus was thoughtfully designed to incorporate indoor/outdoor learning spaces, using large garage doors in each grade-level pod to allow for various learning environments and experiences.

State-of-the-art technology is incorporated throughout the campus to enhance learning opportunities for students and provide teachers with the best possible resources.

Safety was a paramount consideration in the design, resulting in the inclusion of a Paradise Valley Police sub-station attached to the campus, where Paradise Valley police officers regularly stop in to do paperwork and other administrative tasks. The campus also boasts an extremely large parking lot to ensure ample parking for staff and visitors.

Cherokee Elementary School features large playgrounds and fields for students, along with plenty of shade structures to ensure comfort during outdoor activities. The school’s redevelopment has created a modern, safe, and engaging learning environment for students and staff alike.