Maricopa County Regional School District

The Maricopa County Regional School District is an urban K-12 public school district located in Phoenix, Arizona. MCRSD strives to provide academic excellence and comprehensive support for every single child and family. Because it is our belief that children will either rise or fall to your level of expectations, MCRSD is committed to high expectations for student achievement, rigorous academic standards, and accountability for all. The District has three traditional schools and seven small alternative schools with approximately 1,000 students. MCRSD serves a diverse community with many families who live in poverty (95%) and are minority (75%). Three of our schools are the Thomas J. Pappas Schools for children of homeless families. Founded by Dr. Sandra Dowling in 1990, these schools cater to the very unique needs of families who are living on homeless status by providing essential social, psychological, and medical support on a daily basis. Maricopa County, named after the Maricopa Tribe, was created from portions of Pima and Yavapai counties in 1871. More than half of the state's population resides in Maricopa County, which includes the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Peoria and Gilbert. This metro area is the state's major center of political and economic activity. In addition to housing the state capital, the county is home to a growing high-tech industry; manufacturing and agricultural industries; 15 institutions of higher learning; various cultural attractions; professional sports teams; and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the fifth busiest in the world with over 1,400 daily flights.