Curriculum

Core classes of language arts, science, math, and social studies mirror the Arizona State Standards and provide each student with the sound foundation upon which to build his/her academic skills. We are continually evaluating our TerraNova and AIMS test scores and assessing which content clusters we need to address at specific grade levels.

Curriculum Renewal
Departmental and team level meetings focus on curriculum, current best practices, and professional development opportunities. Teachers meet as teams for collaboration, discussion, and decision-making about the curriculum of special needs students to meet the demands of their interests and abilities. Accelerated classes are offered in language arts and math at all grade levels. SEI and resource students are placed in the least restrictive environment of the classroom and are accommodated for their individual needs to ensure their success.

Curriculum review and revision is a continuous process involving teachers and administration. We use a three-pronged approach of faculty, departmental, and team meetings to keep abreast of current trends, teaching strategies to address the learning abilities of our diverse student population, and mandates (federal, state, district). Faculty meetings play a key role in providing an overall awareness of current changes in curriculum, discipline, mandated programs, and current trends of effective teaching practices. Departmental meetings meet to clarify the aforementioned in detail ensuring that our students exceed the standards established for any of these areas. Team meetings provide opportunity for cross-curricular reinforcement and development of these areas, i.e., writing across the curriculum.

PUSD systematically revises and adapts curriculum on a six-year cycle; these committees are composed of teachers, administrators, and community representatives. Currently, the district is revising its science curriculum to coordinate with the revised Arizona State Standards and AIMS test requirements.

The math department has enhanced its curriculum by revising the CRT (criterion referenced test) for grades six through eight to reflect the state standards.

Computer assisted instruction has been improved at Mile High with the second lab being updated with twenty-five Dell Computer stations for classroom use. New standards based software in both science and math has been added. The Odyssey Program, offering individualized instruction, provides opportunities for students struggling in most subject areas; this lab is available for all classes.