Orange Grove Middle School students won the Arizona Council on Economic Education's (ACEE) statewide competition. Check out the full story here.
Since 1992, Foothills legend Renee Shane-Boyd has transformed the Catalina Foothills Falcon Band from a small group of 17 students into the largest marching band in Arizona. This inspiring story was produced by Foothills grad Noor Haghighi, Class of 2021.
Catalina Foothills School District is the only K through 12 school district in Southern Arizona to have every school earn an "A" grade from the Arizona Department of Education in 2025. Read more here.
Fifth graders from Manzanita and Ventana Vista Elementary Schools created portraits of animals up for adoption through a partnership with The Humane Society. The portraits are displayed on the animals' enclosures to help encourage adoptions. Watch video here.
Learn more about what’s new in CFSD this school year, including a new guitar and orchestra building, seven brand new buses, a college and career counselor focusing on students' plans after high school, and cutting-edge approaches in math education. Watch video here.
As they hiked through the Box Camp Trail on Mount Lemmon, the students in CFSD's Mount Lemmon Backpacking Camp didn’t have a single electronic in hand. Lessons included how to make first aid kits, how to set up a tent, and how to stay hydrated. Watch video here.
Manzanita Elementary School hosted an evening full of sports-themed science at its STEM night. “It allows them (students) to see how science applies to all kinds of fun stuff that we are doing on a regular basis,” says STEM integration specialist Kelly Taylor. View the video here.
Through this Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathway at Catalina Foothills High School, students are introduced to the scope, rigor, and discipline of engineering. View the full story here.
Sixth graders in Ms. Smith’s class are helping advance NASA research on growing plants in space. Growing Beyond Earth® allows them to learn and work with a Fairchild-designed plant habitat similar to the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) on the International Space Station.
On November 28, 2024, the CFSD Governing Board approved the appointment of Dr. Denise Bartlett as CFSD's next superintendent. View video here.
In their first year of the Theatre Arts track, students get the opportunity to learn both parts of stagecraft: acting and theatre tech. View full story here.
The U.S. Department of Education named Sunrise Drive Elementary a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School, defined as one of the state's highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments. View full story here.
To observe Constitution Week, longtime CFSD family members Ted and Matt Schmidt delivered a presentation on America's beginnings dressed as two of our founding fathers. View full story here.
In Sports Medicine, students gain a greater understanding of science and the structure and function of the human body as it relates to injury and illness. View full story here.
“Being a Foothills grad definitely influenced how I teach. When I was at Foothills, I always felt like it was a welcoming and inclusive community,” Manzanita first grade teacher Melissa Landau said. View full story here.
KGUN anchor Heidi Alagha decided to visit Esperero Canyon Middle School to try her hand as an education assistant (EA). She found that EAs play a key role in delivering quality education at our schools. Read the complete story here.
District 16 Report Card: New Cellphone Policy Being Considered for CFSD Students
The DesertLeaf, July/August, 2025District 16 Report Card: New Bond Dollars Put to Work
The DesertLeaf, June, 2025From the Super: The Heartbeat of Our Community
The DesertLeaf, May, 2025District 16 Report Card: Catalina Foothills Schools Face Conservative Budget Next School Year
The DesertLeaf, May, 2025District 16 Report Card: School Board Revisits Foothills High School Academic Awards
The DesertLeaf, April, 2025District 16 Report Card: Mic Drop Moment Changes Academic Awards Criteria
The DesertLeaf, March, 2025District 16 Report Card: CFSD Superintendent Marks Halfway Point of First Year
The DesertLeaf, February, 2025From the Super: Catalina Foothills High School Students Excel in AP Exams
The DesertLeaf, January, 2025District 16 Report Card: CFSD Schools on Track to Maintain Official Enrollment Numbers
The DesertLeaf, January, 2025District 16 Report Card: All CFSD Schools Earn 'A' Grades
The DesertLeaf, December, 2024District 16 Report Card: Orange Grove Incident Prompts CFSD Spotlight on School Safety
The DesertLeaf, November, 2024District 16 Report Card: Where to Hear Directly From CFSD School Board Candidates
The DesertLeaf, October, 2024From the Super: CFHS Expands College and Career Services
The DesertLeaf, September, 2024District 16 Report Card: Meet the Six Candidates Vying for Three Seats on the CFSD School Board
The DesertLeaf, September,2024District 16 Report Card: Candidates Lining Up for Another Competitive CFSD School Board Race
The DesertLeaf, July/August, 2024District 16 Report Card: Superintendent's Final Budget Keeps Student Programs and Raises Salaries
The DesertLeaf, June, 2024From the Super: Budget Planning Is a Challenge
The DesertLeaf, May, 2024District 16 Report Card: CFHS Graduates This Month Include Two Flinn Scholars
The DesertLeaf, May, 2024District 16 Report Card: CFSD Updates Technology Policy
The DesertLeaf, April, 2024District 16 Report Card: CFHS Principal Jody Brase Retires; Assistant Moves Up
The DesertLeaf, March, 2024District 16 Report Card: Denise Bartlett Prepares to Take Reins as CFSD Superintendent
The DesertLeaf, February, 2024From the Super: Jumpstarting Careers in Early Childhood Education
The DesertLeaf, January, 2024District 16 Report Card: After 28 Years as CFSD Superintendent, Dr. Mary Kamerzell to Leave in June
The DesertLeaf, January, 2024District 16 Report Card: Pima College Course to Start on Foothills High School Campus.
The DesertLeaf, December, 2023District 16 Report Card: Sunrise Drive Elementary Is a National Blue Ribbon School
The DesertLeaf, November, 2023District 16 Report Card: CFSD Rolling Out New Program to Achieve Student Success.
The DesertLeaf, October, 2023From the Super: 3D Science Standards and Other Innovations Scale Up Students' Skills
The DesertLeaf, September, 2023District 16 Report Card: Foothills Opens School Year With Nearly Full Staff of Teachers
The DesertLeaf, September, 2023District 16 Report Card: $10 M in Construction Underway Across Catalina Foothills School District
The DesertLeaf, July/August, 2023District 16 Report Card: CFSD Raises Base Salary to $50,000 for First-Year Teachers
The DesertLeaf, June, 2023From the Super: Assessment Process Goal Is to Improve Student Achievement
The DesertLeaf, May, 2023District 16 Report Card: Students From Across Tucson and Beyond Are Part of CFSD's Success
The DesertLeaf, May, 2023District 16 Report Card: CFSD Foundation to Honor Teachers of the Year
The DesertLeaf, April, 2023District 16 Report Card: As Clock Ticks, CFSD Seeks All of $4.5M of Grant Funds
The DesertLeaf, March, 2023District 16 Report Card: Students' Needs Are Driving Changes to CFHS Courses
The DesertLeaf, February, 2023From the Super: CFSD Approves Curriculum Revisions
The DesertLeaf, January, 2023District 16 Report Card: CFSD Schools Receive A's on New State Report Cards
The DesertLeaf, January, 2023