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Congratulations to McKemy Academy for receiving an 'A' from the Arizona Department of Education.
We Are
Tempe Elementary Schools
Welcoming, achieving, eye-opening, and future-ready Preschool-8 education to free the boundless potential in each child – so they are fully prepared to embrace the opportunities of tomorrow and excel for a lifetime.
150+
Tempe celebrates more than 150 Years of Community-Inspired Education and a longstanding heritage of investment in all its students.
15
Tempe Elementary Schools have earned an "A" and "B" rating from the Arizona Department of Education. In 2025, Ward Traditional Academy was one of only six Arizona schools to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for Academic Achievement!
250+
Over 250 Community partners have donated materials, resources, and learning experiences, freeing the boundless potential in each child.
330
Tempe Elementary Schools educators have earned over 330 advanced degrees in education, counseling, psychology, social work, fine arts and music.
Reasons To
Believe
Welcoming Community. Destination District.
Academic Achievement for All
Eye-Opening Discovery in the Classroom
Empowering the Confident, Future-Ready Child
Celebrating Our 150th...Discover Our Legacy!
Only in Tempe
Unparalleled
Advantages For All
Tempe is a world-class education destination committed to accessible, equitable, high-quality education for all. Every Tempe Elementary student has access to enriching programs and support services to meet their individual needs and empower them to expand their interests, develop their gifts, and discover their true potential - often at little or no cost to the family.
Voted #1 Elementary School District
We've been voted #1 in 2025, for a second year in a row, by our staff, parents, and community ranked by Arizona's largest and most comprehensive business opinion poll, Ranking Arizona.
Celebrating 150 Years of Academic Excellence
In 2024, Tempe Elementary Schools proudly celebrates 150 years of community-inspired education serving families within and the surrounding areas of Tempe, Phoenix, and Guadalupe.
Revolutionizing Education
Tempe Elementary Schools has an intentional clear set of beliefs, goals, and strategic framework to guide the District for today and the future.
Experiential Learning & Real-World Experiences
Through collaboration and creativity, our local community partners are critical for all students' success, giving them access to essential resources and real-world experiences.
Resources & Evidence-Based Support Services
Our team of professionals is dedicated to fostering the social, emotional, and healthy development of students and their families.
International Baccalaureate Program (IB)
McKemy is the home of Tempe's IB program, developing knowledgeable and caring students who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
Who we are
One Community, Many Stories
Celebrating 150 years of rich history and community-inspired learning, Tempe is a unique cultural hub connecting the three vibrant communities of Tempe, Phoenix, and Guadalupe.
![IB Design in Action: Students Build Model Walkable Communities]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1762972045/tempeschoolsorg/irjr7mfaxer4h4hqagpq/DSC_4167.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1762972045/tempeschoolsorg/irjr7mfaxer4h4hqagpq/DSC_4167.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1762972045/tempeschoolsorg/irjr7mfaxer4h4hqagpq/DSC_4167.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1762972045/tempeschoolsorg/irjr7mfaxer4h4hqagpq/DSC_4167.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1762972045/tempeschoolsorg/irjr7mfaxer4h4hqagpq/DSC_4167.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1762972045/tempeschoolsorg/irjr7mfaxer4h4hqagpq/DSC_4167.jpg","width":2200}])
Picture living in a place where everything you need is just steps away. At McKemy Academy of International Studies, middle school students took that idea a step further, researching and building their own model walking community.
![Seven Tempe Elementary Schools Receive 'A' Rating for 2024-2025]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1762376845/tempeschoolsorg/lqo3lg8bdh0tpr6nbzkm/2023-24A-Rated_1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1762376845/tempeschoolsorg/lqo3lg8bdh0tpr6nbzkm/2023-24A-Rated_1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1762376845/tempeschoolsorg/lqo3lg8bdh0tpr6nbzkm/2023-24A-Rated_1.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1762376845/tempeschoolsorg/lqo3lg8bdh0tpr6nbzkm/2023-24A-Rated_1.png","width":1080}])
Congratulations to our seven schools who received an 'A' rating for the 2024-2025 school year by the Arizona Department of Education!
![Tempe Elementary Nutrition Services Team Earns Three USDA Awards]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1762285535/tempeschoolsorg/gvtcho42dsuq2klblucy/IMG_5782.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1762285535/tempeschoolsorg/gvtcho42dsuq2klblucy/IMG_5782.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1762285535/tempeschoolsorg/gvtcho42dsuq2klblucy/IMG_5782.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1762285535/tempeschoolsorg/gvtcho42dsuq2klblucy/IMG_5782.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1762285535/tempeschoolsorg/gvtcho42dsuq2klblucy/IMG_5782.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1762285535/tempeschoolsorg/gvtcho42dsuq2klblucy/IMG_5782.jpg","width":2200}])
The Tempe Elementary Schools Nutrition Services team has received national recognition for its outstanding innovation and commitment to student health, earning three USDA Best Practice Awards for 2025.
![Tempe Elementary Schools Accepted into Largest-Ever National Network of Innovative School Districts]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758223240/tempeschoolsorg/sqwhjboyaeqglpdzhqrk/Student_Uses_zSpace_on_computer_3709.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758223240/tempeschoolsorg/sqwhjboyaeqglpdzhqrk/Student_Uses_zSpace_on_computer_3709.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758223240/tempeschoolsorg/sqwhjboyaeqglpdzhqrk/Student_Uses_zSpace_on_computer_3709.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1758223240/tempeschoolsorg/sqwhjboyaeqglpdzhqrk/Student_Uses_zSpace_on_computer_3709.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1758223240/tempeschoolsorg/sqwhjboyaeqglpdzhqrk/Student_Uses_zSpace_on_computer_3709.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1758223240/tempeschoolsorg/sqwhjboyaeqglpdzhqrk/Student_Uses_zSpace_on_computer_3709.jpg","width":2200}])
Read More
about Tempe Elementary Schools Accepted into Largest-Ever National Network of Innovative School Districts
![Tempe Elementary Schools Named a "Best Community for Music Education" for the Seventh Year in a Row]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1750179783/tempeschoolsorg/fgcvpyoihmov9r37afcc/DSC_5358.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1750179783/tempeschoolsorg/fgcvpyoihmov9r37afcc/DSC_5358.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1750179783/tempeschoolsorg/fgcvpyoihmov9r37afcc/DSC_5358.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1750179783/tempeschoolsorg/fgcvpyoihmov9r37afcc/DSC_5358.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1750179783/tempeschoolsorg/fgcvpyoihmov9r37afcc/DSC_5358.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1750179783/tempeschoolsorg/fgcvpyoihmov9r37afcc/DSC_5358.jpg","width":2200}])
Strike up the band and join the chorus! For the seventh year in a row, Tempe Elementary Schools has been named a Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) by the NAMM Foundation. This national designation is given to districts and schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education.
Awards &
Recognition
McKemy Academy earned an 'A' from the Arizona Department of Education.
Tempe Elementary is honored to have been named the #1 Elementary School District for a second year in a row in 2025 and voted in the Top 7 winners for Best Places to Work in 2024 by Arizona's largest and most comprehensive business opinion poll. Tempe Elementary Schools has also been named as a Best Communities for Music Education district by the NAMM Foundation for the last seven years.
“I've been at McKemy for 11 years now and I choose to be here because of the amazing students that we attract every year and the camaraderie that we have amongst our faculty and students.”
Oanh Nguyen | McKemy Academy
“One of the amazing things about McKemy is that we are an IB school, which means that the way that we teach in our classes is very inquiry-based. So a lot of the things we do as teachers result in these amazing projects that build community.”
Makayla Wilson | McKemy Academy
“We have high standards for academics. We also assess students on a criterion that is developed to watch students grow. So it doesn't really matter where you come in, we're looking for growth. Students pose really big questions and then we dig deep to answer those questions.”
Kathleen Burd | McKemy Academy
“What I love most about being a McKemy student is the option to explore things outside of what we're taught. If we're learning about like geometry, there's other branches of it, and I'm able to learn it and ask questions about it as well.”
Sophia C. | McKemy Academy Student