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Applications OPEN for the 2025-2026 school year!
We are currently on a Wait List for sixth grade, but we are accepting applications for seventh and eighth grades!
McKemy is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme school.
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 150 Years of Community Inspired Education and a longstanding heritage of investment in all its students.
14
Tempe Elementary Schools have earned an "A" and "B" rating from the Arizona State Board of Education.
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.
![Girl playing the flute]([{"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.
![Arredondo family at Hallway History exhibit]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1747261984/tempeschoolsorg/q10dz2k6ykd7uwvrvzbb/IMG_3432.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1747261984/tempeschoolsorg/q10dz2k6ykd7uwvrvzbb/IMG_3432.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1747261984/tempeschoolsorg/q10dz2k6ykd7uwvrvzbb/IMG_3432.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1747261984/tempeschoolsorg/q10dz2k6ykd7uwvrvzbb/IMG_3432.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1747261984/tempeschoolsorg/q10dz2k6ykd7uwvrvzbb/IMG_3432.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1747261984/tempeschoolsorg/q10dz2k6ykd7uwvrvzbb/IMG_3432.jpg","width":2200}])
At Tempe Elementary Schools, history isn’t something stored away in dusty archives. It’s a living narrative that continues to evolve. Now, thanks to a dedicated effort led by longtime district employee and alumna Amy Garza, that story has come to life through the Hallway History installation at the Sanchez Administration Building.
![Joseph P. Spracale Headshot]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1741989817/tempeschoolsorg/drty3ilz50n9fvjv49zu/JoeSpracale_Headshot_5690.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1741989817/tempeschoolsorg/drty3ilz50n9fvjv49zu/JoeSpracale_Headshot_5690.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1741989817/tempeschoolsorg/drty3ilz50n9fvjv49zu/JoeSpracale_Headshot_5690.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1741989817/tempeschoolsorg/drty3ilz50n9fvjv49zu/JoeSpracale_Headshot_5690.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1741989817/tempeschoolsorg/drty3ilz50n9fvjv49zu/JoeSpracale_Headshot_5690.jpg","width":1506}])
We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Mr. Joseph P. Spracale on Sunday, March 9. His contributions to education and public service have left an enduring mark on the Tempe community, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
![McKemy students walking in breezeway]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733180152/tempeschoolsorg/c7rgiykifvbwladixlir/McKemyMSStudentsWalking_3293.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1733180152/tempeschoolsorg/c7rgiykifvbwladixlir/McKemyMSStudentsWalking_3293.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1733180152/tempeschoolsorg/c7rgiykifvbwladixlir/McKemyMSStudentsWalking_3293.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1733180152/tempeschoolsorg/c7rgiykifvbwladixlir/McKemyMSStudentsWalking_3293.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1733180152/tempeschoolsorg/c7rgiykifvbwladixlir/McKemyMSStudentsWalking_3293.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1733180152/tempeschoolsorg/c7rgiykifvbwladixlir/McKemyMSStudentsWalking_3293.jpg","width":2200}])
McKemy Academy of International Studies is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. Serving grades six through eight, McKemy’s global-mindedness program aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To learn more about this unique middle school option, we interviewed three members of the McKemy community:
![A-rated schools' logos]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1747690741/tempeschoolsorg/fenlbvza2fzgrncb4mre/2023-24A-Rated.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1747690741/tempeschoolsorg/fenlbvza2fzgrncb4mre/2023-24A-Rated.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1747690741/tempeschoolsorg/fenlbvza2fzgrncb4mre/2023-24A-Rated.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1747690741/tempeschoolsorg/fenlbvza2fzgrncb4mre/2023-24A-Rated.png","width":1080}])
Congratulations to the seven Tempe Elementary schools who received an 'A' rating for the 2023-2024 school year by the Arizona State Board of 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 six 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