School History
OUR ROOTS
The acreage that currently serves as the home of McKemy Academy has held many titles in the history of Tempe Elementary School.
Originally Concorda School, the school first opened in March of 1958, consisting of 21 general classrooms, five special classrooms, a library, and a "cafetorium" (a combination of cafeteria and gymnasium) across the 15-acre campus.
Along it's history, the campus was renamed McKemy Middle School, in honor of Tempe’s longest serving superintendent, Harvey M. McKemy, filling the role from 1938 to 1962. Due to declining enrollment, the school was closed following the 2010-2011 school year.
NEW LIFE
In 2013, the 15-acre campus was brought back to life, reopening as Tempe Academy of International Studies – McKemy Campus. As part of it's commitment to world mindedness, the school became an International Baccalaureate World School in 2015.
Yet another transformation was in store for the school. In 2020, the campus underwent a complete rebuild, ushering in its new era as McKemy Academy of International Studies.
FAST FACTS
| ESTABLISHED | MASCOT | ENROLLMENT |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Tigers | 336 students |
Celebrating 150 Years of Tempe Elementary Schools
For more than 150 years, Tempe Elementary Schools has provided community-inspired education serving the families of Tempe, Phoenix, Guadalupe, and beyond. Explore the district timeline to journey through our key milestones and transformative events that highlight our evolution into a modern educational leader.