Gilbert High School was built in 1917. It now houses the Gilbert Public School District Office. The structure is listed as historical by the Gilbert Heritage District.
Gilbert Elementary School was built in 1913. It is located at 10 S. Gilbert Rd. and now houses the Gilbert Historical Museum. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1900, the first school, in Gilbert, was built on the southwest corner of Baseline and Cooper Roads.[1] This school was moved, in 1909, to the northeast corner of Guadalupe and Cooper Roads. It was named Highland because it was the highest land south of the Salt River.[1] These schools were part of the Mesa Unified School District#4.[1][7]
In 1913, with the completion of its first elementary school, the Gilbert School District #41 was formed.[1] The new school was located on the corner of Elliot and Gilbert roads, and consisted of four classrooms, two offices, an auditorium and a full basement below the auditorium.[7] In 1977, the building closed for classroom use and in 1982 it became the Gilbert Historical Museum.[1][7]
In 1917, an election was held "for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a high school" in the recently formed Gilbert School District #41.[8] Gilbert's first high school, Gilbert High School, opened in 1917 on the southwest corner of Gilbert and Elliot roads.[9] The first graduating class, consisting of 4 graduates, was in 1918.[9] Gilbert High School has since been relocated, and the original site is now the Gilbert Public Schools district administration building.[9]
Since opening its first school in 1913, Gilbert Public Schools has grown to serve over 35,000 students at 40 schools across Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa, Arizona.[6]
Schools in the district include: 26 elementary schools (Pre K-6); 6 junior high schools (7-8), 5 high schools (9-12), 2 Academies, 1 Global academy, and 1 Alternative Education (7-12).[10]
Canyon Valley School (Grades 9-12) - Alternative Education (322 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[14]
Distance Learning Online (Grades 7-12) — Gilbert Public Schools offers its own online schooling program through its Distance Learning Center. Classes range from History to Physical Education. Gilbert accepts credits earned from major online schools, such as Primavera.[16]
Global Academy - opened August, 2011
Gilbert Classical Academy (Grades 7-12) — opened August 2007; replacing the GPS Technology and Leadership Academy (526 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[14]
Neely Traditional Academy (Grades K-6) — also known as Neely Elementary (779 enrolled as of 100th Day 2018)[14]
Performance Academy at Mesquite Elementary (Grades 4-8)
Traditional Program at Canyon Rim Elementary (Grades K-6)
Traditional Program at Spectrum Elementary (Grades K-6)
Playa del Rey Elementary School (Grades K-6) - opened in 1994. April 2011 was the second time the school has received the A+ 'School of Excellence' award. The Principal Robyn Conrad was named Arizona's principal of the year in October 2010.[17]
Neely Traditional Academy (Grades K-6) - is an elementary schoolinGilbert, Arizona, United States. The school was opened in 1981, and became a traditional academy in 1999. Neely received the National Blue Ribbon School award in 2009.[18][19]
