Cactus Shadows High School

5802 E. Dove Valley Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85266

www.ccusd93.org/cshs

1,588 Students

High School 8th - 12th

School Overview

Cactus Shadows High School, located in the high-desert landscape of Cave Creek/Scottsdale, Arizona, is the flagship secondary school of the Cave Creek Unified School District. Known for its strong focus on academic excellence, the school offers a rigorous curriculum that includes extensive Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, and robust Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways. The school prides itself on fostering a comprehensive educational environment that balances high-level scholarly achievement with a variety of extracurricular opportunities, including competitive athletics, fine arts programs, and numerous student-led clubs.

The school is situated on a sprawling, modern campus that serves as a central hub for the surrounding community. Beyond its academic offerings, Cactus Shadows is recognized for its commitment to preparing students for life after graduation, whether that involves transitioning to elite universities or entering the workforce with specialized technical skills. By emphasizing a culture of innovation, character development, and inclusivity, the school maintains a reputation as one of the top-performing public high schools in the state of Arizona, drawing families who prioritize a well-rounded and challenging educational experience for their children.

1,588

Total Students

76.0

Full-Time Teachers

20.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Cactus Shadows High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	1,280
Hispanic	212
Black	13
Asian	28
Two or More	43
American Indian	7
Pacific Islander	5

White
1,280 (80.6 %)
Hispanic
212 (13.4 %)
Two or More
43 (2.7 %)
Asian
28 (1.8 %)
Black
13 (0.8 %)
American Indian
7 (0.4 %)
Pacific Islander
5 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Cave Creek Unified District (4244)
Phone:	(480)575-2400
Website:	http://www.ccusd93.org/cshs
Grade Range:	8th - 12th
Total Students:	1,588
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	76.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	20.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 359

Grade 10 411

Grade 11 434

Grade 12 384