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Enroll now for Kindergarten!
Last day of School is May 29, 2025.
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.
PACE Gifted Program
Curry offers PACE (Promoting Actualization through Creativity and Excellence), a gifted program which provides discovery, enrichment, and accelerated learning opportunities.
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.
![Teacher giving student a high five]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1718747416/tempeschoolsorg/ozrmpwnmq5yfvdujfxt6/KinderMarketingPhoto.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1718747416/tempeschoolsorg/ozrmpwnmq5yfvdujfxt6/KinderMarketingPhoto.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1718747416/tempeschoolsorg/ozrmpwnmq5yfvdujfxt6/KinderMarketingPhoto.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1718747416/tempeschoolsorg/ozrmpwnmq5yfvdujfxt6/KinderMarketingPhoto.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1718747416/tempeschoolsorg/ozrmpwnmq5yfvdujfxt6/KinderMarketingPhoto.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1718747416/tempeschoolsorg/ozrmpwnmq5yfvdujfxt6/KinderMarketingPhoto.jpg","width":2200}])
Preparing your child for kindergarten is an exciting journey, and at Tempe Elementary Schools, we're here to support you every step of the way. This checklist for success will help you navigate everything from enrollment and free kinder screening to resources available to support your child and family in our district. Let's embark on this journey together to ensure your child's successful transition to kindergarten and beyond!
![Debra Woodrum]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1741799816/tempeschoolsorg/m47zwko8z50bgvwe20an/DW3.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1741799816/tempeschoolsorg/m47zwko8z50bgvwe20an/DW3.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1741799816/tempeschoolsorg/m47zwko8z50bgvwe20an/DW3.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1741799816/tempeschoolsorg/m47zwko8z50bgvwe20an/DW3.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1741799816/tempeschoolsorg/m47zwko8z50bgvwe20an/DW3.jpg","width":1451}])
In celebration of Tempe Elementary Schools' 150th school year, we're spotlighting some of our incredible staff members who got their start right here in the district.
![Teacher looks at book with young student]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1717519653/tempeschoolsorg/w7zljqrt7ufndqbp4uef/KinderTeacherReading.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1717519653/tempeschoolsorg/w7zljqrt7ufndqbp4uef/KinderTeacherReading.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1717519653/tempeschoolsorg/w7zljqrt7ufndqbp4uef/KinderTeacherReading.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1717519653/tempeschoolsorg/w7zljqrt7ufndqbp4uef/KinderTeacherReading.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1717519653/tempeschoolsorg/w7zljqrt7ufndqbp4uef/KinderTeacherReading.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1717519653/tempeschoolsorg/w7zljqrt7ufndqbp4uef/KinderTeacherReading.jpg","width":2200}])
Kindergarten truly is a pivotal experience for children and families. While it is a time of big changes, it is also a time of great opportunity. Tempe Elementary Schools and our incredible kindergarten team are committed to helping your child succeed, every step of the way.
Here are five tips from our teacher experts that can help prepare your child for kindergarten:
![Curry Chat and Chew group poses for photo]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1741214150/tempeschoolsorg/w9yrycmrenyasclytv0f/IMG_8313.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1741214150/tempeschoolsorg/w9yrycmrenyasclytv0f/IMG_8313.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1741214150/tempeschoolsorg/w9yrycmrenyasclytv0f/IMG_8313.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1741214150/tempeschoolsorg/w9yrycmrenyasclytv0f/IMG_8313.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1741214150/tempeschoolsorg/w9yrycmrenyasclytv0f/IMG_8313.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1741214150/tempeschoolsorg/w9yrycmrenyasclytv0f/IMG_8313.jpg","width":2200}])
For a group of retired Curry Elementary teachers and staff, the phrase “Once a Cougar, always a Cougar” couldn’t ring truer.
![Student poses with family member]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1740513480/tempeschoolsorg/bldk5iitgd5hotltvx4l/IMG_20250214_121947232.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1740513480/tempeschoolsorg/bldk5iitgd5hotltvx4l/IMG_20250214_121947232.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1740513480/tempeschoolsorg/bldk5iitgd5hotltvx4l/IMG_20250214_121947232.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1740513480/tempeschoolsorg/bldk5iitgd5hotltvx4l/IMG_20250214_121947232.jpg","width":1000}])
The message was simple: "Come to school next Friday and PLAY with your child." But for Curry Elementary First Grade Teacher Debra Woodrum, that light-hearted invitation makes a huge difference for her students. The invite was a part of Woodrum’s initiative to get more families involved with their child’s school life. Family Fridays, as she calls it, welcomes family members into the classroom to get a hands-on look at what their child is learning.
Awards &
Recognition
We're honored to have been named the #1 Elementary School District in 2024 and voted in the Top 7 winners for Best Places to Work, by Arizona's largest and most comprehensive business opinion poll.
"The environment at Curry is one that is positive, loving, and very supportive even after 20 years. It's a safe space and expects excellence, and if it wasn't for Curry in my life growing up, I wouldn't be the mother I am today. You are loved everyday at John J."
Parent | Curry Elementary
“I am incredibly grateful to have had Wendy Rose as a teacher at Curry. I consider her one of the best teachers to grace the halls, and I love that her children honored her by dedicating a bench in her name."
Danielle Riggs | Curry Elementary
“We all strive to ensure each student knows, “You are loved every day at
John J!”
Staff | Curry Elementary School
“Excellence is the Expectation.”
Motto | Curry Elementary School