Superintendent Mark Yslas of Agua Fria Union High School District captivated leaders from Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye, and Litchfield Park, alongside a diverse group of community stakeholders, during the highly anticipated State of the District Address. Hosted at Agua Fria High School District and proudly sponsored by friends of Agua Fria Foundation, the event served as a momentous occasion to celebrate the district’s remarkable achievements and chart a path towards an even brighter future.

Highlighting the community gathering, Mr. Yslas introduced all five high schools currently enrolled in the district: Agua Fria, Desert Edge, Verrado, Canyon View, and Millennium. He then unveiled ambitious plans for a new high school, currently referred to as “School 6”. It was also revealed to be strategically located right off of the 303 and the I-10 in Goodyear.

The driving force behind this visionary initiative stems from the skyrocketing rate of growth experienced across local communities. By introducing a new school between Verrado and Desert Edge, the district aims to alleviate the strain on existing schools and resolve potential challenges posed by projected population surges in Phoenix as early as possible.

Mr. Yslas emphasized, “The purpose of this new school is to alleviate overcrowding resulting from rapid growth in the Verrado, Canyon View, Millennium, and Desert Edge areas.”

The announcement of this innovative undertaking during the State of the District Address marks a pivotal moment in Agua Fria Union High School District’s journey. Mr. Yslas and the district administration are committed to fostering an environment that not only celebrates past achievements but also embraces future opportunities for excellence and success.

Mr. Yslas highlighted the promising future of the Agua Fria Union High School District, mentioning their strategic action steps. These steps will encompass and include strengthened community involvement, expanded career pathways, enhanced academic achievement, prioritized wellness and connectedness, as well as responsible resource stewardship. In the coming months, the district will actively engage with the community, forging partnerships and seeking input to drive positive change. These collaborative efforts, combined with a focus on academic excellence and student well-being, are set to propel the Agua Fria Union High School District into a brighter future.

Superintendent Yslas made it very clear during the district address that the school district is not broken or struggling. In fact, he emphasized that the district is the complete opposite, sitting on a solid foundation and having a strong school district. The leadership before them did an outstanding job in moving the district forward, and because of this, they are able to transform the district into what it needs to be today and in the future.

One key aspect of this transformation is the development of academies that focus on high-demand career pathways aligned with workforce needs. The district is actively seeking partnerships with businesses, industries, and higher education including WestMec and Estrella Mountain Community College to support these academies. Mr. Yslas highlights the efforts being made to remove barriers and ensure all students have access to these opportunities, and overall aiming to provide a solid foundation for students’ education and prepare them for future success.

Mayor of Buckeye, Eric Orsborn, expressed, “As Mark mentioned, Agua Fria Union High School District is doing a fantastic job orchestrating an array of remarkable programs and putting together pivotal partnerships, whether with WestMec, local school districts, businesses, or municipalities. This holds immense significance for us as a city, as it contributes to nurturing the next generation of our workforce. From a city’s standpoint, as we aspire to attract businesses, the more we can integrate real-world training, the stronger our position becomes for the future.”

Mr. Yslas adds, “We’re actively forging alliances with key partners in business and higher education to collaborate on the creation of these academies. As we embark on this transformative journey in our district, we recognize the importance of not making these decisions unilaterally. Instead, we believe it’s crucial to involve industry leaders, businesses, institutions of higher learning, and our faith-based community in shaping the direction of our academies, ensuring they meet the real needs of our community.”

The singular, unwavering focus of the entire district is the development of a vibrant and engaged community. During his presentation, Mr. Yslas, alongside fellow board members, honed in on a crucial theme within their comprehensive vision: the establishment and nurturing of unwavering faith and trust among all those who are involved with the district in any way possible.