SUSD builds new STEM pipeline amid enrollment challenges

By Stacy Mantle
Mail

Following last year’s announcement extending the acclaimed Math & Science Academy from Saguaro High School to Mohave Middle School, the new campus is now enrolling students and positioning itself as a center of academic excellence and innovation.

“We’re especially excited to highlight our accelerated science classes, which can lead to high school credit, building on the high school math credit opportunity we already offer,” said Paul Ferrero, principal of Mohave Middle School. “It’s all part of preparing students for the future, starting now.”

To mark the launch, Mohave will host an open house on Monday, October 27 from 6-8 p.m. at Mohave Middle School, 8490 E Jackrabbit Road, offering families a first-hand look at the academy’s hands-on curriculum, advanced coursework, and future-focused learning environment.

“Now that the academy is up and running, we’re seeing our vision come to life,” Ferrero said. “We’ve created a space where students can truly explore, innovate, and thrive. Our goal has always been to provide hands-on, high-impact STEM experiences that not only support academic success but ignite a passion for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.”

District leaders say the MSA expansion underscores a broader shift in public education: districts must now compete for families’ attention. In response, Scottsdale Unified has ramped up  outreach through Education Expos, school-choice fairs and its “Grow with SUSD” initiative — highlighting both academic rigor and the district’s commitment to preparing students for the world ahead.

At the same time, the district continues to invest in student wellness through Blue Zones Project certifications and campus-wide initiatives promoting health and balance — acknowledging that academic performance and well-being are increasingly interconnected.

“Our goal is to establish Mohave as a premier destination school, where students are empowered to pursue their passions and achieve their full potential,” said SUSD Superintendent Dr. Scott A. Menzel. 

Scottsdale’s pivot shows how traditional districts evolve into responsive, specialized systems of choice. The next few years will test whether focused academies can stabilize enrollment, but the move signals a district unafraid to adapt.

If successful, the Math & Science Academy could serve as a template for how Arizona’s public schools reinvent themselves in a competitive education landscape — one where excellence and enrollment now depend on innovation.

What This Means for Students and Families

• The Math & Science Academy offers honors-level classes and the opportunity to earn high-school credit while in middle school. 
• It features hands-on, project-based learning, innovation labs with robotics/coding/3D printing, and career-exploration tracks.
• It’s open to students district-wide, reinforcing the role of choice in a public-school system operating in a competitive education landscape.

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.