News News Summary

Back to School

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 23:04:00 GMT

Horizon Honors Secondary School Back to School!

Welcome Horizon Honors Secondary School Families!

We are excited to see all of you for a great school year,

Please make sure to read this e-mail in its entirety so you will have all the important information you need for the upcoming school year.

STUDENT SCHEDULES

Student schedules for students in Grades 7-12 are now available in PowerSchool.

Returning families should log in at https://horizonclc.powerschool.com/public/.

New families may set up their PowerSchool account at https://horizonclc.powerschool.com/public/create_multi_student_account.html? using the instruction sheets they received during the registration process.

If you have any questions or need more info on PowerSchool, click here. We will also have printed student schedules at the Open House on July 31st.

PowerSchool also has a mobile app!

After you create your account, feel free to use the app! You will need a district code to make the app work.

District Code: BSTP

Download the app today!

Apple App Store

Google Play Store

IMPORTANT SCHOOL INFO

In order to be completely informed for the beginning of the year, please check out the links below or visit our Horizon Honors Secondary School Resource Library.

2026-2027 HORIZON HONORS CALENDAR

SECONDARY SCHOOL EVENTS CALENDAR

SILVER/BLUE DAY SCHEDULE

SUPPLY LIST

MIDDLE SCHOOL (GRADES 7-8) DRESS CODE

HIGH SCHOOL (GRADES 9-12) DRESS CODE

FERPA NOTICE

FAMILY HANDBOOK

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK

YEARBOOK ORDER SITE

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

FAMILY DIRECTORY

CARPOOL DIRECTORY

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND OUR

OPEN HOUSE!

Horizon Honors Secondary School will host an Open House on Friday, July 31st. Students and family members are welcome to drop in anytime between 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Stop in and walk your schedule, meet your teachers, and check out your textbooks. If you have materials from last school year, please turn in those items during the Open House.

NEW TO HORIZON HONORS SCHOOLS?

Don’t miss a special orientation for all NEW Horizon Honors Secondary School students and their family members on Friday, July 31st at 8:30 a.m. in the Multi-purpose Room (enter through the Elementary School front doors on the east side of campus.) This event is tailored to meet your needs as a new family and to get you up to speed as we welcome you to Horizon Honors.

NOTE: A new Horizon Honors family with a 9th grader, for example, should attend both the new family session and the 9th Grade Parent Orientation.

The first day of the school year is Monday, August 3!

The first day of school will also be Soaring Eagle Day! Look for an email next week with details.

SCHOOL HOURS

8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

7:55 a.m. - transition to classrooms

Block 1/5: 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Block 2/6: 9:33 to 11:08 a.m.

Block 3/7: 11:11 a.m. to 1:12 p.m.

Lunch A: 11:11 to 11:41 a.m.

Lunch B: 11:55 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.

Block 4/8: 1:15 to 2:45 p.m.

For more information, see the Silver/Blue Day Schedule.

2026-2027 LUNCH DETAILS!

Every student is assigned to a Lunchtime:

Lunch A: 11:11 to 11:41 a.m

Lunch B: 11:55 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.

The assigned lunch is dependent on your Blocks 3 & 7 teachers.

LUNCH A TEACHERS (11:11-11:41 AM):

Andrew

Barden

Bors

Cavaleri

Davis

Finnerty

Gonzales

Heinrich

Maglunog

McKinney

Neel

Nicholls

T. Nichols

Rosenkranz

Sorel

Wolf

LUNCH B TEACHERS (11:55 AM - 12:25 PM)

Baird

Bennett

Britt

Buttrey

Cahill

Di Chiara

Driggs

Holst

Huck

Kingman

Korycanek

Lara

Loncar

Ramm

Santillan

J. Wood

Wyvern

9TH GRADE & 7TH GRADE PARENTS:

THE TRANSITION YEARS

Parents of Freshmen and 7th Graders! Please join us for an orientation designed to help you and your child successfully navigate this next developmental milestone. Topics covered will be specific to the social, emotional, and academic needs you and your child will experience this school year. All sessions will be held in the Multipurpose Room – please enter through the Elementary School doors.

NOTE: These sessions will not repeat anything presented to New Families. A new Horizon Honors family with a 9th grader, for example, should attend both the new family session and the 9th grade Parent Orientation.

Welcome to Middle School Orientation for Parents of 7th Graders

Wednesday, July 29th @ 5 p.m. (Parents ONLY)

Welcome to High School Orientation for Parents of 9th Graders

Wednesday, July 29th @ 6:30 p.m. (Parents ONLY)

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION INFO!

Horizon Honors utilizes Parent Square for school-to-home communication. The platform provides a safe way for staff and families to:

Receive school and class information
Share pictures and files
See calendar items
Answer attendance notifications

and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Parents/Guardians will receive automated emails, text messages, and/or phone calls via Parent Square. Create a Parent Square account to adjust your communication preferences.

For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices) and view past messages and receive immediate notifications.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/parentsquare/id908126679

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.parentsquare.psapp&hl=en_US

Have questions? Click the question mark in the top right corner of the desktop version or the Help tab on the app (tap the triple bar icon at the top left) to find answers to most of your questions.

POOL PARTY SATURDAY, AUGUST 1!

Make a splash with the CBC at our Horizon Honors Back to School Pool Party! Join our Horizon Honors families on Saturday, August 1 from 5:30–7:30 PM at Nozomi Aquatic Center for this exclusive Horizon Honors-only event.

It will be an evening of swimming, laughter, and fun as we kick off an amazing new school year together. Bring your towels, swimsuits, and water bottles, and get ready for a fun-filled evening the whole family will enjoy!

Space is limited & children must be supervised at ALL times.

This exclusive FREE Event is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with friends, meet new families, and celebrate the start of another

exciting year at Horizon Honors!

More details coming soon!

TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Do you know a family looking for a unique, supportive, and engaging school community? Spread the word—Horizon Honors Schools is enrolling for the 2026-2027 school year and immediate openings are available at some grade levels!

Our current families are our strongest advocates, and your referrals make a big difference. If you love being part of Horizon Honors, let your friends and neighbors know—we’d love to welcome them, too!

👉 Start the enrollment process today:

https://www.horizonhonors.org/enroll/20262027enrollment

Thank you for helping us grow our community!

BUY YOUR YEARBOOK NOW AND SAVE!

Horizon Honors Secondary School Yearbooks are on sale now! Use code YBPERSONALIZATION for a free line of personalization before August 21. Order now!

QUESTIONS? NEED HELP?

We hope to answer many of your questions at the events mentioned in this email. However, if you have any questions, you may send an email to news@horizonhonors.org or call us at 480-659-3000.

PLEASE NOTE: Horizon Honors Offices will re-open on Thursday, July 23rd.

We are all looking forward to being together with your child on the first day of school, August 3rd!

Sincerely,

Stacy Dietz

Horizon Honors Secondary School Principal

Class of 2026 Wrap Up!

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:19:00 GMT

Congratulations to the Horizon Honors High School Class of 2026! We are so proud of their hard work and perseverance!

Class of 2026 Highlights:
Community Service Hours: 7,827
Scholarships Earned: $3,236,016

GPA Percentages:
4.0 unweighted GPA: 11 students = 13%
3.5+ unweighted GPA: 61 students = 72%
4.0 weighted GPA: 53 students = 62%

Post High School Plans:
University: 73%
Community College: 15%
Trade School: 4%
Workforce: 2%
Mission: 1%
Gap Year: 2%
Military: 1%

Valedictorian: Maya Wells
Salutatorian: Hannah Spindler

Valedictorian Speech Moment:
"We have the ability to pick what we do in the time we are given, so why not do exactly what you want to do? I believe the quote “You only live once” is universal. We are all living for the first time and last time.

We have every opportunity to customize our life to what we want as long as you are willing to work for it. I encourage you to work for it. Don’t settle for less than what you want to achieve. Your life is your choice, so make it personal.

You have the ability to make the most of your time. It may move slow in your least favorite class, and fast when spending it with your favorite people. I encourage you to enjoy all of these feelings and moments because we will never understand all of the chances, choices, and circumstances that have brought us here today. We are all here and present, and that is a wonderful chance of events.

Be grateful for your parents, your teachers, and your friends. Everyone that has supported you to this moment today deserves your love and appreciation as we will never understand the everyday sacrifices that have been made on our behalf.

As we move forward from this night, you don’t need to have your life figured out. You don’t need to know right now where you are going, when you are going or how. But I do suggest you know why. What matters more is that you live your life with intention. Don’t let time just pass, appreciate it, and use it." - Maya Wells

Check out all the photos from the ceremony HERE .

Watch the entire ceremony on our YouTube channel HERE !

Horizon Honors Schools Earn “A” Ratings from AZ Dept. of Education!

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 22:13:00 GMT

The Arizona Department of Education has released the 2024-2025 school letter grades, and both Horizon Honors Elementary School and Horizon Honors Secondary School earned an A rating!

Arizona’s school letter grade system looks at multiple measures of school performance, including:

Student growth from year to year
Proficiency on statewide assessments
English language proficiency and growth
Indicators of readiness for the next grade level
High School graduation rates

Only about one in five school districts across Arizona received an A rating. We are proud to be among the schools recognized for excellence and growth.

Thank you to every student who worked hard, every family who supported learning at home, and every staff member who brings passion, care, and high expectations to our campus each day. This accomplishment belongs to our entire Horizon Honors community.

We remain committed to providing a rigorous and supportive learning environment that helps every student reach their full potential. With your continued partnership, we will keep soaring to new heights!

New Student Enrollment!

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 23:13:00 GMT

Horizon Honors Schools is now accepting Enrollment Applications for the 2026–2027 school year!

Families interested in joining our community should complete their Enrollment Forms by December 8, 2025 to be included in the 2026–2027 New Student Lottery.

At Horizon Honors Schools, we provide:
✔ Award-winning, tuition-free, public schools
✔ Continuous learning in Grades K–12
✔ Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) with academic and social goals for each student
✔ A robust and rigorous honors-level curriculum that is evidence-based and aligned with college and career expectations
✔ Free, full-day Kindergarten
✔ A wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities, including athletics, music, theatre, clubs, trips, and community service

Join a school community that values excellence, innovation, and connection. Every student is known, supported, and inspired to thrive.

WANT TO JOIN HORIZON HONORS NOW? There are some limited openings at some grade levels for the 2025-2026 school year.

Click here to begin the enrollment process!

We are a "Best High School" Once Again!

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:34:00 GMT

We are proud to share that Horizon Honors High School has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best High Schools in the nation. This recognition highlights the commitment of our students, families, and staff to academic excellence, innovative learning, and a supportive school culture.

Horizon Honors Secondary School is ranked #1,343 in the National Rankings, #22 among Arizona High Schools, #15 in the Phoenix Metro Area, and #232 among Charter High Schools in the country.

You can view our profile HERE.

Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation rates, and how well they prepare students for college. Horizon Honors’ inclusion on this prestigious list reflects the strength of our programs and the hard work of our entire community.

We are grateful to our families, staff, and students for making Horizon Honors a place where every student can thrive. This honor is not just a reflection of test scores and data. It represents the collaboration, dedication, and passion that define our school. Congratulations!

Athletics Year In Review

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:14:00 GMT

The 2024-2025 school year was a dynamic and successful one for Horizon Honors Athletics. With nearly half of the student body participating in high school sports and over 100 middle school athletes involved, the program continues to thrive and grow.

Student Participation

Horizon Honors High School had 192 student athletes, representing 49% of the student population. Horizon Honors Middle School had 111 student athletes, accounting for 41% of students. These numbers reflect a strong culture of involvement, teamwork, and school spirit.

Team Achievements

Two Horizon Honors teams claimed titles this year:

Girls Cross Country – Division IV East Sectional Champions
Softball – 2A Valley Region Champions

Individual Recognitions
Horizon Honors athletes earned a wide range of regional and conference honors across multiple sports:

Baseball

Richard Fretwell – 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team
Lucas Holweger – 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team
Zach Hull – 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team
Mason Palmer – 2A Valley All-Region 2nd Team
Chase Wilson – 2A Valley All-Region 2nd Team

Boys Basketball

Max Gerelick – 2A Valley All-Region Honorable Mention
Richie Hewitt – 2A Valley All-Region Honorable Mention
Calvin McCrory – 2A Valley All-Region Honorable Mention
Sean Segal – 2A Valley All-Region 2nd Team

Boys Soccer

Trey Costello – 2A East All-Region 1st Team
Elijah Deutsch-Gorth – 2A East All-Region 2nd Team
Ben Hollis – 2A East All-Region 1st Team
Brandon Miller – 2A East All-Region Honorable Mention
Jack O'Brien – 2A East All-Region 1st Team
Dominic Vigil – 2A East All-Region 2nd Team
Joshua Wilson – 2A East All-Region 2nd Team

Boys Volleyball

Scott Baird – 3A Metro All-Region Honorable Mention
Ben Colbrunn – 3A Metro All-Region 1st Team
Khalil Mitchel – 3A Metro All-Region 1st Team
Luke O'Brien – 3A Metro All-Region Honorable Mention
Ryan Appel – 3A Metro All-Region 2nd Team
Cooper Withrow – 3A Metro All-Region 1st Team

Girls Basketball

Audriana Anglada – 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team
Josie Barden – 2A Valley All-Region 2nd Team
Brooklyn Dorough – 2A Valley All-Region Honorable Mention
Amelia McCrory – 2A Valley All-Region Honorable Mention
Alicia Londono – 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team

Girls Soccer

Alanah Tadman – 2A East All-Region Honorable Mention
Gavrielle Lucia Rivera – 2A East All-Region 1st Team
Sydney Kaman – 2A East All-Region Honorable Mention
Zoe Marsh – 2A East All-Region Honorable Mention
Austyn Wilson – 2A East All-Region 1st Team and 2nd Team
Maya Wells – 2A East All-Region 1st Team

Girls Volleyball

Kobree Bartrea – 2A Valley All-Region Honorable Mention
Autumn Carmody – 2A Valley All-Region Honorable Mention
Addyson Gauer – 2A Valley Defensive Player of the Year; 2A Conference 1st Team
Kennedy Harbertson – 2A All-Region 1st Team
Sydney Kaman – 2A Valley All-Region 2nd Team
Alanah Tadman – 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team

Softball

Audriana Anglada – 2A All-Conference 1st Team; 2A Valley Region Player of the Year; 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team
Isabelle Arellano – 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team
Josie Barden – 2A All-Conference 1st Team; 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team
Danica Gutierrez – 2A All-Conference 2nd Team; 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team
Annie Jimenez – 2A Valley All-Region 2nd Team
Isabella Singleton – 2A Valley All-Region 2nd Team
Tatum Spindler – 2A Valley All-Region 2nd Team
Nicole Topete – 2A All-Conference 1st Team; 2A Valley Region Player of the Year; 2A Valley All-Region 1st Team

Looking Ahead

Horizon Honors Athletics will continue to expand in 2025-2026 with the addition of several new sports:

High School Girls Flag Football
High School Boys Beach Volleyball
Middle School Boys Volleyball
Middle School Girls Flag Football.

These new programs will offer even more opportunities for students to get involved, compete, and represent Horizon Honors.

In addition, High School Cheer will return to campus!

Let's Celebrate!

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 22:33:00 GMT

During the Middle School 8th Celebration in May, we recognized some incredible students for their achievements and character!

Kiwanis Above and Beyond Award:
Owen Minium & Ayana Bipin
(Jairon Snow was also a recipient but was unable to attend.)

Perfect Attendance Award:
Myles DeGraff & Marcel DeGraff
(Chase Kos was also a recipient but was unable to attend.)

Character Award:
Eli Geist

Most Spirited Student Award:
Mikaylee Whitlatch

Middle School Athletics Six Award:
Annika Smith

We’re so proud of these students for going above and beyond! Way to represent Horizon Honors!

Congratulations to the Horizon Honors High School Class of 2025 Larry Pieratt Scholarship Recipients:

Sydney Kaman
Mezaan Crosby
Kennah Burdette
Amelia McCrory
Kai Modi

The scholarship winners were honored at this May Horizon Honors School Board meeting and exemplify the values of academic excellence, service, and involvement.

The Larry Pieratt Scholarship, named after the founder and first executive director of Horizon Honors Schools, celebrates students who have (at minimum):

✔️ Maintained a GPA of 3.0
✔️ Completed at least 100 hours of community service
✔️ Participated in a Horizon Honors club, sport, or activity
✔️ Committed to attending a post-secondary institution
✔️ Completed an application/essay questions and were selected by a group of panelists

We are so proud of their achievements and can’t wait to see what’s next for them!

Horizon Honors High School Senior Noah Thompson traveled to Northern Arizona University with Band Teacher Mr. Adam to represent our school at the All-State Honor Music Festival!

Noah performed on oboe in the orchestra alongside the top high school musicians from across Arizona. We’re so proud!

Congratulations to Teacher Judith Hillard, recipient of a 2025 Silver Apple Award from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

Ms. Hillard was nominated by student Kennedy Harbertson, and the award honors outstanding teachers from Ahwatukee high schools who make a lasting impact in their classrooms and beyond.

Congratulations to both Horizon Honors Bella Voce and Cantabile Honors Chorale for their outstanding performances at the American Choral Directors Association High School State Choir Festival!

Both choirs earned a Superior rating, showcasing their dedication, talent, and passion for music! We are so proud of our incredible singers and their hard work!

Exciting News from the Middle School State Science Fair! Horizon Honors Middle School had four incredible teams representing our school!

Here are the amazing projects:
McKenna Coburn, Gabby Dupnik, and Marcelina Morcillas – Which type of wood produces the least amount of smoke and pollution?

Cade Steel, Colton Steel, and DJ Sharr – Can base video game physics compare to the real world?

Marcel DeGraff – Can spider webs meet the strength and durability of a typical spider?

Rishabh Ramakrishnan – Can maximizing different metrics of a congressional map create a fairer map?

McKenna Coburn/Gabby Dupnik/Marcelina Morcillas & Rishabh Ramakrishnan all won awards at the Fair! Congratulations!

The Horizon Honors High School Speech & Debate Team had an incredible showing at the State Tournament!

With outstanding performances across the board, they placed in three categories and brought home SIX medals!

Thanks to the hard work of all our students they secured an impressive 15th place ranking out of 51 schools!

Join us in celebrating all 25 team members for their dedication and success. You make Horizon Honors proud!

Don't miss any of our celebrations by following us on our social media channels!

HORIZON HONORS FACEBOOK

HORIZON HONORS INSTAGRAM

Horizon Honors Partners with GoFan!

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 20:24:00 GMT

Horizon Honors High School Athletics has partnered with GoFan to streamline game admissions!

NEW PROCESS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GAME ADMISSIONS:

All attendees except Horizon Honors students (with ID) must purchase admission through GoFan.
Link to purchase: https://gofan.co/app/school/AZ12785
Adults are $7; Non-Horizon Honors students (with ID) are $3.
Horizon Honors students (with ID) are free and do not require GoFan admission.
QR codes with payment link will be posted in the Gym lobby.
Attendees will show GoFan ticket via mobile phone to the door attendants.
Download the GoFan app! Apple Store or Google Play.
Click HERE for common questions and answers regarding GoFan!

GoFan is the leading digital ticketing solution for high school events. Led by innovative technology and unmatched customer support, GoFan provides schools with a turnkey platform to manage season, online, and at-event ticket sales. Serving more than 2,000 high schools and 38 state associations, GoFan provides fans frictionless access to high school events across the country.

Ahwatukee's Best!

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 18:09:00 GMT

Horizon Honors once again cleaned up in the annual "Best of Ahwatukee" awards, taking the following categories:

Best Charter School
"Our readers' top choice among charter schools, Horizon Honors is really two schools in one: Horizon Elementary School (grade k-6) and Horizon High School (grades 7-12). Both share the same philosophy of helping its more than 1,550 students achieve academic and social excellence while solving real-life problems in a cooperative manner. Horizon Honors, which first opened its schools in 1996, is tuition free and has been recognized for its excellence with multiple awards."
Best High School Teacher - Chris Henderson

"Horizon Honors math teacher Chris Henderson believes students learn best through doing. He challenges students to think and problem-solve for themselves rather than simply copying his route to solving equations in his honors college algebra, AP precalculus and college math foundations courses. His goal is to instill in students an understanding that it is OK to seek help and ask questions when they do not know the answer to something. He has spent six of his 12 years as a teacher at Horizon, where he also serves as the school's head coach for varsity basketball."

See all the winners HERE. Congratulations, Eagles, and thank you for voting!

National Merit Updates

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 22:20:00 GMT

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced the names in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Congratulations to Horizon Honors High School Senior Mitran Raja for being named a National Merit Semi-Finalist!

Less than 1% of high school seniors nationwide achieve this honor based on last year’s PSAT. This academically talented high school senior now has the chance to compete for 6,870 scholarships worth nearly $26 million, to be awarded next spring!

In addition, the following students have been named National Merit Commended Students, placing in the top 2-3% of all test takers nationwide:

Addyson Gauer
Rihanna Pfaff
Kishan Eshwar Prabhu Sankar
Tejas Velagapudi

Finally, the following students received National Merit Recognition honors:

Jon Buschko - Indigenous
William Coffey - First Generation
Brandon Dosen - First Generation, Hispanic
Nicolas Encinas - Hispanic
Gray Emeric - First Generation, Hispanic
Kai Modi - African American
Rihanna Pfaff - Hispanic
Atticus Quintero - Hispanic
Mateo Tagle - Hispanic

The College Board National Recognition Programs award academic honors to high-performing, underrepresented students. Recipients are strong academic performers. Students who take eligible administrations of the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP Exams and meet the score requirements are considered for awards. Students must also identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous/Native American, first-generation, and/or attend high school in a rural area or small town.

We are so proud! Congratulations!