Academics
Copper Ridge is an AVID School. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination? this school-wide program fosters a safe, open culture, high expectations for teachers and students, and collaboration in all classrooms.
This program helps students improve their collaboration, critical thinking, inquiry, organization & note taking skills to better prepare them for high school and beyond. AVID serves as a school-unifying method of instruction to promote college sustainability and develop the reading, writing, and speaking skills of all students.
Rigorous Academics – K-5th Grade
At Copper Ridge, we are dedicated to educating the whole child. We meet each child where they are and work to ensure academic, social, and emotional growth.
Middle School Honors
We offer an opt in ELA, Science, & Social Studies Honors Program for all middle school students. Students in this program will move at an accelerated pace and have additional reading, projects & assignments not offered in the general education curriculum. We also offer accelerated math and Geo-Trig for students whose AZ Merit test scores indicate this placement for your student.
Gifted
SUSD provides testing once per school year per child. Once qualified for gifted, further testing is not required. For more information on the Gifted Program or to sign up your student for tests go to the Gifted Department Page.
Electives
Opportunity for students to try new skills, discover themselves & their talents. That is why Copper Ridge offers a wide range of electives for Pre K-8th grade. All elementary grades receive a rotation of the following electives: Art, Music, Physical Education, & Library/Computer Lab
Our middle school students select from the following potential yearlong electives: Band, Strings, Visual Arts, College & Career Readiness (AVID), Physical Education, Yearbook, Student Government, Creative Writing, Spanish, Math Support & Musical Theater.
World Language - Spanish
Copper Ridge students start with exposure to the culture and vocabulary of Spanish-speaking countries. This includes holidays, greetings, and geography. As students move into sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, they may take Spanish as an elective in preparation for high school Spanish.
These courses focus more on thematic communication in sixth grade to advanced sentence writing and speaking in eighth grade.
ELA (English Language Arts)
In our primary classrooms, we utilize the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum. It is a research-based, comprehensive ELA program which encompasses phonemic awareness, phonics, grammar, reading,writing, speaking and listening. The curriculum builds on sound knowledge (phonemic awareness) and makes connections to letter names and sounds. These foundational skills support students in decoding unfamiliar words, ready fluency, writing, and spelling. In our intermediate classrooms, we follow Units of Study which are aligned with the Science and Social Studies curriculum. Students read a balance of engaging literary and informational texts with a focus on expanding knowledge across content areas.
Mathematics
Our math instruction utilizing the Big Ideas curriculum provides a balance of conceptual knowledge with operational fluency. Students experience hands-on lessons to build the conceptual knowledge that helps to lay the foundation for more abstract concepts throughout their mathematics education.
Science & Social Studies
Our Foss Science Kits promote scientific understanding through hands-on activities and emphasize the inquiry process. Social Studies concepts including history, geography, government, civics, and economics are incorporated into Units of Study and various grade level activities.
Special Area Classes
Students visit the Library and Computer Lab weekly. They also participate in Music, Art and Physical Education classes on a 5 day rotation. In 4th and 5th grade, students have the opportunity to join band, orchestra, or choir. In addition to their own curriculum, our talented Special Area teachers often collaborate with classroom teachers to enrich and enhance instruction.