Private Elementary & Middle School in Scottsdale, AZ

Camelback Desert School, Scottsdale:
Located just north of Phoenix in Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona, Camelback Desert School is a private co-educational school for preschool (from 2 years) through 8th grade. We prepare students to be academically successful, capable of transferring their knowledge and skills to new challenges, and confident in their ability to succeed. We provide programs for preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school children providing a challenging and well-rounded academic curriculum including literature, social studies, math, science and digital literacy.

Co-Ed Programs from Preschool (2 years) Through 8th Grade: 

Preschool (from 2 years):
Our Links to Learning curriculum prepares children for elementary school with an integrated series of programs that take advantage of each child's readiness to learn. Our preschool program also builds confidence and self-reliance, while developing important social skills.

Our programs for preschool students are structured around a continuum of new knowledge, skills, and behavioral expectations, and provide many opportunities for your child to grow personally as well as academically.

Pre-Kindergarten:
The ages of four to five years are critical for the emerging learner to be prepared for elementary school. In the Pre-K 1 program, your child will gain the final components of literacy and math knowledge to prepare for kindergarten. Many of our preschools also offer a Pre-K 2 program for those who do not make the traditional age cut-off for kindergarten.

In this program, children ages four to five gain the final components of literacy and math skills they will need for kindergarten. This is a particularly active time when your child will learn to follow oral directions, make predictions based on prior knowledge and write his or her first name with appropriate cases.

Kindergarten - Grade 3:
A critical time to master the core academic skills.

In our kindergarten through third grade programs, students attain skills and learn how to effectively apply them. We recognize the importance of helping students to use their skills and knowledge to build higher-order skills such as reasoning, problem solving, and critical thinking. Our K-3 program is focused on the attainment of three distinct and interrelated skills:

• Language and Literacy
• Mathematics
• Problem Solving

Grade 4- Grade 8:
The goal of our grade 4-8 program is to prepare students for success in high school and beyond. Today’s high school environments are challenging, varied, and often unforgiving. To succeed, a student needs not only intellect, but also broad learning experiences and savvy. It is our intent to encourage each of these.

Our core academic curriculum for grades 4-8 was developed to be rigorous, challenging and to meet or exceed state and national standards

In addition to rigorous core academics, students in grades 4-8 become more independent learners by developing the following skills:
* Integration of skills and knowledge through interdisciplinary projects that utilize literature, social studies, math, science, technology and digital literacy
* Leadership and interpersonal skills
* Study skills, project management, time management and other disciplines necessary for success in high school

Spanish:
The Spanish curriculum engages students in meaningful experiences using authentic content that integrates Spanish with other disciplines. As students are provided with repeated exposure and opportunities to practice and apply their skills, they develop a practical use of the language.

Fine Arts:
Our visual arts programs are focused on teaching the production of art, the appreciation of art in our history and culture, the critical assessment of art, and the connections between the various disciplines.

Additionally, our music program gives students the opportunity to hear, perform, create, and appreciate music of all types. Through these experiences students will understand and apply the elements of music, experiment with the tools of music, develop an awareness and appreciation for music, past and present, and express themselves creatively.

We also offer:
- Technology Program
- Experiential Program with projects and field trips