Canyon del Oro High School

The dramatic population growth in the Amphitheater School District during the 1950s placed increasing demands on the district's existing schools. Enrollment reached capacity at the district's sole high school, Amphitheater High School, in the late 1950s. As a result, District Superintendent Marion Donaldson developed a bond proposal in June 1959 that included the purchase of a second high school site in the district. Voters approved the $1.9 million bonds ($12.8 million in 2006) by a 4 to 1 margin.[23] Population growth in the area north of the Rillito River and Tucson was rapidly expanding, and the original 40 acres (160,000 m²) purchased for the second high school was then determined to initially serve a middle school population as well. Another bond issue was proposed for the construction of Canyon del Oro School in June 1961, with $1.4 million ($9.2 million in 2006) for the first phase of the school, and $2.3 million ($15.3 million in 2006) for expansion of the school.[23] Voters again approved the bonds by a 3 to 1 margin (Amphitheater by Peyton Reavis, 1981).

Canyon del Oro School opened as a junior high school in the fall of 1962 with only a seventh grade class. The campus was only a few buildings with a large grass courtyard accessed by Calle Concordia, which was then only a small dirt road. Land values north of Tucson were beginning to appreciate through the 1950s, and many residents of the Amphitheater School District expressed concern that the site of the school in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains was too costly (Amphitheater by Peyton Reavis, 1981).

The school added a new grade level each year, and Canyon del Oro High School was established in the fall of 1964 with a ninth grade class. CDO was formally declared a high school by the Arizona on July 1, 1965, serving grades 9–10, with only a few hundred students. Canyon del Oro Junior High School would continue operation on the same campus as a distinct school, serving grades 7–8 until 1974, when L.W. Cross Junior High School was established on a separate campus to accommodate grades 7–8.

Construction continued on the high school campus, and CDO gained recognition as a school of privilege with state-of-the-art facilities, and drew students from the most affluent sections of the Tucson area. The campus was designed in a Modernist style by architects Bernard Friedman and Fred Jobusch (Friedman & Jobusch) to be completed in phases. Friedman & Jobusch also designed the contemporary Main Library at the University of Arizona in 1976.

The Modernist style incorporated into the Canyon del Oro campus design in the early 1960s is a significant example of the Modernist movement that dominated in the U.S. following World War II. The Canyon del Oro campus represents a shift in 20th-century American architecture when Modernism was favored over traditional styles in an effort to project American progress.[24] The gymnasium at the school featured a four-sided score board suspended above the basketball court (Amphitheater by Peyton Reavis, 1981).

The CDO campus expanded with the gradual population increase north of Tucson, and the first graduating class was in the spring of 1968. New construction occurred through the late 1990s, adding technology and laboratory science facilities for chemistry, physics, and biology. A second gymnasium was completed in the 1970s, along with an expanded library, fine arts complex, and bookstore. As of 2007, the campus included 21 buildings on 68 acres (280,000 m²).

Among the most notable families whose children attended CDO during the 1960s and 1970s was the Udall family. Mo Udall represented much of southern Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives at the time, and his brother Stewart Udall served as president of the Amphitheater School Board before later serving as Secretary of the Interior under U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

From the 1960s through the 1980s, CDO became a dominating presence in golf and tennis, capturing the respective state titles nearly each year. CDO also won back-to-back state championships in both basketball and football in the late 1970s. The CDO girls' basketball team registered an undefeated 28–0 record in 1987, capturing the 5A State title (Arizona Interscholastic Association).

As the Oro Valley area experienced significant population growth in the 1990s, enrollment at CDO increased as well. At its enrollment peak, CDO served a student population of nearly 3,100 in 2001. CDO had the highest enrollment of any high school in southern Arizona, and was one of the largest schools in the state. The growth and desirability of Oro Valley (the fastest growing municipality in Arizona for several years in the 1990s), was often credited by the media to CDO and the educational reputation the school established (Arizona Daily Star). In 2001, CDO received relief as the Amphitheater School District opened Ironwood Ridge, the district's third high school, in northwestern Oro Valley.

Canyon del Oro continues to register among the highest standardized test scores in Arizona, and a notable number of National Merit Scholars. CDO is one of the few high schools consistently designated as "Excelling" (the highest academic distinction) by the Arizona Department of Education.[21] Canyon del Oro High School celebrated its 50th anniversary of establishment in the fall of 2014.

On September 21, 1999, 1500 students (roughly half the student population) walked out of classes in protest of low teacher pay. The students walked nearly 8 miles to the Amphitheater District offices at 701 W. Wetmore Rd. In solidarity, many of the teachers chose not to mark students absent from classes.

Canyon del Oro offers twelve different CTE programs for the students to participate in. The CTE courses at CDO are dedicated to providing a hands-on experience for all students and the primary focus of the CTE programs is to prepare students for college and career readiness by using 21st century skills. CTE is preparing students of all ages to help drive America's success and vitality. Further, it is creating an educational environment that integrates core academics with real-world relevance. CTE is leading this change, transforming expectations and making a difference for students, for secondary and postsecondary schools, for businesses and industry—for America. CDO offers:

• Architectural Drafting
• Automotive Technology
• Bioscience
• Computer Science
• Construction Technology
• Culinary
• Digital Photography
• Early Childhood Education
• Engineering
• Sports Medicine
• Technical Theater

In the 2012–13 school year, CDO began offering the IB Diploma Programme to its students. CDO is now a full-fledged IB School.

CDO offers Russian and Mandarin Chinese classes, as well as many other courses through JTED programs and Pima Community College.

Competing in the 5A Division for 25 years, the school captured several hundred championship titles (region and state). Such championships include 9 state crowns in baseball (most recently a 5A title in 2002, and a 4A-I title in 2023), 9 state titles in softball (most recently a 4A title in 2017, and 4A-I titles in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012), 11 team state titles in boys' tennis, 6 team state titles in girls' tennis, 9 team state titles in boys' golf (most recently a Division II title in 2011), and 4 team state titles in girls' track and field (most recently a 4A-I title in 2011). Due to recent downsizing from the opening of a new high school, CDO presently competes in the Arizona Interscholastic Association 4A Sonoran Conference, Division I (Arizona Interscholastic Association).

After winning back-to-back state championships in 1976 and 1977, the Canyon del Oro football program experienced difficulty repeating such success. CDO began to revamp its football program in the 2000 season resulting in a 6–4 overall record in 5A play. The following year CDO recorded a 7–3 regular season, falling to perennial powerhouse Mesa Mountain View in the opening round of the 5A state playoffs. After dropping to 4A due to an enrollment decline, CDO's football program has experienced marked recent success, including several berths in the state playoffs. In 2007 CDO finished a 9–1 regular season, the sole loss to Glendale Cactus 36–34. Victories followed over Cienega High School, Prescott High School, and Peoria High School in the opening, quarterfinal, and semifinal rounds of the 4A state playoffs. CDO reached the 4A State Championship, ultimately losing to the defending State Champion, Scottsdale Saguaro High School, 23–21 after a field goal by the Sabercats with two seconds remaining in play.

In 2009, CDO finished 10–0 in the regular season (Division 4A-I), including an impressive win over three-time defending State Champion Saguaro Sabercats 44–0, ending their 37-game winning streak. In the 2009 Division 4A-I playoffs, the top-seeded Dorados went on to beat the McClintock Chargers (49–26), the Apollo Hawks (63–35), and the Cienega Bobcats (48–16) to get them into the state championship game. In that game, held at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona on December 5, 2009, the Canyon del Oro Dorados defeated the Sabino Sabercats (also of Tucson) 40–0 to win the State Championship for the first time since 1977. Star running back Ka'Deem Carey rushed 26 times for 268 yards (245 m) and scored 5 touchdowns. He also threw for a touchdown in the third quarter to cap off a perfect 14–0 season for the Dorados. The win secured the 3rd state championship for CDO.[28]

In 2010, CDO finished the season with a 13–1 record, and as State Runner-Up behind Saguaro High School of Scottsdale. The team's only loss in the State Championship snapped the school's 27-game winning streak.

Canyon del Oro baseball is well known for its prominence in Arizona and the U.S. CDO's most recent baseball state titles include 1997, 2000, 2002, 2009, 2015, 2022, and 2023. CDO baseball has produced a significant number of players drafted by Major League Baseball. The 2002 State Championship team merits special distinction, as it was ranked 12th, out of more than 1,000 other high schools, nationally by USA Today.[20] This team finished with a record of 27–6, never losing a home game (Arizona Interscholastic Association). The 5A State Championship baseball team finished the 1997 season ranked 25th nationally by USA Today.

In 2009, CDO won the 4A-I State Championship, topping No. 1 seed Glendale Cactus with a score of 15–5, and finishing the season with a 24–7 record. The title marks the 7th baseball state championship at CDO.

Canyon del Oro softball is a successful program as well, with nine state titles. The softball program has three 5A state titles (1992, 2001 and 2005), and has won the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2017 4A Division state titles. The 2017 state championship team finished 33-2 and was ranked number one in the state of Arizona in the 4A Division. The 2009 state championship team finished the season with a 34–2 record.[13] The 2008 state championship team finished the season with a 33–4 record, and ranked 5th nationally by USA Today.[19] The 2007 state championship team finished the season with a 33–3 record, ranked 2nd nationally by USA Today. The team also ranked 14th in 2006, 18th in 2005, and 6th in 2001 in the USA Today national rankings.[20] As of 2007, the CDO program had produced 24 Division I softball players, along with a 397–106 record since the program's first state title in 1992.

Recently, boys' volleyball has been recognized nationally. CDO boys' volleyball won the Arizona 5A State title in 1996 and fielded one of the school's most successful teams in 2005. In 2005, the team compiled a record of 40–3, and despite losing the state title game, CDO was widely recognized as one of the premier boys' volleyball teams in the nation (Arizona Interscholastic Association).

Boys' soccer has also experienced recent success. The CDO team captured the school's first boys' soccer state championship in 2009, with a 2–1 win over Scottsdale Chaparral.[29] The team finished State Runner-Up in 2007, losing to Rincon 3–2.[29]

CDO teams and individuals have won over 90 State Championships, and placed as the State Runner-Up over 40 times. CDO has also had 9 athletes medal in boys' golf, most recently in 2011.[30][31][32] In 2011 the boys' cross country team won the Division II state title over runner-up Ironwood Ridge. This was the first state championship for boys' cross country in school history.

In 1993, the school won Arizona's Tony Komadina Award for its girls' athletic program and received the Overall Excellence Award for the highest achieving athletic program in Arizona seven times. CDO has won more 4A and 5A state championships than all other schools in southern Arizona, with the exception of the oldest, Tucson High School (Arizona Interscholastic Association).

Below is a comprehensive table including all athletic state titles won by CDO teams. Canyon del Oro teams competed at the 3A equivalent level from fall 1966 to spring 1968, and the 4A equivalent level from fall 1968 to spring 1980. Between fall 1980 and spring 2005, CDO teams competed at the 5A level, resuming 4A competition from fall 2005 to 2009. The AIA reclassified class 4A-I as Division II in 2010.[33]

Canyon del Oro is home to one of the top performing Academic Decathlon teams in Arizona. The CDO team is a perennial powerhouse in the region, defeating other academically reputable schools in the area nearly every year. As of 2010, the team had captured nine consecutive region titles.[22]

The CDO team placed 4th in the Arizona Academic Decathlon State Competition in 2002, 3rd in the state in 2003, State Runner-Up in 2004, and 3rd in the state in 2005.[21][34] In 2006 the team became the Arizona Academic Decathlon State Champions, outscoring defending state champs Mesa Mountain View 46,482 points to 46,406 points. CDO represented Arizona in the National competition, placing 5th. In 2007, the team scored 45,667 points, placing second in the state behind Mesa Mountain View with 47,402 points.[8] In 2008, the team scored 46,600 points, placing second in the state for the second consecutive year.[9]

In 2009, CDO once again became the Arizona Academic Decathlon State Champions, outscoring Mesa Red Mountain 47,055.5 points to 44,052.2 points.[7] The CDO team placed 4th in the U.S. Academic Decathlon National Competition, in representing Arizona, with 47,972.3 points.[15] CDO placed behind Moorpark High School of California (51,289.5 points), Waukesha West High School of Wisconsin (50,979.9 points), and Burke High School of Nebraska (48,064.0 points).[15]

In 2010, CDO placed as State Runner-Up behind Mesa Mountain View, with the team scoring 47,892.4 points.[35]

In 2011, CDO was the State Champion in Arizona, and finished 5th in the National Competition with 46,522.7 points.[10]

In 2012, CDO placed as State Runner-Up behind Mesa Mountain View, with the team scoring 44,962 points.

In 2013, CDO placed as State Runner-Up behind Red Mountain. At the National Competition, the team placed 9th overall.

CDO has an active Science Olympiad program, which has placed well in the state tournament in years past. This program is run by students and the AP Biology teacher, Dr. Zeiher. Other science teachers are becoming involved in the success of this program, notably Mrs. Christman of the chemistry department. Students create functioning robots and helicopters, as well as utilize high-tech protein modeling programs. In 2009, the team was Rookie of the Year at the state competition. The CDO team placed second in robotics during the state competition of 2011, but students aim to surpass this in years to come.

The Future Problem Solving Team won first place in the state competition in 2001. It also won second place in the state competition and sixth place in the national competition in 2006.

Joseph Polchinski

• Keith A. Nelson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor of Chemistry
• Joseph Polchinski, University of California at Santa Barbara (high energy physics, string theory)[36]

• Kyle Balda (1989), co-director of animated film The Lorax and director of animated film Minions
• Brianne Leary (1975), actress and inventor, former host of The Disney Channel's Walt Disney World Inside Out and Animal Planet's Petsburgh USA
• Tom Zoellner (1987), author of Train: Riding the Rails that Created the Modern World, from the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief

• Masha Hamilton, journalist and novelist (Concern Worldwide, Associated Press)[37]

Sen. Mark Udall

• Jonathan Rothschild (1973), elected Mayor of Tucson, Arizona in 2011[38]
• Mark Udall (1968), elected U.S. Senator for the Colorado in 2008; former U.S. Representative for District 2 of Colorado (primarily the Boulder area) from 1999 until taking his seat in the U.S. Senate in 2009

Ed Hochuli

Ian Kinsler

• Brian Anderson (2000), outfielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball[39]
• Callista Balko (2004), softball player (starting catcher) for the 2006 and 2007 University of Arizona NCAA Women's College World Series National Championship teams
• Ka'deem Carey (2011), running back for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, running back for the University of Arizona (2011-2014); nominee for the Heisman Trophy (2013)
• Chris Duncan (1999), baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball[40]
• Shelley Duncan (1998), outfielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball
• Scott Hairston (1999), outfielder for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball[41]
• Ryan Hietala (1992), professional golfer in the PGA, 1995 WAC Player of the Year
• Ed Hochuli (1969), Super Bowl referee official for the National Football League[42]
• Ian Kinsler (2000), Israeli-American 4x All Star second baseman in Major League Baseball[43]
• Blake Martinez (2012), inside linebacker for the New York Giants, of the National Football League[44]
• Anthony Pedroza (1998), basketball player, member of the Mexico national team[45]
• Colin Porter (1994), outfielder for the Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees of Major League Baseball[46]
• George Roop (2000), professional mixed martial artist, former cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir, former UFC fighter[47]
• Jason Stanford (1995), pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball[48]
• Jaide Stepter Baynes (2012), Track and field athlete[49]
• Donny Toia (2010), Defender for Real Salt Lake, of Major League Soccer[50]
• Turner Washington (2017), professional track & field athlete[51]

Elementary schools in the Canyon del Oro attendance area include Marion Donaldson, Winifred Harelson, Mesa Verde, and Copper Creek. L.W. Cross Middle School and Wilson K-8 Middle School feeding into Canyon del Oro.[52]