Cortina Elementary School
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About Cortina Elementary
Cortina Elementary is a neighborhood school in Higley Unified School District serving kindergarten through sixth grade students. Our learning environment provides each and every child the opportunity to learn and grow in a challenging and safe environment. We make learning relevant and fun through discovery science, current events, hands-on mathematics and academics, as well as a comprehensive curriculum of physical education, art and music. We offer a full menu of athletics, arts, and school sponsored clubs and organizations to meet the needs and interests of each student. We invite you and your child to join our professional teaching staff, dedicated parents and hard-working students at Cortina Elementary where we provide the community with a welcoming and safe learning environment that cultivates confident learners who take risks and express curiosity.
Our Mission
To provide the community with a welcoming and safe learning environment that cultivates confident learners who take risks and express curiosity.
Our Vision
Committed to being a positive, connected community that inspires, encourages, and empowers all learners.
Announcements
Stay Connected with ParentSquare!
Higley Unified School District now uses ParentSquare as its unified communication platform for school, district, and classroom updates. Families can receive messages by email, text, phone, or through the free ParentSquare app, making it easier than ever to stay informed and connected.
Download the free ParentSquare app today to view all communications in one place, communicate with teachers and staff, complete forms, sign permission slips, manage your notification preferences, and more.
For setup instructions, resources, and additional information, please visit the district's ParentSquare webpage.
Apply to Join the 6th-12th Grades ELA Curriculum Review Committee
Parents and guardians: Higley Unified School District is adopting new 6th-12th Grades English Language Arts (ELA) instructional materials for the 2027–2028 school year, and we are seeking applicants to join the District Review Committee.
The committee will meet August–December 2026 to review and evaluate curriculum options.
Applications are due by Friday, August 21, 2026.
Proportionate Share Community Presentation
Please join us for our Proportionate Share Community Presentation on Friday, August 14th at 2:00 PM, located at the HUSD District Office - 2935 S Recker Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85295. Proportionate Share Funding (PSF) is allocated by the federal government and is used to support special education services for qualifying students who are unilaterally placed by their parent/guardian in a non-profit private school located within the Higley Unified School District (HUSD) boundaries or homeschooled students who reside within HUSD’s boundaries.
Brag About It!
Do you love your school? We want you to brag about it! Leave a positive review of your school on Google, or your favorite school rating website and share the reasons you love your school.
Or, give a Staff Shout Out! Submit our online form and tell us about your excellent customer service experience, and they will be presented with a Shout Out Certificate and recognized in front of their peers.
Your feedback contributes to a positive environment for all staff and students, as we prepare learners for limitless opportunities.
HUSD Governing Board Meeting Schedule
The Higley Unified School District Governing Board meeting schedule can be found on the district website at husd.org/board-meetings. The public is welcome to attend all board meetings. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the meetings. Board Business Meetings and Work Study Sessions are livestreamed on the district YouTube channel. Please note, Points of Pride, Higley Adventures, and Requests to Speak are not included during the Work Study meetings.
Tax Credit Donation Reminder
We would like to remind families who are interested in making a tax credit donation this season, that this can be made for any one of our schools through our HUSD website.
An individual may claim a nonrefundable tax credit for making cash contributions or for certain fees paid to a public school located in Arizona.
To qualify for the credit, an individual must make contributions for qualifying expenditures per A.R.S. § 43-1089.01. The credit is equal to the amount of fees paid or cash contributions, not to exceed $400 for married filing joint filers and $200 for all other filing statuses. For more information, please visit Arizona Department of Revenue.
We appreciate your support!
Headlines
![Higley Traditional Academy Wall Wrap.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1785450837/husdorg/fvgtr1y4o6taoszwb76e/HTA3.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1785450837/husdorg/fvgtr1y4o6taoszwb76e/HTA3.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1785450837/husdorg/fvgtr1y4o6taoszwb76e/HTA3.jpg","width":640}])
Students across Higley Unified School District (HUSD) are seeing the impact of the democratic process, after School Participatory Budgeting projects from last year’s program were completed over summer break.
![A man loading boxes inside a truck.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1785450624/husdorg/ulpfx0ej6tqjjodid2nm/2026CirriculumDelivery-2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1785450624/husdorg/ulpfx0ej6tqjjodid2nm/2026CirriculumDelivery-2.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1785450624/husdorg/ulpfx0ej6tqjjodid2nm/2026CirriculumDelivery-2.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1785450624/husdorg/ulpfx0ej6tqjjodid2nm/2026CirriculumDelivery-2.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1785450624/husdorg/ulpfx0ej6tqjjodid2nm/2026CirriculumDelivery-2.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1785450624/husdorg/ulpfx0ej6tqjjodid2nm/2026CirriculumDelivery-2.jpg","width":2200}])
As students return to classrooms this school year, K-5 students will be greeted with a brand-new English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum designed to support reading, writing and literacy instruction. The new curriculum was approved last year after the district’s existing resource was discontinued from the state’s approved requirements.
![boxes of curriculum materials sit in a warehouse]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1779465492/husdorg/gw1edmeoitjc2u1zdsfn/Curriculum.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1779465492/husdorg/gw1edmeoitjc2u1zdsfn/Curriculum.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1779465492/husdorg/gw1edmeoitjc2u1zdsfn/Curriculum.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1779465492/husdorg/gw1edmeoitjc2u1zdsfn/Curriculum.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1779465492/husdorg/gw1edmeoitjc2u1zdsfn/Curriculum.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1779465492/husdorg/gw1edmeoitjc2u1zdsfn/Curriculum.jpg","width":2200}])
While teachers and students are out for summer, 12-month Higley Unified employees are busy getting ready for the next school year.
![Two young girls smile at the camera from behind a table with playing cards, with a classroom environment visible in the background.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1779832772/husdorg/x4pnmwhwfinkmuh9ynv7/KidsClubPhoto.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1779832772/husdorg/x4pnmwhwfinkmuh9ynv7/KidsClubPhoto.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1779832772/husdorg/x4pnmwhwfinkmuh9ynv7/KidsClubPhoto.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1779832772/husdorg/x4pnmwhwfinkmuh9ynv7/KidsClubPhoto.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1779832772/husdorg/x4pnmwhwfinkmuh9ynv7/KidsClubPhoto.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1779832772/husdorg/x4pnmwhwfinkmuh9ynv7/KidsClubPhoto.png","width":2000}])
Our Higley teachers shared five favorite tips and activities to help students stay curious, engaged, and learning all summer long.
Higley Unified School District
16
Schools located in Gilbert & Queen Creek
13500
Students in grades PreK-12
1600
Employees across our district
96%
Highest graduation rate of any large district in Arizona