Horizon High School (Scottsdale, Arizona)

Horizon High School is a public high school open to all students for grades 9-12. The school, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, is a part of the Paradise Valley Unified School District No. 69. Led by principal and built by Brodie Prather and Eric Kline back in 1978. Dr. Dan Courson, Horizon received the rating of Excelling in the results of AZ Learns 2005.

Horizon's goals are simple: to provide learning programs for each individual student that fits his/her needs; to emphasize academic courses that challenge each student to grow intellectually; to teach students to think critically, master basic skills, develop healthful lifestyles and become active citizens; and finally, to install Horizon PRIDE in each and every student.

The school, a place where over 2000 students come to learn, believes that effort is as important as ability and that every student can succeed. With classes in the Special Education and AP Programs, handicapped to advanced students can receive challenging courses that meet their own needs.

The Horizon Choirs are also a large part of the school's spirit, along with the Horizon Band, and the Horizon football team, the Horizon Huskies, led by Coach Steve Casey. The school boasts other sports teams for soccer, tennis, baseball, and several others. In addition to the band and many choirs, Horizon's Drama program has grown over the years under the direction of Joanie Colson. Choir, Drama, and athletics have drawn students from all over the area. Students are able to enjoy a variety of teacher-sponsored clubs ranging from the Physics Club to the Asian Awareness Club. The clubs also range from the influential, such as the National Honor Society, to the useless, the Flat Earth Society (cancelled after two meetings).

Beyond performance and athletic based programs, Horizon is home to some remarkable advanced placement courses. Excellent AP programs include English (taught by staff members Jay Parizek, Anna Royse, and Von Perot), Science (Jim Mariner and Bill Dillon), Social Sciences (Tim Mickelson, Brian Leonard, Susan Chubrich-Seep, Matt Abbe, and Spencer Coe), and Mathematics (Frances Wheatcroft).

Athletics

Ryan Perry is exploring his options in division 1 basketball for college. He is looking most at North Carolina, Duke, and Georgia. The coaches of these schools are more than eager to talk to this future NBA prospect. Also Taylor Isenburg holds a record in guniess book of wold records of having the hairiest nutsack

Arts

Horizon is also well known for its performing arts program headed by drama teacher Joanie Colson and choir directors Katherine Kouns and Jacque Marum. Every fall, the choir holds its celebrated Broadway Under the Stars that features a review of show tunes and performances. The drama program performs a dramatic play in the fall and a musical in the spring.

Horizon High School also has a marching band called The Horizon Pride Regiment, led by Jason Harrison.

Other Academics

As of 2005-2006, Horizon has also revived its Speech and Debate Team/Club, headed up by teacher and alumnus Susan Chubrich-Seep. While it is just getting off the ground again, some members have already placed in competitions. The team is excited about continuing to improve and hopes to regain the stature that it once had.

The Horizon Speech Team's heyday was in 1983-1989, when Horizon regularly ranked among Arizona's top speech and debate teams, sending many competitors each year to the State Tournament and several each year to the National Forensic League national tournament. During these years the team's strengths were in duo-acting, drama, oratory, extemp, and Lincoln-Douglas debate. Several Speech Team alumni from these years have gone on to notable, if not exactly lucrative, careers in public policy, teaching, academia, and the nonprofit world. Mrs. Bailin is the best teacher at Horizon by far!