[citation needed] As of 2020[update], the district covers much of Phoenix and portions of Glendale, Paradise Valley, and Scottsdale.

In that same year, Arizona's Territorial Legislature[6] passed a law that allowed districts with at least 2,000 residents to form a high school.

The school campus was a former mansion, and was chosen at the time because it was located in a residential area, bordered in part by two arterial streets.

[10] Beginning in the late 1910s, Phoenix Union High School District began segregating its White and African American students.

[11] In 1918, a "Department for Colored Students" that was established at a rear room of Phoenix Union High School's Commercial Building, with one teacher.

[7] The site, a former four-acre landfill that was surrounded by warehouses,[12] drew protests over safety and sanitary concerns.

[9] Between 1949 and 1957, five additional high schools were built: Camelback, Carl Hayden, Central, West, and South Mountain.

[16] A riot brought on by racial tensions also happened during the 1970s at South Mountain High School.

[19] The school district, according to the investigation, was fully aware of the policy's impact, and, despite numerous recommendations, chose not to take action of the matter.

[20] A consent decree followed the ruling, which resulted in the reopening of North High, as well as, among other things, the establishment of magnet programs across the district, continued summer school programs, increased transportation options for students, and the building of two more high schools.