The first classes were taught by Alza Blount, who, for health reasons, moved to Arizona from Illinois with her husband George and their three children.
Classes were held in their adobe home, which was just south of what is now Civic Center Plaza and Second Street.
Alza Blount was paid $40 a month to teach the 8-10 students from the seven families who resided in Scottsdale at that time.
Prior to 1974 the district enrolled students of the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community reservation, but that year ceased doing so.
[5] Today, the district covers 112 square miles (290 km2), including some areas not part of the City of Scottsdale itself; specifically, the district includes most of the town of Paradise Valley and parts of Tempe and Phoenix in addition to most of Scottsdale.