New High School Builds a Brighter Future for Wittmann Families

This spring, the first class of seniors will graduate from Mountainside High School, the first standalone high school built in the Nadaburg Unified School District, a rural but growing area between Surprise and Wickenburg.  

The district formerly had a low-capacity high school built alongside an elementary school, but most high school students had to bus to other districts to attend school. Thanks to $23 million in state funding allocated by the School Facilities Oversight Board, managed by the Arizona Department of Administration, the community celebrated the first semester of classes at the brand-new Mountainside High School in fall 2024. 

The campus capacity is 558 students, and about 400 students are currently enrolled. The district describes the new facility as a beacon of opportunity that offers dual enrollment and industry certifications. The school also features an archery range, parent-built benches and community-donated field signage. There’s talk of adding rodeo facilities in the future.  

Senior Ernesto Avila, 17, said the process of building the new school helped bring the community together. 

“I feel that we are closer now, more than we were before,” he said. “It allows students in the community to remain together and attend the same school. Even though it’s still a small school, the community is strong and there is potential for growth. We also have our own space now and are no longer bunched up with elementary students.”

Senior Suekana Al Aqili, 17, said the school community is strong and that it’s rewarding to help start a legacy. 

“I get to help build a foundation for future students in a school that will make history for the town of Whittmann,” she said. 

Courtney Hundley, parent of a current Mountainside student and a student who will attend next year, said that the school will have a social and community impact for generations. 

“Having a community-based school is invaluable for students’ development and social well-being. It creates more opportunities for students to establish and maintain friendships within their local area, fostering a sense of community pride and involvement,” she said. “When students attend school within their own town, they’re more likely to participate in local events and activities, which strengthens their connection to the community. If students had to attend schools in other towns, it would be much harder for them to build and maintain these local relationships, making the school an essential part of the town’s social fabric.”