Ironwood Ridge High School

Last updated
Ironwood Ridge High School
Ironwood Ridge HS logo.png
Address
Ironwood Ridge High School
2475 West Naranja Drive

Oro Valley, Arizona
85742

United States
Coordinates 32°24′34″N111°1′15″W / 32.40944°N 111.02083°W / 32.40944; -111.02083 Coordinates: 32°24′34″N111°1′15″W / 32.40944°N 111.02083°W / 32.40944; -111.02083
Information
Type Public secondary (US)
Established2001(22 years ago) (2001)
School district Amphitheater Public Schools
CEEB code 030517
PrincipalBrent Spencer
Staff79.20 (FTE) [1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,830 (2018–19) [1]
Student to teacher ratio23.11 [1]
Campus size88.76 acres (35.92 ha)
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)Navy blue and silver
  
Nickname Nighthawks
NewspaperThe Iron Quill
Website www.amphi.com/IRHS
[2]

Ironwood Ridge High School is a public high school located in Oro Valley, Arizona. Ironwood Ridge is one of three high schools in the Amphitheater Public School District and serves grades 9-12. The school mascot is the nighthawk, and the school colors are navy blue and silver. Ironwood Ridge opened in 2001 and has a student enrollment of 1,942. The school's name originates from the abundance of desert ironwood trees in the area (the campus is also near Ironwood Forest National Monument) and the school's location in the rugged foothills of the Tortolita Mountains.

Contents

In 2007, Newsweek magazine rated Ironwood Ridge in the top 5% of public schools in the US, one of 12 Arizona schools included on the list. [3] The school's primary and district rival is Canyon del Oro High School, [4] also located in Oro Valley. The school's other rivals are Marana's Mountain View High School and Cienega High School, located southeast of Tucson in Vail.[ citation needed ]

History

Population growth in Tucson's northwest suburbs

The history of Ironwood Ridge includes substantial controversy and a federal court decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2000 from Republican John Pae. The Amphi School District's first high school (Amphitheater) was built in 1939, followed by Canyon del Oro High School in 1962. The school board began searching for a third high school site in the late 1970s when it became apparent that significant development would occur on the northwest side of Tucson. Tentative deals were negotiated with developers, but by the late 1980s, all of the deals were unsuccessful, and the school district lacked a viable site for a future high school. [5]

By 1993, overcrowding existed at a growing number of district schools, at all grade levels, in part due to the growth on the northwest side. At the time, the most critical crowding was in the elementary school grade levels. The school board noted that the overcrowding problem would eventually affect the district's high schools by the late 1990s. In 1993, the school board systematically searched for school sites on the Northwest Side where the majority of growth in the district was occurring. By early 1994, potential sites were narrowed down, and in April 1994, the school board purchased two sites adjacent to one another on the southeast corner of West Naranja Drive and North Shannon Road, at that time west of Oro Valley. [5]

The impact of the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl

By 1994, the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl had been identified as a "species of special concern" by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). A FWS report on the owl was published in 1994 with a map depicting the areas believed to be prime potential habitats for the owl. The two school sites were not identified as being located in those areas. The school district planned to break ground in October 1997, with the high school opening by August 1999. [5]

In spring 1997, all the plans and blueprints for the school were completed, and the district had obtained all the required permits for construction, with the exception of one. The school site had a significant wash running through it, and the Army Corps of Engineers contended that building on such a wash constituted modifying a navigable waterway and required a 404 permit. [5]

As the school district applied for the permit, the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl was listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the FWS in 1997. Within an area in Arizona designated by the FWS as critical habitat of the pygmy owl included the 90 acres (36 ha) owned by the school district. 60 acres (24 ha) were earmarked for construction of the high school, with the remaining 30 acres (12 ha) to remain undeveloped. [6]

At the request of the school board, the Arizona Game and Fish Department conducted six surveys on the site and did not find ferruginous pygmy owls on the property or on the adjacent land where the owls last were sighted in early 1996. The school board then began a process with the FWS to mitigate disturbance of the potential owl habitat on the site. Negotiations with the FWS were ultimately unsuccessful, and the school district proceeded with developing the school site. [5]

Federal lawsuit

When the school district began construction operations on the 60-acre (24 ha) parcel, Defenders of Wildlife (Defenders), an environmental group, brought an action for injunctive relief under Section 9 of the ESA (applicable to private parties) in the US District Court of Arizona, alleging that the proposed school construction was likely to harm or harass pygmy owls that used or inhabited the site. Defenders obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt the construction. [6]

The Arizona District Court found that no pygmy owl had been detected anywhere within the school site, and that the evidence was insufficient to show that a pygmy owl had used any portion of the 60-acre (24 ha) parcel. The court also concluded that while the evidence supported an inference that a pygmy owl used the 30-acre (12 ha) parcel, the allegation that the construction would harm the owl lacked such support, and was weakened by inconsistent facts. As to harassment of the pygmy owl, the court determined that the evidence did not show that the bird's behavioral patterns would be adversely affected by construction of the school. In the court's view, only speculation supporting the assertion that human activity associated with the school would harass the owl. [6]

Defenders of Wildlife appealed the District Court decision, and the case proceeded to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court held that the school district could not be prevented from building a school on the site. The court asserted that critical habitat designation played no role in the case. At the time of appeal, FWS had not yet made a critical habitat designation for the pygmy owl. The Ninth Circuit found that the insufficiency of Defenders' evidence was the main issue, and any critical habitat designation would not have altered the outcome of the case. [7]

Establishment of IRHS

The school district finally began construction of the high school following the decision in early 2000, and Ironwood Ridge opened for students in fall 2001, eliminating the overcrowding issue at Canyon del Oro High School.

Feeder schools

Ironwood Ridge is fed by Richard B. Wilson K-8 School and Coronado K-8 School.

Rivals

Ironwood's major rivals include the nearby Canyon del Oro High School and Cienega High School from Vail. [8]

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pima County, Arizona</span> County in Arizona, United States

Pima County is a county in the south central region of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,043,433, making it Arizona's second-most populous county. The county seat is Tucson, where most of the population is centered. The county is named after the Pima Native Americans who are indigenous to this area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casas Adobes, Arizona</span> CDP in Pima County, Arizona

Casas Adobes is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in the northern metropolitan area of Tucson, Arizona. The population was 66,795 at the 2010 census. Casas Adobes is situated south and southwest of the town of Oro Valley, and west of the community of Catalina Foothills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catalina Foothills, Arizona</span> CDP in Pima County, Arizona

Catalina Foothills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located north of Tucson in Pima County, Arizona, United States. Situated in the southern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Catalina Foothills had a population of 50,796 at the 2010 census. Catalina Foothills is one of the most affluent communities in Arizona and in the U.S., with the 6th highest per capita income in Arizona, and the 14th highest per capita income in the U.S. of communities with a population of at least 50,000. The Catalina Foothills community includes some of Arizona's most expensive homes and land, and has the highest median property value. It also includes resorts, golf courses, and spas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oro Valley, Arizona</span> Town in Pima County, Arizona

Oro Valley, incorporated in 1974, is a suburban town located 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Tucson, Arizona, United States, in Pima County. According to the 2020 census, the population of the town is 47,070, an increase from 29,700 in 2000. Dubbed the "Upscale Tech Mecca" of Southern Arizona by the Arizona Daily Star newspaper, Oro Valley is home to over 10 high tech firms and has a median household income nearly 50% higher than the U.S. median. The town is located approximately 110 miles (180 km) southeast of the state capital of Phoenix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Catalina Mountains</span> Mountain range in Pima and Pinal counties, Arizona, United States

The Santa Catalina Mountains, commonly referred to as the Catalina Mountains or the Catalinas, are north and northeast of Tucson in Arizona, United States, on Tucson's north perimeter. The mountain range is the most prominent in the Tucson area, with the highest average elevation. The highest point in the Catalinas is Mount Lemmon at an elevation of 9,157 feet (2,791 m) above sea level and receives 18 inches (46 cm) of precipitation annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canyon del Oro High School</span> Public high school in Oro Valley, Arizona, United States

Canyon del Oro High School (CDO) is a comprehensive public high school in Oro Valley, Arizona, located 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Tucson at the base of Pusch Ridge. Established in 1964, CDO is one of three high schools of Amphitheater Public Schools and serves about 1,600 students in grades 9–12. The school name originates from the remote Canyon del Oro in the nearby Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. The school mascot is the Dorado, a mythical Latin American warrior. The school colors are forest green and gold. The Dorado mascot was designed and painted on the gymnasium floor by former art teacher Diane Redhair in the mid-1960s. Her design was based on two different winning submissions by CDO students John Epling and Kenny Harris who had submitted their designs to a school-wide competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphitheater Public Schools</span>

Amphitheater Public Schools, also known as Amphi or District 10, is the third largest public school district in Tucson, Arizona, in terms of enrollment, with about 13,500 students and a staff of about 2000 employees Amphi was established on July 3, 1893. With its headquarters in Flowing Wells, presently serves segments of North Tucson, Casas Adobes, Catalina Foothills, and the communities of Oro Valley, eastern Tortolita, and Catalina northwest of the city.

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy is a private Christian school located in northwest Tucson, Arizona, on a 40 acres (160,000 m2) campus. Pusch Ridge Christian Academy is a ministry of Catalina Foothills Church, PCA. The school is accredited by ACSI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catalina Foothills High School</span> Public school in Catalina Foothills, Arizona, United States

Catalina Foothills High School is a public high school, located in the upscale suburban community of Catalina Foothills, just north of Tucson, Arizona, United States. It is the only high school in the Catalina Foothills School District, located in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Founded in 1992, the school now serves approximately 1,650 students in grades nine through twelve. The school mascot is the peregrine falcon, and the school colors are blue and silver. Based on the percentage of students passing or exceeding Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards standardized test, Catalina Foothills is one of the top high schools in the state. Annually, Catalina Foothills averages over 10 National Merit Finalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ironwood Forest National Monument</span> Protected area in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona

Ironwood Forest National Monument is located in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Created by Bill Clinton by Presidential Proclamation 7320 on June 9, 2000, the monument is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, an agency within the United States Department of the Interior. The monument covers 129,055 acres (52,227 ha), of which 59,573 acres (24,108 ha) are non-federal and include private land holdings and Arizona State School Trust lands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge</span> Protected area in Ulster County, New York

The Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge located in Ulster County, New York, United States. Formerly the Galeville Military Airport, it was decommissioned in 1994 and turned over to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999. It serves as a waypoint for grassland-dependent migratory birds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center for Biological Diversity</span> Nonprofit organization that works to protect endangered species

The Center for Biological Diversity is a nonprofit membership organization known for its work protecting endangered species through legal action, scientific petitions, creative media and grassroots activism. It was founded in 1989 by Kieran Suckling, Peter Galvin, Todd Schulke and Robin Silver. The center is based in Tucson, Arizona, with its headquarters in the historic Owls club building, and has offices and staff in New Mexico, Nevada, California, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, Alaska, Vermont, Florida and Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1978</span> United States Law

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was first passed in 1973 and forms the basis of biodiversity and endangered species protection in the United States. The original purpose of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was to prevent species endangerment and extinction due to the human impact on natural ecosystems. The three most powerful sections of the ESA are Sections 4, 7 and 9. Section 4 allows the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to list species as threatened or endangered based on best available data. Section 7 requires federal agencies to consult with Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) before taking any action that may threaten a listed species. Section 9 forbids the taking of an endangered species. The first amendment to the ESA was passed by the 95th United States Congress in 1978 to "introduce some flexibility into the Endangered Species Act".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saguaro National Park</span> National park in Arizona, United States

Saguaro National Park is an American national park in Pima County, southeastern Arizona. The 92,000-acre (37,000 ha) park consists of two separate areas—the Tucson Mountain District (TMD) about 10 miles (16 km) west of the city of Tucson and the Rincon Mountain District (RMD) about 10 miles (16 km) east of the city—that preserve Sonoran Desert landscapes, fauna, and flora, including the giant saguaro cactus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona</span> U.S. state

Arizona is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th-largest and the 14th-most-populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Four Corners region with Utah to the north, Colorado to the northeast, and New Mexico to the east; its other neighboring states are Nevada to the northwest, California to the west and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California to the south and southwest.

The Whipple Mountains Wilderness is a 76,122-acre (30,805 ha) wilderness administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Most of the Whipple Mountains are within the wilderness area. It is located in the northeastern Colorado Desert near the Colorado River. Lake Havasu and Lake Havasu City are 25 miles (40 km) to the North. Earp, California and Parker, Arizona are 20 miles (32 km) to the South. The Parker Dam is 8 miles (13 km) due east.

Palo Verde Christian High School was a Christian High School in Tucson, Arizona. It opened in 1986 and closed due to financial difficulties when it was bought out by the Catalina Foothills Church in 2000 and renamed Pusch Ridge Christian Academy. During the Palo Verde years the mascot was the Crusaders.

Rosemont Copper is a proposed large open pit copper mine project by the Canadian mining corporation Hudbay Minerals. The project site is located within the Santa Rita Mountains and Coronado National Forest, in Pima County of southern Arizona. It has undergone a permitting review process under the direction of the United States Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and has been delayed by legal judgements and suspension of its operating permit by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vargas Plateau Regional Park</span>

Vargas Plateau Regional Park sits on a plateau in the Fremont Hills of Alameda County, California that overlooks the San Francisco Bay, Niles Canyon, and the cities of Fremont, Union City and Newark. The elevation of the park is about 1,000 feet (300 m), making it an important link with nearby ridge-top parks such as Garin Regional Park, Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, Mission Peak Regional Preserve, and Sunol Regional Wilderness.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ironwood Ridge High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  2. ↑ "IRHS - Administration". Archived from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2014-10-09.
  3. ↑ "Area high schools snag top honors" Archived 2012-07-22 at the Wayback Machine (broken link)
  4. ↑ "Inner-district rivals ready to face off". Tucson Local Media. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-12-30. Retrieved 2007-05-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. 1 2 3 "United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit". uscourts.gov. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "Environmental Law — Environmental Law Review — Lewis & Clark Law". Environmental Law. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Ironwood Ridge 2006 Football Schedule - MaxPreps". MaxPreps.com. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.