Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35

What Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 does

Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 (SCV35) is a public K-12 unified school district headquartered at 570 Camino Lito Galindo in Rio Rico, Arizona, serving approximately 3,400-3,700 students across five schools within a 265-267 square mile boundary covering the rural communities of Rio Rico, Tubac, Tumacacori-Carmen, and Amado. The district operates Mountain View Elementary, San Cayetano Elementary, Calabasas School, Coatimundi Middle School, and Rio Rico High School as wholly-owned operating units, delivering standard K-12 core academics plus preschool, gifted, special education, ELL/literacy, McKinney-Vento homeless student services, CTE programs, dual enrollment for college credit, fine arts, and athletics. SCV35 was historically rated 'A' by the Arizona Department of Education (2012) and all five schools were recognized as America's Healthiest Schools for 2025-2026.

The district is governed by a five-member elected Governing Board and led by Superintendent David Verdugo and Assistant Superintendent Melisa Lunderville. Its core technology infrastructure consists of the third-party ParentVue enrollment and parent communication platform (Edupoint), an internally launched iOS/Android mobile app, and a telehealth services partnership with Mariposa Community Health Center — making SCV35 the first Arizona district to deliver virtual medical visits to students from school health offices. Additional facilities include a state-of-the-art Aquatic Center opened September 2, 2024 at Rio Rico High School offering swim lessons and community recreation. The district also deploys a Portrait of a Graduate framework defining graduate competencies (Creative & Critical Thinkers, Effective Communicators, Engaged Citizens, Resilient Lifelong Learners).

Revenue is derived primarily from Arizona state per-pupil funding and local property taxes, with a voter-approved 9% maintenance and operation budget override contributing approximately $2.378M annually (at an estimated $1.10 per $100 assessed valuation). Fee-based programs include $40 per child per session swim lessons at the Aquatic Center, with free services provided for in-district K-12 students, free summer meals for children 18 and under, and grant-funded support for McKinney-Vento eligible students. Distribution occurs through a Welcome Center at 131 Camino Maricopa for in-person and online enrollment via ParentVue, supplemented by a multi-channel marketing mix (website, social media on Facebook/X/YouTube/Instagram, monthly newsletter, community events such as STEAM Night and Back-to-School Blitz). Community ecosystem depth is unusually high, with 30+ scholarship partners including Rio Rico Rotary, Tubac Rotary, Sodexo, PIMA JTED, Tubac Center of the Arts, Mariposa Community Health Center, and Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce.

Name

Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35

Legal name

Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35

Website

https://scv35.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 is a public K-12 unified school district in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, serving approximately 3,700 students across five schools with comprehensive academic, CTE, dual enrollment, telehealth, and community recreation programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio Rico

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Funded primarily through local property taxes and state funding. A 9% maintenance and operation budget override provides approximately $2.4 million annually, supporting full-day kindergarten, staff retention, arts, CTE, athletics, and technology programs.
2. Fee-Based Programs: Swim lessons at $40 per child per session; pool passes for non-residents; summer meal program (free for children 18 and under).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 is a public K-12 unified school district serving approximately 3,400-3,700 students across five schools (three elementary, one middle, one high school) covering about 265-267 square miles in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Core offerings include comprehensive K-12 academic instruction, preschool, gifted and special education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), dual enrollment for college credit, ELL/literacy programs, McKinney-Vento homeless student support, school-based telehealth services, a community Aquatic Center with swim lessons, and a Summer Meal Program.

Product overview

Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 (SCV35) is a public school district serving approximately 3,400-3,700 students across five schools in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The district operates as a unified K-12 educational system offering core academic programs, specialized services, and community facilities. Key offerings include: enrollment and registration services through the Welcome Center; telehealth medical services via Mariposa Community Health Center partnership; the SCV35 Aquatic Center for community recreation and swim lessons; Portrait of a Graduate framework defining student success attributes; K-12 Gifted Program with specialized curriculum; McKinney-Vento homeless student support; Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs; Dual Enrollment for college credit; Literacy and English Language Learner programs; and Summer Meal Program providing free meals to children. The district also maintains an Aquatic Center facility and provides transportation, special education, and various student support services across its schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Telehealth Services Virtual medical consultations for students and families through partnership with Mariposa Community Health Center. Students can see a doctor from the school health office without leaving campus. Available to SCV35 students and families.
• SCV35 Aquatic Center State-of-the-art swimming facility offering swim lessons, open swim, splash pad, diving boards, and community recreation programs. Located at Rio Rico High School with free pool passes available for district residents and fee-based swim lessons at $40 per child per session.
• K-12 Gifted Program Differentiated educational services for gifted students with a dedicated scope and sequence curriculum designed to challenge high-ability learners across K-12.
• McKinney-Vento Support Services Federal education assistance program providing immediate enrollment, transportation, and support services for homeless children and youth, including clothing, school supplies, and basic needs.
• Summer Meal Program Free breakfast and lunch meals provided to children 18 years old and under during summer break, available at Rio Rico High School and various community locations through the Santa Cruising Food Truck route.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs Career-focused educational programs at Rio Rico High School providing hands-on learning opportunities in various technical fields, including film production and JROTC supported by PIMA Joint Technical Education District.
• Dual Enrollment Program Partnership program allowing high school students to earn college credits while completing high school requirements.
• Literacy and ELL Programs English Language Learner support and literacy development programs serving students at Calabasas School and other district elementary schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Historically rated 'A' by Arizona Department of Education (2012)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Mariposa Community Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelehealth partnership making SCV35 the first district in Arizona to provide telehealth services to students and families. Students can schedule virtual visits with medical health providers from school health offices without leaving campus.
• SodexocoreOthersFood services provider operating district cafeteria programs and hosting annual Future Chef competitions for elementary students.
• PIMA JTEDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIMA Joint Technical Education District provides JROTC program support and equipment including obstacle course features (Tarzan, Over/Under, Swinging Bridge, Log Balance, Incline Wall, Rope Climb).
• Rio Rico RotarymajorOthersMajor community partner donating dictionaries to third-graders, awarding thousands in scholarships, hosting community events, recognizing Students and Staff of the Month, providing bikes, and donating toys during holidays.
• Tubac RotarymajorOthersCommunity partner recognizing Staff of the Year honorees and providing ongoing support for staff and students.
• Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Rio Rico High School's CTSO Film Students to create videos showcasing local businesses in Santa Cruz County, providing hands-on learning experiences for students.
• Tubac Center of the ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Hi/Mid Art Show hosting SCV35 student artwork exhibitions, with scholarships awarded to student artists including $3,500 to Paulina Fontes.
• First Things FirstminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEarly childhood organization hosting annual Celebrate the Young Child community event at district school sites, connecting families with early learning opportunities.
• Multiple Scholarship PartnersmajorOthersDistrict partners with 30+ organizations providing scholarships including: The Women of Quail Creek, Rio Rico Rotary, Tubac Rotary, South32, Asociación de Maquiladoras de Sonora, Tubac Fire, Santa Cruz County REALTORS, Jando Meza Rio Rico Alumni Association, SCV #35 Hall of Fame, Mariposa Community Health Center, UniSource, Friends of SCVUSD #35, and many more.
• Santa Cruz CountyminorOthersPartnered with district on speed limit sign installation on Camino Lito Galindo through grant-funded initiative to improve student and community safety.
• University of Arizona Cooperative ExtensionminorOthersCollaborated on grant-funded speed limit sign initiative promoting safer travel for students, families, and community members.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Chandler Unified School District: Large Arizona K-12 public school district operating multiple schools across the Southeast Valley. Similar unified district governance and program offerings (CTE, dual enrollment, athletics), with a different geographic footprint.
• Flowing Wells Unified School District: Mid-sized Arizona K-12 public school district in the Tucson metro area. Comparable in size, governance structure, and program portfolio to SCV35, though operating in a more urban setting.
• Casa Grande Elementary School District: Arizona public school district serving Casa Grande and surrounding Pinal County communities. Comparable mid-sized district operating under Arizona's K-12 funding and governance framework, with similar suburban/rural blend.
• Tucson Unified School District: Major Arizona K-12 public school district serving the Tucson metro area. Operates a similar portfolio of elementary, middle, and high schools under Arizona's public education framework, but in a substantially larger urban setting.
• Amphitheater Unified School District: Arizona K-12 public school district serving northern Tucson. Comparable unified K-12 structure and program offerings, with different demographics and urban/suburban geographic profile.
• Mesa Unified School District: Largest public K-12 district in Arizona serving the East Valley region. Comparable as a public K-12 unified school district operating under Arizona Department of Education oversight, but serves a much larger and more urbanized geography.
• Scottsdale Unified School District: Arizona K-12 public school district serving the Scottsdale/North Scottsdale area. Comparable unified governance and curriculum framework, but in a higher-income suburban market with different funding dynamics.
• Sunnyside Unified School District: Arizona K-12 public school district serving southern Tucson. Comparable public K-12 unified governance with significant ELL population, similar to SCV35's bilingual community profile.

Direct peers

• Nogales Unified School District: Adjacent Arizona K-12 public school district in Santa Cruz County serving the Nogales community. Direct geographic and demographic peer with similar bilingual/ELL population, cross-border community dynamics, and rural operating context.
• Vail Unified School District: Arizona K-12 public school district of comparable size and suburban/rural character in the Tucson metro area. Closest peer by scale, organizational structure, and community-school operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scv35_comm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYUaus_fnmZ1M1hY5_N7kcA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SCV35Schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/scv35_comm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/santa-cruz-valley-unified-school-district-no-35

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35