Catalina Foothills High School

What Catalina Foothills High School does

Catalina Foothills High School (CFHS) is a public high school operated by Catalina Foothills Unified School District No. 16, located at 4300 E. Sunrise Drive in Tucson, Arizona. The school serves approximately 1,600-1,900 students across four grade levels and is designated A-rated by the Arizona Department of Education, ranked in the top 1% of U.S. high schools by U.S. News & World Report. CFHS offers a comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum including Advanced Placement courses (with AP Capstone Diploma support), ten Career & Technical Education pathways (Sports Medicine, Biotechnology, Engineering, Business, Graphic Design, Film & Television, Photography, Technical Theatre, Computer Programming, and Early Childhood Education), and an extensive fine arts and athletics program. Student support services include school counseling with Maia Learning for college planning, gifted programming, special education (including a Transition from School to Work program), English Language Learner services with Structured English Immersion, and the Link Crew freshman transition/mentorship program. Class of 2026 outcomes include 95% college or military placement, $16.8 million in merit scholarships, 180 college acceptances, 5 National Merit Finalists, and 136 AP Scholars.

CFHS operates on a publicly funded business model with no tuition for Arizona residents, drawing revenue from local property taxes, state formula funding, and federal grants as part of CFSD. Supplemental revenue comes from meal program pricing ($2.75-$3.75 per meal at secondary level under the National School Lunch Program managed by Southwest Foodservice Excellence), student activity and service fees (yearbook, spirit wear, parking permits), and optional tax credit donations to the Family Faculty Organization and CFSD Foundation. The school's technology infrastructure includes a fully wireless campus, Synergy/PowerSchool student information system with ParentVUE portal, ParentSquare for unified school-to-home communication, Destiny Discover library system, Google Workspace for Education, Maia Learning for college/career planning, and FirstView real-time bus tracking. Distribution relies on district residency enrollment plus an open enrollment process (96% acceptance rate, with 50% of CFSD students open-enrolled from outside district boundaries). Key strategic partnerships include University of Arizona and Pima Community College for dual enrollment, JTED for CTE infrastructure enhancement, First Student Inc. for transportation (98.9% on-time rate), and Pima County Sheriff's Department for school resource officers and threat assessment.

The entity is a government school district operation, not a commercial enterprise, so traditional revenue, funding, M&A, and ownership metrics do not apply. No private equity, venture capital, or acquisition exposure exists; the school is governed by an elected school board and led by Principal Dr. Mary Franco with Assistant Principal Anthony Gerrettie overseeing 9th grade and Director of CTE Cari Burson.

Name

Catalina Foothills High School

Legal name

Catalina Foothills High School

Website

https://cfhs.cfsd16.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Catalina Foothills High School is an A-rated public high school in Tucson, Arizona, serving approximately 1,600-1,900 students within CFSD No. 16. It offers AP courses, ten CTE pathways, dual enrollment with University of Arizona and Pima Community College, and is ranked in the top 1% nationally by U.S. News & World Report.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dual Enrollment / Early College Programs (via Community Colleges) (EDAHADAH), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC), Honors & Advanced Coursework Tutoring (non-AP/IB) (EDANAKAD), Gifted, Advanced & Acceleration Centers (Honors/AP/IB Enrichment) (EDANAHAL)

Keywords

• Public high school education
• College preparatory programs
• Career technical education
• Advanced placement courses
• Student support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

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, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Primarily funded through local property taxes (district funding), state formula funding, and federal grants. As part of Catalina Foothills Unified School District #16, operates on public funding mechanisms.
2. Student Activity and Service Fees: Optional fees for yearbooks, spirit wear, parking permits, and various student activities.
3. Tax Credit Donations: Parents and community members can donate tax credit contributions to FFO and CFSD Foundation for student programs and services.
4. School Meal Program: National School Lunch Program with paid meals. Breakfast at middle/high school $2.75, Lunch at middle/high school $3.75. Additional revenue from a la carte items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Catalina Foothills High School is a public A-rated high school offering college-preparatory academic instruction including Advanced Placement courses, ten Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways with industry certifications and dual enrollment, comprehensive student support services (counseling, gifted, special education, ELL), fine arts programs, athletics, and college/career readiness programming to high school students in the Tucson, Arizona area. The school operates within the Catalina Foothills Unified School District No. 16 and serves students through district residency and open enrollment with a 96% acceptance rate.

Product overview

Catalina Foothills High School is a top-ranked public A-rated high school offering a comprehensive, multi-faceted educational portfolio. The school's product suite includes a rigorous college-preparatory academic program with Advanced Placement (AP) courses and an AP Capstone Diploma, alongside ten Career & Technical Education (CTE) / JTED pathways (Sports Medicine, Biotechnology, Engineering, Business, Graphic Design, Film & Television, Photography, Technical Theatre, Computer Programming, and Early Childhood Education) each incorporating industry certifications and dual university enrollment. Student support is delivered through school counseling with Maia Learning for college planning, Gifted Programming, Special Education, ELL services, Title I reading intervention, and a Transition from School to Work (TSW) program. The school also provides extensive Fine Arts (choir, band, orchestra, theatre, visual arts), Athletics & Activities (including Science Olympiad, Robotics, Mock Trial, Model UN, DECA, HOSA), the Link Crew freshman transition/mentorship program, Falcon Connections college/career readiness events, and National Honor Society peer tutoring (NEST). The district extends its offerings through CFSD Community Schools, encompassing afterschool enrichment, childcare (C.A.R.E.), Outdoor Adventures, summer camps, and full-day kindergarten (Kinder Plus). All school communication flows through ParentSquare, payments through InTouch, and student information is managed via ParentVUE/Synergy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathways Multi-year career-focused programs combining classroom instruction with hands-on, industry-aligned training across ten distinct pathways including Sports Medicine, Biotechnology, Engineering, Business, Graphic Design, Film & Television, Photography, Technical Theatre, Computer Programming, and Early Childhood Education. Each pathway offers industry certifications, dual enrollment with university credit, and work-based learning experiences for high school students.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses College-level courses offered across multiple subjects allowing students to earn college credit. CFHS offers AP Computer Principles, AP Computer Science A, AP Music Theory, AP Capstone Diploma, and multiple standard AP courses in core academic subjects for college-bound high school students.
• Falcon Connections Premier college and career readiness event hosted by CFHS, bringing together university representatives and alumni to share insights on academic and career paths, helping high school students explore post-secondary opportunities.
• Link Crew Freshman transition and peer mentorship program in which trained junior and senior students serve as Link Crew Leaders to guide freshmen through the challenges of high school, providing structured support, fostering a positive school culture, and promoting school safety and anti-bullying education.
• Academic Counseling & Maia Learning Comprehensive college and career counseling services utilizing Maia Learning, an online college planning tool that supports academic planning, college exploration, career pathway discovery, and scholarship research for all high school students.
• Student Support Services Suite of support programs including school counseling (academic, career, social-emotional), gifted programming, special education, English Language Learners (ELL) services, Title I Read Strong reading intervention, health services, and the Transition from School to Work (TSW) program for students with disabilities.
• Athletics & Activities Comprehensive athletic programs and extracurricular activities including band, choir, orchestra, theatre arts, and multiple school-sponsored clubs such as Science Olympiad, Mock Trial, Model UN, Robotics, and DECA, with competitive teams across various sports for high school students.
• Fine Arts Department Diverse performing and visual arts offerings including choir (with multiple ensembles from Falconaires to Change of Pace a cappella), band (Falcon Band), orchestra, theatre arts, visual arts, and AP Music Theory, described as the most diverse range of arts offerings in the state.
• Falcon Theatre Theatre department (Arizona State Thespian Troupe #1374) producing 5-6 shows per year including musicals, plays, and advanced one-acts. The program includes Technical Theatre CTE pathway and Falcon Theatre Club, with productions staged in the school's theatre facility for students.
• Arizona Seal of Biliteracy Award program recognizing graduating seniors who have attained proficiency in English and at least one world language. The seal is placed on the diploma and noted on transcripts, administered in partnership with the Arizona Department of Education.
• National Honor Society (NEST Tutoring) Peer tutoring service provided by National Honor Society students, available in the 'NEST' before, during, and after school hours to support academic achievement across all subjects for CFHS students.
• CFSD Community Schools Out-of-school programs including afterschool enrichment classes, C.A.R.E. (childcare), Outdoor Adventures, summer camps, full-day kindergarten through Kinder Plus, and FLL Robotics, serving students beyond regular school hours at multiple district sites.
• Family Faculty Organization (FFO) Parent-teacher organization that supports the school community through volunteer coordination, fundraising events such as the Falcon Funds Giving Campaign, and the FFO Sunday Scoop weekly email newsletter for CFHS families.
• Science Department Curriculum College-preparatory science curriculum with 20 different courses including four AP courses, standard and honors biology, chemistry, and physics, anatomy & physiology, astronomy, environmental science pathway, engineering pathway, and JTED-enhanced labs for high school students.
• Mathematics Department Curriculum Comprehensive math curriculum from Algebra 1 through AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics, with honors placement options, summer curriculum review materials, and academic support resources including peer tutoring and online practice tools for students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of graduates attend college or military academy with $16.8M in scholarships offered
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ParentSquarecoreTechnology or IntegrationDistrict-wide unified communication platform providing email, text, app notifications with two-way translation. Automatically syncs with student information system. Primary tool for district and school communication including emergency alerts.
• First Student, Inc.coreOthersDistrict transportation provider operating 25 daily routes with 35 buses. Provides safe student transportation to and from school with CPR/first aid certified drivers. 98.9% on-time arrival rate. Contact: Michael Robinson, Location Manager.
• Southwest Foodservice Excellence, LLC (SFE)coreOthersContract food service management company providing healthy meals for students. Manages food services across all district schools. Contact: Kenny Alexander, General Manager of Foodservice.
• Joint Technological Education District (JTED)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJTED partnerships enhance CTE facilities including fully-equipped anatomy & physiology lab, chemistry forensics studies, and authentic engineering projects with 3-D printer and professional engineering software.
• University of ArizonamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership allowing students to earn college credits. CFHS biotech pathway students dual-enroll at U of A (MCB 101, MCB 102). Engineering pathway includes U of A's Engineering 102 course. Two students selected as KEYS research interns at BIO5 Institute.
• Pima Community CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership for Early Childhood Education pathway. Students can earn college credits through PCC courses including ECE 117, ECE 125, EDU 200, ECE 108, and EDU 206.
• Pima County Sheriff's DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partnership providing School Resource Officers (SROs) trained in active assailant response and Stop the Bleed courses. SROs work with CFSD on emergency response plans and threat assessment training (CSTAG).
• Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) / Arizona Rehabilitation Services AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting TSW (Transition from School to Work) program for students with disabilities. On-site VR Counselors help students with Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), career exploration, and postsecondary navigation.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Pima Community College: Dual-enrollment partner allowing CFHS Early Childhood Education students to earn college credits. A higher-education ecosystem partner rather than competitor, enabling the school's CTE-to-college pathway.
• College Board: Administers AP exams and the AP Honor Roll recognition that CFHS has received. Ecosystem partner enabling the AP and college-readiness programs that underpin CFHS's academic positioning.
• Maia Learning: College and career planning platform used by CFHS for academic planning, college exploration, and counseling. An enabling technology provider rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Canyon del Oro High School: Another high-performing Tucson-area public high school within the Amphitheater Unified School District, serving a similar affluent suburban demographic and competing with CFHS for student enrollment and reputation.

Broad incumbents

• Chandler Unified School District: One of Arizona's largest and highest-performing public school districts, serving a similar high-growth suburban demographic and competing with CFSD/CFHS for statewide A-ratings and college-prep reputation.
• Scottsdale Unified School District: A peer Arizona public school district serving an affluent Phoenix-area demographic, comparable to CFSD in operating philosophy (public funding, high academic outcomes) and competing for statewide recognition.
• Tucson Unified School District: The larger school district serving Tucson, operating multiple high schools including University High School. As a broader incumbent in the same geography, TUSD represents the alternative public-school pathway against CFHS's district-level offering.

Direct peers

• BASIS Charter Schools: BASIS operates a network of top-ranked charter schools in Arizona (including BASIS Tucson) that regularly compete with CFHS for U.S. News & World Report top-ranking positions and high-achieving students. Direct competitor in the premium public/charter K-12 segment.
• University High School (Tucson): University High School is a magnet school within Tucson Unified School District, also consistently ranked among the top public high schools in Arizona. It competes with CFHS for the same high-achieving Tucson-area student pool, including through open enrollment.

Emerging players

• Salpointe Catholic High School: A leading private Catholic high school in Tucson that competes with CFHS for college-bound students in the same geography, offering an alternative college-prep pathway with tuition-based funding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Catalina_Foothills_High_School
• Facebookfacebook.com/CfhsScienceOlympiad
• Instagraminstagram.com/catalina_foothills_high_school

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Catalina Foothills High School