We’re one of five elementary schools in the J.O. Combs Unified School District, located in the warm and beautiful San Tan Valley of Arizona. You’ll find our school conveniently located at the southeast corner of Combs & Gantzel Roads. We proudly serve students in kindergarten through 6th grade.

What makes us unique is our “Back-to-Basics” philosophy. Here at Combs Traditional Academy we develop a solid foundation of fundamental and higher-level thinking skills through a structured curriculum that is consistent and sequential throughout grade levels. We deliver curriculum using direct teaching techniques, whole class instruction, and other approved teaching methods. We also plan our teaching and learning around textbooks and written assignments and do not interrupt classes for non-curricular programs or activities.

Browse our website to find out more about who we are and our educational philosophy. If you feel your child would benefit from what we have to offer, don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to meeting you!

Dear Knights and Prospective Knights Families,

We are quickly approaching the end of the school year that includes a time of celebrations but also a time for goodbyes.

We will celebrate the net gain of students this year, going from ending last school year with approximately 135 students to finishing this year with 176 students. With the gain in students, we also celebrate the additions of Ms. Briggs, Ms. Sisco, Mrs. Rosenbaum, Mrs. Lingenfelter, and Mrs. Hurley this year. As we continue to grow, we will continue to add highly qualified, dedicated staff that will embody our motto of "Rigor, Responsibility, and Respect."

We celebrated our academic achievements this year as well. We had our first school label this year, earning a "B" and barely missing an "A" label. Our goals this year were for all of our students to show at least a year’s growth as measured by STAR and 90% of our students to pass the AIMS. We are confident that we will achieve both of those goals, and by achieving those goals, we are also confident that we will acheive a solid "A" next school year!

We celebrated more firsts this year, with our first Case Book Fair, our first Fall Festival, our first Sweetheart Dance, along with many other successful student events. Our book fairs bought us many new books for the library which were checked out and read as soon as they hit the shelves. Our fundraiser this year bought document cameras for each classroom, and our events helped to bring the community closer together.

Throughout the year, we asked you to recognize staff members, and the feedback has been wonderful. Last month, we received recognition for Mrs. Kiesgen. I would like to recognize Mrs. Kiesgen for helping students after school with their reading skills. They come excited about reading. These are truly wonderful celebrations!

We will also say some goodbyes. Our sixth graders are moving on this year. This is our first group of sixth graders to move on, as we were kindergarten - fifth grade the first two years the school was open. This group of students is an important part of our success as a school, and we are sad to see them go. At the same time, we are excited for them as they move on to Combs Middle School or another school and begin to make the transition to high school and beyond. Other students and staff will also leave, as they and their families move on to new stages in their lives. We wish them all luck and are glad that they were a part of our school!

My final celebration is that you all chose Combs Traditional Academy as your school of choice for your child’s education. I appreciate that you did so, and we will continue to work hard to provide a rigorous academic focus for your child in an environment that emphasizes responsibility and respect.

Thank you,

Marcus Berkshire
Principal