Desiderata Program
Public alternative high school in Phoenix, Arizona, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Desiderata Program (Also known as Desiderata Alternative Program,[4] Desiderata High School,[5] and Desi by its own students[4]) is an alternative high school that forms part of the Phoenix Union High School District in Phoenix, Arizona.
| Desiderata Program | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
2920 North 34th Drive Phoenix , Arizona 85017 United States | |
| 33°28′54″N 112°07′57″W | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public alternative high school |
| Established | 1977 |
NCES District ID | 0406330[1] |
Principal | Manuel Calderon[2] |
| Faculty | 17[3] |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Colors | Purple and Gray[3] |
| Mascot | Shark[3] |
| Website | Official Website |
History
The program began in 1977, and its name, which means "desired things" in Latin, comes from an eponymous prose poem by Max Ehrmann.[6]
Students
Students are referred to the Desiderata Program by their home school campuses.[7] The program caters to students with behavioral and emotional disabilities, including those with anxiety, depression, and phobias who learn better in smaller environments.[4]
Enrollment figures are not available, but a 2015 article by Arizona Republic noted the program had about 140 students at the time.[4]
Campus
The program began operations at its new 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) facility, located near 35th Avenue and Thomas Road, in 2006.[7] An architecture studio was selected in 2004 to design the new space.[8] Prior to 2006, the program operated out of a historic building that was built in the 1920s.[8]