Gilbert Public Schools is marking its 113th anniversary in 2026, reflecting on more than a century of service to the communities of Gilbert and Mesa. The district began in 1913 with the opening of Gilbert Elementary School, which had four classrooms serving about 85 students. Today, that original campus is home to HD South, Gilbert’s Historical Museum, and continues to share space with Gilbert Elementary.
In 1915, high school classes started at Gilbert Elementary, giving local teens access to secondary education. The first graduation for Gilbert High School took place in 1918 with four students. The original high school site now serves as the district office.
The district introduced bus transportation for students in 1925. Before this change, students commuted by horseback or horse-drawn wagons. Now, the district operates a fleet of 190 buses transporting over 7,000 students daily across approximately 11,000 miles.
In 1935, the Future Farmers of America (FFA) team from Gilbert High won a statewide livestock judging competition and later competed nationally in Kansas City. In recent years, the FFA team has continued this tradition by earning recognition at national conventions.
The need for expanded facilities led to new buildings at both Gilbert Elementary and Gilbert High during the 1940s. A gymnasium replaced an earlier tin barn used by basketball players.
Marvin Morrison joined the school board in 1955 and served for fourteen years while helping develop one of Arizona’s largest ranching businesses with his brother Kenneth. Today, seven schools serve families living in Morrison Ranch.
Gilbert High’s FFA team earned a National Gold Emblem award in the early 1960s—a top honor at that time.
Athletic achievements include GPS winning its first girls’ state championship under the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) when Gilbert High’s Girls’ Volleyball team went undefeated in their season and playoffs in fall 1972. According to AIA records online, the boys’ basketball team claimed its first title during the 1961-62 season.
Dr. Wally Delecki became superintendent in 1981 and oversaw significant growth until his retirement two decades later; sixteen new schools opened during his tenure as enrollment surged by thousands.
Harris Elementary opened within Mesa city limits in 1991—one of ten GPS campuses now located there alongside others such as Augusta Ranch Elementary and Desert Ridge High School.
International exchange opportunities began through Sister Cities programs starting with student visits to Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland in 2000; Leshan, China was added a decade later.
In recognition of academic quality and safety measures considered nationwide factors like student performance and dropout rates—the National Council for Home Safety and Security ranked GPS fourth among U.S. districts in a report published in 2018.
As it enters its next year of operation serving over thirty-one thousand students across thirty-nine schools—with more than forty-five hundred staff members—GPS reports thirty-two A-rated schools from Arizona Department of Education for the upcoming year along with thirteen A+ School of Excellence awards from Arizona Educational Foundation.
According to information available on the official website, Gilbert Public Schools offers educational programs ranging from preschool through twelfth grade including accelerated learning options and special education services designed to promote academic success within supportive communities where every child can learn and grow. The district maintains operations throughout both towns it serves: Gilbert and Mesa. It has received multiple designations as an A-rated district with several schools recognized for excellence (source).
The district remains committed to providing quality educational choices while continuing traditions established over its long history.
