What a year!  In the past 365 days, Canyons District, which was founded on July 1, 2009, continued its drive to provide a world-class education to the children who attend public school in Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Midvale, Sandy and the town of Alta. The 2017-2018 school year – CSD’s ninth academic year – was marked by sky-high achievements, including state-title victories by all five of CSD’s five traditional high schools, the passage of a $283 million bond to build and improve schools, the naming of National Merit Scholars and Sterling Scholars, and an estimated $32 million in scholarship offers for the 2,830 graduates in the Class of 2018.  But that’s just a small-piece-of-cake taste of all that was achieved by CSD students, faculty, staff and supporters. Here’s a look at some of the major achievements of CSD since its last founding-day anniversary: 

• Nearly 59 percent of voters give approval to CSD is issue up to $283 million in general-obligation bonds to build and improve schools.
• The newly rebuilt Alta View Elementary welcomed students for first time.
• Crews near completion of renovation of Indian Hills Middle, the 13^th and final project promised to voters at passage of the 2010 $250 million bond.   
• CSD maintained  a AAA bond rating, resulting in savings to taxpayers
• Seventy-eight percent of CSD elementary and middle schools received school-grade scores of an A or B, an increase of five percentage points over 2016. The number of elementary and middle schools to earn Cs and Ds fell by six percentage points. 
• Eighty-three percent of CSD elementary schools and 75 percent of middle schools in CSD were above state average, according to PACE.  Sixty-six percent of elementary schools and 63 percent of middle schools showed higher growth than schools averaged statewide. 
• Four CSD high schools were recognized for the number of students who take Advanced Placement courses. Brighton High ranked No. 8 out of all Utah high schools for the number of students who take and pass the tests. On the list of the Utah high schools with the highest AP participation rates, Corner Canyon ranked No. 5, Hillcrest No. 8 and Alta No. 10.
• For the eighth year, CSD received the Meritorious Budget Award from the Association for School Business Officials International and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. 
• The Canyons Education Foundation delivered some $104,000 to 16 teachers to fund innovative classroom projects.
• Edgemont and Midvalley elementary schools celebrated 60^th anniversaries.
• Albion Middle’s Sandy LeCheminant is named Utah Assistant Principal of the Year.
• Alta High’s Rique Ochoa named Utah History Teacher of the Year.
• Alta and Hillcrest musicans perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. 
• Canyons Education Foundation awards $11,000 in student scholarships at annual Spring Gala.
• Three CSD students won categories at 56^th annual Sterling Scholar competition. 
• Two Hillcrest students and one Corner Canyon high school student earn National Merit Scholar status. Fourteen students from all five of CSD’s traditional high schools were named semifinalists.
• CSD student athletes individual and team state championships in cross country, girls tennis, boys tennis, wrestling, girls track and field, swimming, boys soccer, baseball, theater and girls golf. 
• Hillcrest’s production of “Les Miserables” wins Best Musical at the Utah High School Musical Theater Competition.
• Groundbreaking events were held to mark start of work on rebuild of Hillcrest High and major renovation at Alta High. Work on a new Brighton High also has started.