The origin story of Canyons District — a school system created in 2007 by a vote of the people — is as familiar by now as our track record in prioritizing college- and career-readiness, student achievement, innovation, community engagement, customer service and fiscal accountability.

CSD has truly made its mark since July 1, 2009, the day Canyons officially became the first new school district to be created in Utah in nearly a century. Even from its first days, Canyons’ schools have been known as a powerhouse in academic, artistic, and athletic programs. 

Last year alone, CSD students captured 11 individual and team state titles. Graduation rates reached enviable 89 percent, even as education systems grappled with COVID-19-related learning loss. CSD opened two new schools, the latest in a string of 20 in 13 years that have been funded by voter-approved bond measures, students consistently outperform their Utah peers on year-end assessments, teacher salaries outpace nearly every other school district in the state, and Forbes Magazine in 2022 ranked Canyons as one of Utah’s best-in-state employers for 2022.  

By all accounts, the story of Canyons’ founding years is one of a series of big successes. 

But there comes a time to start writing the next chapter.

Enter Canyons District’s newly created Strategic Plan, a growth blueprint for the next decade and beyond. It’s a dynamic document that serves as the lodestar for decisions and direction.

Every step of the plan’s development, Canyons parents, students, teachers and patrons were asked their thoughts about the current state of the District — and how we can further the dream of providing a world-class education to every child who attends a CSD school.  It was from this input that the grassroots plan was written.  

CSD’s year-long planning effort, coming as it did on the heels of an all-consuming pandemic, wasn’t easy. But it was illuminating and, without question, worth the effort, say members of the Canyons Board of Education, who spearheaded the plan’s development.

The plan builds on the District’s mission, vision, and foundation of success, said Board President Nancy Tingey. “What’s exciting about this plan is where it will take us in the future. It’s our North Star. It’s all about setting some high standards and working toward them, continuously trying to be better and better and to serve our constituency, and serve our students, and serve our employees so that this system of public education can improve the lives immediately and for generations to come.”

Built by Canyons for Canyons, the growth blueprint focuses on high-quality learning, access and opportunity, human-centered supports, and operating systems — and it’s already driving innovations, achievement, and growth.  It’s setting a course for the future.