North Canyon High School


North Canyon High School is a nationally recognized public high school located in north central Phoenix, Arizona. It features an International Baccalaureate program.
The campus opened in the 1991–1992 school year as Paradise Valley High School before PVHS moved into their remodeled school. It became North Canyon starting in the 1993–1994 school year. The first graduating class was the class of 1994
The school's athletics teams are known as the Rattlers, and the school colors are purple and black.

Academics

North Canyon features special programs in academics. In addition to its IB Diploma program, NCHS offers a variety of Advanced Placement classes, and many of its highest-ranking students have grade point averages above 4.0. Students have won a vast array of academic awards spanning from the sciences to literary honors. In the class of 2009, there were ten National Merit semi-finalists at North Canyon. North Canyon's Academic Decathlon team won the State Championship in 1995 and 1999, and placed fourth and fifth respectively in the national competition. In 2007, North Canyon was on Newsweeks list of top schools in the country, placing 837th out of thousands of schools.

Athletics

The North Canyon Rattlers have won several athletics competitions. The Rattlers track and field and cross country teams has consistently done well in their competitions.
North Canyon's Instrumental Music Department has been led by Dylan Suehiro, a graduate of Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, since the beginning of the 2013–2014 school year. Featuring marching band, concert band, orchestra, guitar, and percussion classes, the department showcases a well-rounded instrumental music curriculum. Main performances of these ensembles are held four times a year, and many of them are also perform in other venues, including events with schools from around the state.

Marching band

The North Canyon High School Marching Band is known as the "Marching Rattlers." When the school first opened as North Canyon, the name of the ensemble was "The Stars of the North". The marching band's name was changed in 2013 to align with the school's mascot. Averaging around 40 members, the marching band serves two distinct, but related functions: presenting popular music in performance at assemblies, at athletic events, and around the community; and advancing the art of the field performance, through the exploration of movement, and a blend of classical and modern music. The Marching Rattlers have been featured at the Bully Patrol Squad Assembly at Cactus View Elementary School.
The marching band is an integral part of North Canyon's Instrumental Music Department, and students in the marching band are usually also members of the Concert Band or the String Orchestra. Some students elect to perform on secondary instruments in the marching band, or take on other roles as members of the color guard or percussion section. The Marching Rattlers ended their 2014 season as one of the top 20 division III bands in the state.
YearProduction titleDrum majorSelectionsInstructor
2004The Lion KingRian Swearingen
2005Rockin' the 80sRian Swearingen
2006The IncrediblesCaitlin Leech, Erin Seahorn
2007Pirates of the Caribbean
2008Nightmare Before Christmas
2009
2010
2011BatmanJosh Floyd, George NjockKris Hutson
2012Fantasmic!Sydney Welp, Chandler ClevelandKris Hutson
2013Tower of PowerSydney Welp, Chandler ClevelandDylan Suehiro
2014Carnaval of the AnimalsLauren O'Donnell, Ashley RabenstineDylan Suehiro
2015No Rain, No RainbowsLauren O'Donnell, Ashley RabenstineDylan Suehiro
2016Over the RiverEleanor Faussane, Kyle BordenDylan Suehiro
2017Defying GravityLeah Davenport, Caleb JacksonYou Can Fly, You Can Fly, You Can Fly; One Day I'll Fly Away; I Vow to Thee My Country; Defying GravityDylan Suehiro

Notable alumni