Frequently Asked Questions

Our Mission

At The Immersive 9 at Arredondo, our mission is to ignite curiosity and foster mastery by immersing every student in learning experiences that are rigorous, creative, and globally connected. Through personalized and competency-based learning, we empower students to thrive as innovators, leaders, and compassionate citizens prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

Our Vision

The Immersive 9 at Arredondo is a K-5 school* where education becomes a breathtaking adventure. By blending world-class curriculum, immersive storytelling, and hands-on innovation, we transform classrooms into ecosystems of imagination and discovery. Here, every learner steps into experiences that spark wonder, unlock potential, and shape the future.

*with plans to expand in the future

If your child is gifted or needs to be tested, but not fully challenged, we encourage you to tour our unique Arredondo campus. We offer tuition-free, K-5 grades and unlike most gifted schools, we offer a small but vibrant community where families are valued as essential partners in every child's journey. Immersive 9 students will have access to more advance tools than most programs and will dive deep, think big and learn without limits. Tour today!

• At The Immersive 9, students don't simply study subjects; they live them through exploration, solving real-world problems, and actively shaping their own learning journey.
• Here, every student helps shape a personalized learning plan designed around their strengths, passions and goals.  
• Our vibrant community balances social connection with independent reflection, ensuring students thrive both together and on the their own. 
• Every student will have access to cutting-edge tools, technology and resources, challenging them to think critically, communicate clearly, and collaborate creatively while pursuing meaningful, hands-on learning. 

In addition to project lab and classroom learning, students will experience:

• Esports that promote connection, collaboration and resilience
• Coding & Robotics prepares students for STEM and future careers
• Virtual Reality Environments that increase engagement and improve retention    
• 2D Digital Environments that simplify complex ideas with visuals and motion
• Visual and Performing Arts that inspire creativity (partnership with the City of Tempe)
• Physical Education and after-school sports that instill school spirit (No charge for after-school sports)
• Clubs and Activities that challenge and extend classroom learning

As innovators, we’ve redefined the teacher's role as a mentor, coach and “conductor” of learning. Teachers are expert Instructional Experience Designers, co-designing experiences with students, connecting their interests with real-world challenges– inspiring curiosity, celebrating students' passions and helping every learner discover their full potential.

At the Immersive 9 students don’t simply study subjects;  they live them.
Students explore, solve real-world problems, and actively shape their own learning journey. 

Here, every student helps shape a personalized learning plan designed around their strengths, passions, and goals. With access to cutting-edge tools, resources and technology, students are challenged to think critically, communicate clearly, while pursuing meaningful, hands-on learning. 

Our vibrant community balances social connection with independent reflection, ensuring students thrive both together and on their own. 

Within Project Lab and classrooms, students use tactile tools, like cardboard, wood, paper, sketches, Styrofoam, cloth, 3D printing, and hand tools to create physical simulations and models.
In addition to project lab and classroom learning, students will experience:

• Esports that promote connection, collaboration and resilience
• Coding & Robotics prepares students for STEM and future careers
• Virtual Reality Environments that increase engagement and improve retention    
• 2D Digital Environments that simplify complex ideas with visuals and motion
• Visual and Performing Arts that inspire creativity
• Physical Education and after-school sports that instill school spirit
• Clubs and Activities that challenge and extend classroom learning

As innovators, we’ve redefined the teacher's role as a mentor, coach and “conductor” of learning. Teachers are expert Instructional Experience Designers, co-designing experiences with students, connecting their interests with real-world challenges– inspiring curiosity, celebrating students' passions and helping every learner discover their full potential.

Gifted students need to be challenged. They instinctively have high cognitive ability, a deep sense of independence, curiosity, and are energized by an environment that inspires active exploration, experimentation, and immersion into new worlds. They’re innovators and entrepreneurs who thrive on creativity and reflection. Not only seeking to learn about the world, they live inside the challenges, thrive on designing a solution, and imagine what doesn’t yet exist.

If this sounds like your gifted child, then The Immersive 9 at Arredondo may be a good fit!

We welcome gifted students in Kindergarten through fifth grade, who meet the following requirements and then apply to attend The Immersive 9:

Incoming Kindergarten through 5th grade students must score at 97% or higher in at least one area on a state board-approved test for gifted identification 

OR

Incoming Kindergarten through 5th grade students must score at 94% or higher in at least one area on a state board-approved test for gifted identification with an 85th percentile or higher in at least one additional area.*

*This criteria applies to both in- and out-of-district student applications.

Existing students will automatically be accepted into the program and do not need to reapply.

If your child is not currently attending a school within Tempe Elementary Schools, please send all requested qualification files to the Front Office Manager Ashley Torres. 

Our gifted school isn’t for everyone. Students who test gifted and meet The Immersive 9 requirements can confidently apply to be accepted into The Immersive 9 at the Arredondo Campus. We highly encourage families to secure a reservation and explore the ecosystem first-hand.

If your child has not been identified as gifted, Tempe Elementary Schools NOW offers both universal and Saturday gifted testing throughout the year for all students.

In alignment with Arizona standards, students qualify for giftedness in three recognized areas: Verbal, Quantitative, and Non-Verbal/Spatial. To best serve all students, we offer universal gifted testing in the fall and Saturday gifted testing throughout the year.

Contact Amy Evans, Gifted Coordinator for more information at (480) 730-7373

Application Process

Fall begins the first open enrollment application two-week period for priority categories below:

A.  Returning students. (Returning students are not required to complete an application.) 

B.  Siblings of resident transfer and nonresident students currently enrolled at the school.

C.  Children of a District employee.

D.  New resident transfer student or new nonresident student.

LOTTERY
If the number of applications received during the first open enrollment application period is greater than the number of available seats, a lottery will take place utilizing the priority categories listed above. 

After the first open enrollment application period, open enrollment applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis with no priority.

Policy JFB "Open Enrollment"

Apply to The Immersive 9

Yes. Please reference our testing information and requirements at tempeschools.org/giftedtesting 
Students can only be tested once within a 12-month period.

Twice-exceptional children are highly gifted while also possessing learning challenges including ADHD, dyslexia or dyscalculia, autism or sensory processing issues.

The Immersive 9 supports these students to ensure their success:

• On-site counselor available

• Special education supports

Immersive learning is an experiential, hands-on methodology that utilizes technology and virtual reality or real-world simulations to deeply engage learners in realistic scenarios and cinematic storytelling. Immersive learning can typically boost engagement, accelerates proficiency, and improves retention.

At the Immersive 9 students don’t simply study subjects;  they live them.
Students explore, solve real-world problems, and actively shape their own learning journey. 
Here, every student helps shape a personalized learning plan designed around their strengths, passions, and goals. With access to cutting-edge tools, resources and technology, students are challenged to think critically, communicate clearly, while pursuing meaningful, hands-on learning. 

Our vibrant community balances social connection with independent reflection, ensuring students thrive both together and on their own. 

Within Project Lab and classrooms, students use tactile tools, like cardboard, wood, paper, sketches, Styrofoam, cloth, 3D printing, and hand tools to create physical simulations and models. 

Every learner will have access to technology, however, technology is only a tool for the learner to be creative and to be collaborative. It is not used as busywork or a substitute for meaningful instruction. We will use devices purposefully and intentionally and in balance with rich classroom experiences that keep students engaged with people, ideas, and hands-on learning.

Yes, we do require uniforms. We want every student to reach their potential in an environment that is safe and free from learning distractions. Our goal is to ensure students are successful academically and that they leave The Immersive 9 as responsible citizens. The dress code was established to help increase a sense of pride for academic and social responsibility. 

See Dress Code 

The Immersive 9 is conveniently located on the Arredondo Campus in the heart of Tempe, Arizona, conveniently just south of the US-60 between Rural Road and McClintock Drive, offering open enrollment to all students across the Phoenix metropolitan area who qualify.

Regional transportation for Immersive 9 has pick-up and drop-off locations at several schools within our district and is open to students who live inside and outside of our District boundaries.

There are currently stops at other Tempe schools such as Aguilar, Curry, Frank, Fuller, Holdeman, Nevitt, Scales, Shamley, Spracale, Thew, Wood, and Scudder Park (Rover/Fees), but we encourage you to contact our transportation team for all current options.

General Busing Questions
(480) 642-1540
Email Transportation
Transportation page

Instruction Hours at The Immersive 9 are:

Start: 7:50 a.m. End: 2:50 p.m.
Early Release: 1:00 p.m. Every Friday

Phone: (480) 897-2744

Yes! The City of Tempe's Kid Zone Enrichment Program is available at The Immersive 9 at the Arredondo Campus and is a dynamic community response to changing lifestyles and needs of families in Tempe, Arizona. 

Phone - General Line: (480) 350-5405

Contact (480) 897-2744 X4445 for more information.

Email: kidzone@tempe.gov