Desert Vista High School

Desert Vista High School is located in the Ahwatukee neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona, was established in 1996, and is a part of the Tempe Union High School District.ClubsThe Desert Vista High School Thunder Marching Band, currently directed by Josh Thye, is one of several extracurricular activities offered at the school. In the 2008-2009 season the Thunder Marching Band took 7th place in the Bands of America Los Angeles regional final. In the 2013-2014 season, the Thunder Marching Band took 4th place in the Bands of America Long Beach Southwest regional final, and in 2016, placed 5th in finals. The Thunder Band also took first place in the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016 Division 1 Arizona State Marching Band Championships, and second place in 2014.Their 2016 score of 94.875 broke the state record, which was still held by them.The Desert Vista Speech, Theater and Debate team is thirteen-time AIA Division I State Champions and recipients of ten team awards at the National Speech and Debate Association National Championship Tournament. The team has won four National School of Outstanding Distinction Awards (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017) given to the top ten overall speech and debate teams in the United States, three National Speech School of Excellence Awards (2008, 2009, 2011), and one National Debate School of Excellence Award (2010). In 2015, Desert Vista won the Senator Karl E. Mundt Trophy, which is awarded to the school with the largest number of cumulative participation points in Congressional Debate at the National Championship Tournament. Students from Desert Vista have reached twenty three national final rounds in main events and five supplemental event finals, winning the 2012 national championship in Expository Speaking.