Chaparral High School is a public high school located in Scottsdale, Arizona, in the United States. Its mascot is the firebird, and the school colors are black, red, and gold.
Chaparral opened in February 1973 with 800 students, comprising freshman, sophomore, and junior classes. The principal was Spencer Saunders Sr. The initial structures were built at a cost of $3.5 million. Chaparral's first graduates were the class of 1974.
The original campus was designed by Varney, Sexton, Sydnor Associates. TGK Construction Company built the campus with construction starting in 1971.
In 2008 many of the outdated buildings were demolished and replaced with new ones designed by Orcutt | Winslow Architects.
In 2014, Newsweek ranked Chaparral No. 22 among top American high schools, and No. 1 in Arizona.
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Student body and academics
Chaparral High School has consistently ranked in Newsweek's list of Best High Schools in America. In 2007, Chaparral High School was one of only 12 schools ranked in Arizona.
The high school holds the state record for having the most National Merit Scholars in one year (37 in 2014). Additionally, the school has also earned the record most in-state Presidential Scholars in Arizona, with 17 in 2003.
Former Principals
Joshua Pantier (2022-Present)
Todd Dreifort (2018-2022)
Dr. Angela Chomokos (2017-2018)
Gayle Holland (2011-2017)
Mary Lou Mucino (2002-2011)
Dr. John Kreikard (1995-2002)
Kim Greenwalt (1993-1995)
John Paul Jones (1988-1993)
Evelyn Caskey (1983-1988)
Tom Smith (1980-1983)
Stuart Kammerman (1976-1980)
James Curlett (1972-1976)
Notable alumni
Athletes and coaches
Max Aaron (born 1992), figure skater
Chance Adams, baseball player for the Kansas City Royals
Brian Bannister, baseball player for the Kansas City Royals
Charles Brewer, baseball player for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Darrell Bevell, football coach for the Miami Dolphins and former quarterback
Daniel Coulombe, professional baseball player
Dylan Cozens, baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies
Kenny Dillingham, head football coach for Arizona State Sun Devils
Ike Davis (born 1987), baseball player for the New York Mets, Oakland Athletics
Brianna and Nicole Garcia-Colace, professional twin wrestlers known in the WWE as the Bella Twins or Brie and Nikki Bella.
Danielle Kamela, professional wrestler known in the WWE as Vanessa Borne
Paul Konerko, former baseball player for the Chicago White Sox
Taylor Lewan, professional football player for the Tennessee Titans
Anthony Lucas, college football defensive end for the USC Trojans
Darren Mougey, professional football player and executive
Entertainment, Government and Media
Dustin Lee Abraham, actor, producer and screenwriter
Yassamin Ansari, Congresswoman for Arizona's Third Congressional District (2025 to present).
Jason Bellini, journalist, lead news anchor for CBS News on Logo, former CNN correspondent
Jarrett Bellini, former host of News of the Absurd for CNN.com, comedy writer, music journalist, social media influencer
Alexandra Bracken, author
Ashley Brewer, TV personality for ESPN
Lauren Hildebrandt, pop singer, dancer, and actress
Kongos, band
Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight book series
Lymbyc Systym, band
Jenny Mollen, actor and author
Tyler Niknam, Twitch streamer
Busy Philipps, actress
Ray Herndon, country singer/songwriter and guitarist
Daliah Wachs talk show host, media personality, author