The Pendergast District is located in the West Valley of Phoenix and serves families in Phoenix, Glendale, and Avondale. The District has grown rapidly in the past 15 years, increasing from 6,000 students to nearly 10,500 students in the 2008-09 school year.  The District has 14 elementary schools.

An increasing number of families in the District have income at or below the poverty level, with more than 50% qualifying for free or reduced cost lunch programs. Five schools will qualify as Title 1 schools according to federal guidelines. Overall income, both household and per capita, in the Pendergast District is lower than the Phoenix Metro Area.

The Pendergast community continues to have families who have remained in the district for generations. Many teachers and District employees grew up in the District and have remained in the District to serve today's children.

There are more than 600 certified teachers in the District. With teacher shortages in Arizona and nation-wide, the District strives to ensure there is a highly qualified teahcer in every classroom.

The scholarship program is an investment in the Pendergast community. Individuals who need financial support from Pendergast will be selected as winners of college scholarship assistance. The community profits by a program designed to promote higher education and to encourage graduates to return to Pendergast as teachers and contributors.

1. Develop teachers who have a commitment to serving in the Pendergast District
2. Promote a college education for Pendergast graduates
3. Encourage teaching careers for other District employees
4. Create future teachers for the Pendergast District who have ties to the community

The Pendergast Education Foundation of Directors represent business, education and community leadership. Members are:

• To be determined
• Students accepted into the Professional Development School
• Graduates of a Pendergast Elementary School District

Financial contributions are needed to fund the endowment. Donations of any size are welcome and are fully tax deductible. Money collected will be used to fund college scholarships. The first scholarship grants will be awarded in 2009.

If your organization makes a contribution to the Pendergast Education Foundation Fund before March 1, 2009, you will be recognized as a charter member with a plaque to be displayed in the community meeting room of the Pendergast Learning Center.

Here are two examples:

MariaP. was working as an instructional aide at a Pendergast school when "she got the call."  With her two-year degree from Estrella Community College, Maria entered the Professional Development School program, a partnership with Arizona State University, to complete her college education and become a full-time classroom teacher. The accelerated 18-month program required that she quit her job. A scholarship from the Pendergast Education Foundation helped cover her tuition costs.

Luis M. graduated from Westwind Elementary school in 2002. His father works as a day laborer and his mother provides day care in their home in the Pendergast distict. Luis was an honor student and athlete at Tolleson High School. He graduated in 2006. He attended Estrella Community College and worked part time from 2006-2008 and received his two-year degree. Luis is among the first recipients of the Pendergast Education Foundation Scholarship. He is attending Arizona State University West and plans to graduate with a degree in education in 2010.