• Marc T. Atkinson Middle School is located at 51st Ave. and Indian School Roads in the Maryvale neighborhood of Phoenix. 
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    Due to overcrowding at schools and increased enrollment, the District began searching for available property to build additional schools. The Maryvale neighborhood was land-locked with very little available property.  John F. Long, Maryvale's founder and developer generously offered the District the opportunity to purchase the former Maryvale Mall space at 51st Avenue & Indian School for a portion of its value with the stipulation that it not be torn down.  The District renovated the facility into Marc T. Atkinson Middle School and Bret R. Tarver Elementary School and become one of the first districts in the country to renovate retail space into schools, for which the District received national attention.  Mr. Long had a long history of generosity to the Maryvale community and the Cartwright School District for which we are extremely grateful. 

    In 2000, the school was opened after being renovated and was named Marc T. Atkinson Middle School in honor of the recently fallen neighborhood police officer.