Moving to Scottsdale, Arizona: A Family Relocation Guide
One of Scottsdale’s established master-planned communities, McCormick Ranch is known for its lakes, green spaces, walking paths, golf courses, and convenient access to shopping and dining. The community includes a mix of homes and townhomes across numerous residential subdivisions.
A 4,400-acre master-planned community in North Scottsdale, DC Ranch includes 26 neighborhoods organized into four residential villages. The community features parks, paths, trails, community centers, and open spaces, with the McDowell Sonoran Preserve nearby.
North Scottsdale covers a large area of the city and includes a mix of residential communities, shopping and dining destinations, golf courses, and access to the Sonoran Desert. The area also includes communities such as DC Ranch and provides access to major routes including Loop 101.
Schools & Education
Scottsdale Unified School District serves students from Pre-K through Grade 12 across Scottsdale and surrounding communities. The district operates elementary, K-8, middle, and high schools and offers programs including gifted learning, STEM and STEAM, International Baccalaureate, world languages, arts, athletics, and career and technical education.
BASIS Scottsdale is a tuition-free public charter school serving Grades 5–12. Its curriculum combines college-preparatory academics with STEM and liberal arts, and students can choose from a range of extracurricular activities including sports, arts, debate, and academic clubs.
BASIS Scottsdale Primary East is a tuition-free public charter school serving Grades K–4 in the East Scottsdale and Fountain Hills area. The school offers an accelerated curriculum along with activities including engineering, science, Mandarin, sports, arts, and after-school clubs. Students can continue to BASIS Scottsdale for Grades 5–12.
A 30-acre city park in central Scottsdale centered around railroad history and family recreation. Visitors can ride the Paradise & Pacific Railroad and historic carousel, explore the Scottsdale Railroad Museum and Model Railroad Building, and use the park's playgrounds and open spaces.
Located at Arizona Boardwalk in Scottsdale, OdySea Aquarium features marine-life exhibits including sharks, penguins, sea lions, sea turtles, jellyfish, and giant Pacific octopus. The aquarium also offers scheduled animal presentations and interactive experiences.
An open-air shopping and dining destination along Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Quarter brings together restaurants, retailers, and entertainment in one walkable area. It is located just south of Greenway-Hayden Loop and near Loop 101.