About Us
Home of the Rhinos
1290 E. Ocotillo Road
Gilbert
AZ
85298
Parents of enrolled pupils and parents who wish to enroll their children in the Chandler Unified School District must fill out this form to visit, tour (outside of regularly scheduled tour times) or observe a classroom. This completed form must be submitted to the school principal/designee no less than two full business days before the desired visit.
HOURS
- School Hours:
- 8:30 AM - School begins
- 3:00 PM - School dismissed
- Office Hours:
- 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
- Early Dismissal time:
- 11:30 AM - Parent Teacher Conferences
- 11:10 AM - Last Day of School
2025-2026 Lunch Schedule
| Grade Level | Cafeteria |
| Kindergarten | 11:00 am - 11:20 am |
| 1st Grade | 11:20 am - 11:40 am |
| 4th Grade/Tanzer | 11:40 am - 12:00 pm |
| 3rd Grade | 11:55 am - 12:15 pm |
| 2nd Grade/Skorski | 12:10 pm - 12:30 pm |
| 5th Grade | 12:25 pm - 12:45 pm |
| 6th Grade | 12:40 pm - 1:00 pm |
Contact
| Principal Shirley Mathew |
(480) 424-8507 |
| Dean of Students & Special Education Contact Cassie Bohlig |
(480) 424-8506 |
| 504 Coordinator Sarah Evenhus |
(480) 424-8509 |
| Health Office | (480) 424-8502 |
| Attendance Line | (480) 424-8503 |
| Transportation - CUSD Main Office | (480) 424-8600 |
About Our School...
Welcome to Robert J.C. Rice Elementary - Home of the Rhinos!
At Rice Elementary, we provide families with a range of educational options, offering both the classic and Chandler Traditional Academy (CTA) education models. As a neighborhood school, we deliver strong instruction that aligns with the Arizona State standards while providing a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities for our students.
Sustainability is a key theme at Rice Elementary. We use energy-saving features throughout our campus. Our air-cooled central plant, energy management system, and remote control of HVAC and lighting via the Internet help reduce energy consumption. Additionally, we utilize skylights in our hallways to maximize natural lighting, reducing the need for artificial lights. The choice of ground and polished concrete floors in hallways and bathrooms not only adds aesthetic appeal but also makes maintenance easier and cost-effective. Our sustainability approach extends beyond infrastructure. We foster a culture of caring for self, each other, and the world around us. Through our outdoor learning space, our students actively participate in gardening and nutrition education programs. These initiatives empower our students to develop an understanding of environmental responsibility.
At Rice Elementary, we utilize the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program to guide student behavior. The PBIS program revolves around our core values of being respectful, inclusive, safe, and engaged. By instilling these values, we create a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.
Our school is named after Robert Rice, a long-time member of the CUSD governing board. With a background as a former US Air Force officer and senior management roles at Intel, Robert Rice brought valuable leadership experience to the district. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in developing the district's first 10-year plan of excellence and has since mentored and coached various organizations.
At Robert J. C. Rice Elementary, we strive to provide a well-rounded education that fosters academic growth, sustainability consciousness, and character development. We are proud to be a part of the Chandler Unified School District, and we welcome students, families, and the community to join us on this educational journey.
― Shirley Mathew, Principal
Chandler Unified School District Health Services Links
Find all information on the District Health Services page, including:
- Contact CUSD Health Services
- Health Protocol
- Medication Administration Policy
- Health Condition Forms for Parents
- Immunization Policy
- Lice Information
- Mental Health Resources
- Grief Resources
- Heat Index Information
Site Council
2025-2026
September 8th
December 8th
February 23rd
May 4th
ALL MEETINGS WILL BE HELD IN OUR
MEDIA CENTER
3:25 PM - 3:55 PM
The Site-Based Council (SBC) meets once a quarter. Council members are made up of teachers, support staff, administrators, parents, and an outside community member.
Site-Based Councils were mandated by the Education Reform Act of 1993 as part of the Act’s decentralization of decision making. A primary interest of Site-Based Councils is to empower those closest to the learner ~ school administrators, teachers, parents, and community members.