Since becoming superintendent of Utah's newest school district, David Doty has articulated a singular vision: seeing that all students graduate from high school ready for college and the workplace.

The path to success, he believes, is paved with academic rigor. And though powerless to dictate Utah's graduation requirements, the Canyons School District superintendent can, and very likely will, entice students to take heavier loads with a special "college- and career-ready" diploma. He also wants to re-configure middle schools into "prep" schools to include sixth through eighth grades, and bump ninth-graders into high school.

It's all part of a five-year plan to raise the academic bar with a special focus on improving middle schools, bridging the achievement gap for minorities and making better use of school buildings.

"We've got some academic and enrollment management issues to deal with," said Doty. "We're trying to think of creative ways to address both."

Canyons has pockets of growth with some elementary schools at, or nearing, capacity.