PHOENIX — The Arizona State Board of Education has released a new snapshot of the state of Arizona schools.
Some schools, such as West Point High School in Tolleson, were celebrating improved ratings Friday. The school raised its ranking from a “B” to an “A.”
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Principal Brandi Haskins said it’s rewarding to see the efforts of staff and students recognized.
“When you know that hundreds of people have put in all the man-hours, effort and faith in our students, it’s really nice to get that recognition,” she said.
School performance in Arizona is determined by a variety of factors, including proficiency in core classes and graduation rates. While West Point High School made gains, another Tolleson Union High School District school saw a slight decline but maintained its “B” rating.
Superintendent Jeremy Coles noted that the school’s performance would have improved if the number of graduates had increased slightly.
“If six more students had graduated, we would have seen an improvement this year,” he explained.
The Tolleson Union school district currently has a complete lineup of “A” and “B” schools.
More than 1,500 schools were evaluated across Arizona, and the state’s overall average rating of “B” remained about the same as last year. Among Valley schools, the most improved schools scored at least 20 points higher this year, including Learning Foundation, American Leadership Academy in Mesa, Liberty Arts Academy, Quartz Hill Elementary School, and Stepping Stones Academy. Obtained.
As for high schools, Gila Bend High School has made impressive progress, jumping from an “F” to a “C,” joining other schools like Ridgeview College Prep and Skyline High School. However, some schools saw declines, particularly in elementary schools: Crown Charter Elementary School, Bennett Academy, Imagine Superstition Elementary School, and Tartesso Elementary School. Glendale Union Online was the only high school to drop by double digits, moving from a “B” to a “C.”
Tartesso Elementary School is located in the Saddle Mountain Unified School District.
The school’s superintendent, Dr. Mike Winters, said the school has introduced several new measures over the past few years in an effort to improve student achievement. Winters said they recently introduced a new instructional delivery model that focuses on breaking instruction into smaller, easier-to-understand segments. He said the school’s principal is under extra surveillance because this is a new practice this year.
One of the rural school districts, Gila Bend Unified School District, saw significant improvement, with its high school moving up from an “F” to a “C.”
Superintendent Rob Varner noted the district’s progress, saying, “We have work to do, but this is a celebration of our hard work paying off.”
Marisol Silva, director of academic services for the district, acknowledged that professional development and a strong staff are critical to success.
Haskins encouraged schools looking to improve: “Be persistent, believe in your students and let your staff do what they know best.”
