A-F grades issued statewide
Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal announced today the release of Arizona’s A-F grades for all district and charter schools in the state. These A-F letter grades are based on the weighting of student performance on the AIMS tests and student academic growth from year to year, along with additional points awarded for high English Language Learner reclassifications, and significant reductions in dropout rates.
In accordance with ARS 15-241 the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is charged with attributing letter grades to every district and charter school in the state. Every school and district receives a report card with an A-F grade that reflects their annual academic profile.
In order to further comply with Arizona’s law, this year ADE added three more models to the letter grading system, which provides even greater value to parents as they choose appropriate placement for their students. Over the last two years the A-F grades were applied to a traditional school model that included those schools with student populations over 100. This year the Department, working collaboratively with the education community, developed an A-F model for small schools with student populations under 100, alternative schools, and k-2 schools.
“Our Department is dedicated to providing parents fair yet rigorous evaluations of schools so they can make informed decisions about their child’s education,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal. “We recognize higher accountability leads to higher academic results. This has been proven over the last year, as we see the general trending upward in grades for many schools, charters, and districts.”
In 2012, of 1,733 Arizona schools, 23 percent received an “A” grade, while 34 percent received a “B.” In comparing 2011 and 2012, of the 1,473 schools who received letter grades in both 2011 and 2012, there was an overall increase in both “A’s” and “B’s” from 2011 to 2012, and a decrease in “C’s” and D’s. Twenty-five percent of our schools increased their letter grades, and 62 percent maintained them.
“Through our A-F letter grading accountability system we are able to identify educational weaknesses and strengths that can help drive schools to improve. I am committed to working with our educational leaders, teachers, parents and students as we identify areas needing improvement, and develop strategies to continue to improve results for our students,” continued Superintendent Huppenthal.
Overall Arizona schools scored better than last year. More schools received a “A,” but the vast majority received a “B” or “C grade. The gradin systeme in new, as a result no “F” grades were awarded as they are reseved for those schools that have failed three years in a row.
TUSD’s Marybelle McCorkle Academy of Excellence received a “D” this year while Rose Elementary received and “A” once again. Rose focuses on basic skills and has won national awards.
Marybelle McCorkle Academy of Excellence, built last year, was a pet project of TUSD Governing Board member Adelita Grijalva. She fought with her fellow Board members for the Academy of Excellence title for the school, but little time was spent discussing the school’s curriculum and mission.
Snap shot of Pima County school performance:
Amphitheater Unified District
“A”
Canyon Del Oro High School
Copper Creek Elementary School
Mesa Verde Elementary School
Painted Sky Elementary School
Winifred Harelson Elementary School
“B”
Coronado K-8 School
E C Nash School
Ironwood Ridge High School
La Cima Middle School
Lawrence W Cross Middle School
Lulu Walker School
Richard B Wilson Jr School
Rio Vista Elementary School
“C”
Amphitheater High School
Amphitheater Middle School
Helen Keeling Elementary School
Marion Donaldson Elementary School
“D”
Frances Owen Holaway Elementary School
“Pending”
L M Prince School
Tucson Unified School District
“A”
Anna Henry Elementary School
Borton Primary Magnet School
C E Rose Elementary School
Ida Flood Dodge Traditional Middle Magnet School
Sabino High School
Sam Hughes Elementary
Soleng Tom Elementary School
University High School
“B”
Annie Kellond Elementary School
Borman Elementary School
Carrillo Intermediate Magnet School
Collier Elementary School
Drachman Primary Magnet School
Dunham Elementary School
Ford Elementary
Fruchthendler Elementary School
Gale Elementary School
Hollinger Elementary School
Howell Peter Elementary
John E White Elementary School
John E Wright Elementary School
Lineweaver Elementary School
Palo Verde High Magnet School
Robins Elementary School
Sahuaro High School
Tolson Elementary School
Tully Elementary Accelerated Magnet School
W Arthur Sewel Elementary School
W V Whitmore Elementary School
Wheeler Elementary School
“C”
Alice Vail Middle School
Blenman Elementary School
Bloom Elementary
Bonillas Elementary Basic Curriculum Magnet School
Booth-Fickett Math/Science Magnet School
Brichta Elementary School
Cavett Elementary School
Cholla High Magnet School
Corbett Elementary School
Cragin Elementary School
Davidson Elementary School
Davis Bilingual Magnet School
Dietz Elementary School
Doolen Middle School
Frances J Warren Elementary School
Gridley Middle School
Harold Steele Elementary School
Henry Hank Oyama
Holladay Intermediate Magnet School
Hudlow Elementary School
Irene Erickson Elementary School
Laura N. Banks Elementary
Lynn Urquides
Magee Middle School
Mansfeld Middle School
Marshall Elementary School
Menlo Park Elementary School
Miles-Exploratory Learning Center
Miller Elementary School
Mission View Elementary School
Myers-Ganoung Elementary School
Naylor Middle School
Pistor Middle School
Pueblo Gardens Elementary
Raul Grijalva Elementary School
Rincon High School
Roskruge Bilingual Magnet Middle School
Santa Rita High School
Schumaker Elementary School
Secrist Middle School
Tucson Magnet High School
Van Buskirk Elementary School
Vesey Elementary School
Wakefield Middle School
“D”
Anna Lawrence Intermediate School
Carson Middle School
Catalina High Magnet School
Hohokam Middle School
Howenstine High School
Maldonado Amelia Elementary School
Manzo Elementary School
Maxwell Middle School
McCorkle PK-8
Nan Lyons Elementary School
Ochoa Elementary School
Pueblo High Magnet School
Robison Elementary School
Safford Engineering/Technology Magnet Middle School
Townsend Middle School
TUSD – Distance Learning Program
Utterback Middle School
Valencia Middle School
Sunnyside Unifed School District
“A”
Gallego Basic Elementary School
“B”
Craycroft Elementary School
Elvira Elementary School
Liberty Elementary School
Rivera Elementary
Summit View Elementary
“C”
Billy Lane Lauffer Middle School
Desert View High School
Esperanza Elementary School
Los Amigos Elementary School
Los Ninos Elementary School
Mission Manor Elementary School
Santa Clara Elementary School
Sunnyside High School
“D”
Apollo Middle School
Challenger Middle School
Chaparral Middle School
Drexel Elementary School
Los Ranchitos Elementary School
Sierra Middle School
Vail Unified School District
“A”
Acacia Elementary School
Civano Charter School
Corona Foothills Middle School
Cottonwood Elementary School
Desert Sky Middle School
Desert Willow Elementary School
Mesquite Elementary School
Ocotillo Ridge Elementary
Old Vail Middle School
Rincon Vista Middle School
Senita Valley Elementary School
Sycamore Elementary School
Vail Academy & High School
“B”
Cienega High School
Empire High School
To view the A-F grades visit www.azed.gov/research-evaluation/a-f-accountability/