School letter grades released for 2023-24. See how your school fares

The Arizona State Board of Education has released preliminary school grades for the 2023-24 school year.

Most public schools in Arizona received grades of A or B. About 36% received A’s, and six schools – less than 0.5% – received A’s. About 41% of schools received B grades.

Letter grades are published each year as an indicator of school performance, with schools receiving “A” grades identified as excellent, “B” schools identified as high performing, “C” schools identified as adequate performing, and “D” schools identified as achieving minimal results According to the school board and the school, an “F” was considered a failure.

Federal law requires states to measure school performance. The AF letter grading system is required by Arizona law.

Several Valley school districts saw improvement in district-wide letter grades compared to the previous school year: Agua Fria Union improved from B to A, Balsz Elementary improved from C to B, Deer Valley Unified improved from B to A, Fountain Hills Unified improved from B to BA, Gila Bend Unified improved from D to C, Glendale Union improved from B to A, Morristown Elementary improved from C to A, Murphy Elementary improved from C to B, Pendergast Elementary improved from C to B, Roosevelt Elementary improved from C to B, Peoria Unified improved from B to A, and Wilson Elementary improved from D to C.

Jennifer Petty, superintendent of the Morristown Elementary School District and principal of its only school, called the district’s jump from a C to an A grade a “remarkable improvement.”

It reflects “years of concentrated effort since we designated it a ‘D’ school in 2020,” Petty said in a statement, adding that the improvement “demonstrates the strength and resilience of our small, rural Title I school community.”

Petty stated that the school’s success was due to its efforts to implement standards-based learning in small groups to “ensure each student’s unique needs are addressed,” free tutoring services, staff commitment to meeting students’ emotional needs, collaboration with families and the community , professional development based on data and patterns, and a “school-wide approach to setting high standards.”

“We are extremely proud of the achievements of our students and staff,” Petty said.

Peoria Unified attributes the improvement in letter grades to the district’s “dedicated and talented teachers, the hard work of our students, supportive parents and community members, and the newly adopted math and science curriculum that has been implemented in every classroom,” according to a statement released by the district .

“We certainly celebrate these achievements and our goal is to continue achieving them,” Peoria Unified Superintendent Kenneth Christopher Somers said in a statement.

Other Maricopa County school districts have seen district-wide drops in letter grades this year: Arlington Elementary moved from a B to a D, Chandler Unified moved from an A to a B, Cartwright Elementary moved from a B to a C, Kyrene Elementary moved from an A to B, Litchfield Elementary moved from A to B, Maricopa County Regional School District moved from B to C, Mobile Elementary moved from B to C, Palo Verde Elementary moved from B to C, and Riverside Elementary moved from B to C

What do letter grades measure in Arizona public schools?

The assessments measure several factors: student growth from year to year, proficiency on statewide assessments, English language proficiency and development, student readiness for high school among elementary school students, student readiness for postsecondary institutions, and high school graduation rates.

These measures are reported to the Arizona Department of Education, and the State Board of Education sets a “reduced grade” – the number of points required for each letter grade.

Are these school letter grades final?

Letter grades are not yet determined. Schools can appeal their grades until November 15.

According to the State Board of Education, appeals can be made based on factors such as incorrect data, unfavorable testing conditions and school or community emergencies.

Which schools received F grades?

Six schools received F grades, defined by the State Board of Education as showing systematic failures in proficiency, growth and graduation rates, and performance in the bottom 5% of Arizona schools.

One of the schools that received an F rating was the Navajo County Accommodation District Alternative School. The Arizona Department of Education defines alternative schools as schools that have: a unique and clearly defined mission “to serve specific populations of at-risk students.”

The other schools receiving F grades were Glassford Hill Middle School in the Humboldt Unified School District, Peach Springs Unified School District in Peach Springs, and charter schools Aim Higher College Prep Academy, Imagine Superstition Middle and Step Up School.

Where can I find a school’s letter grade?

The State Board of Education notes that while letter grades are “an important factor considered” by parents when choosing a school, they are not the only indicators of a school’s performance. The board said issues such as school programs and extracurricular activities, as well as school characteristics such as size, should also be taken into account. Additional information about schools can be found on the website https://azreportcards.azed.gov/.

Letter grades can be found at https://azsbe.az.gov/parents/af-school-letter-grades.

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