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Matthew Feller | 480-228-6407
matthew@azedfoundation.org
44 Arizona public schools earn Arizona Educational Foundation A+ School of Excellence™ Award
Phoenix, AZ, October 7, 2020 – The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) has announced the names of 44 Arizona public schools receiving the coveted A+ School of Excellence™ Award.
AEF has been championing public schools with the A+ School of Excellence™ Award program since 1983. The A+ Award is a way to identify, celebrate, and recognize educational excellence in PreK-12th grade schools throughout Arizona. In addition to showcasing outstanding public schools, the A+ program provides school teams with an extensive comprehensive framework that serves as a basis for school self-assessment and planning. The A+ School of Excellence™ award is a powerful energizer for increasing public confidence in recognized schools, often resulting in greater parent and community involvement and even serves as an economic driver for some communities. A+ Schools are celebrated and recognized as exceptional. Earning the highly prestigious and coveted A+ School of Excellence designation spotlights the positive successes happening in public schools every day.
The 2020 A+ School of Excellence winning schools are:
Anza Trail School, Sahuarita Unified School District
Ash Fork Middle School, Ash Fork Joint Unified School District
Ashland Ranch Elementary School, Gilbert Public Schools
Black Mountain Elementary School, Cave Creek Unified School District
Campo Verde High School, Gilbert Public Schools
Canyon Springs STEM Academy, Deer Valley Unified School District
Carol Rae Ranch Elementary, Gilbert Public Schools
Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology, CAVIT
Copper View Elementary School, Sahuarita Unified School District
David Crockett Elementary School, Balsz School District
Desert Edge High School, Agua Fria Union High School District
Desert Mountain Elementary School, Queen Creek Unified School District
Desert Mountain School, Deer Valley Unified School District
Dreaming Summit, Litchfield Elementary School District
Dysart High School, Dysart Unified School District
Esperanza Elementary School, Isaac School District
Fairbanks Middle School, Morenci Unified School District
Falcon Hill Elementary, Mesa Public Schools
Fountain Hills High School, Fountain Hills Unified School District
Gavilan Peak, Deer Valley Unified School District
Gilbert Classical Academy, Gilbert Public Schools
Haley Nicole Knutsen Elementary School, Chandler Unified School District
Highland Arts Elementary School, Mesa Public Schools
Highland High School, Gilbert Public Schools
John B. Wright Elementary School, Tucson Unified School District
Kyrene Altadena Middle School, Kyrene School District
Kyrene de la Mirada Leadership Academy, Kyrene School District
Kyrene de las Brisas Elementary School, Kyrene School District
Mary L. Welty, Nogales Unified School District
Mesa High School, Mesa Public Schools
Morenci High School, Morenci Unified School District
Mountain View High School, Mesa Public Schools
Navarrete Elementary School, Chandler Unified School District
Ocotillo Elementary School, Washington Elementary School District
Palo Verde Elementary School, Casa Grande Elementary School District
Pueblo Elementary School, Crane School District
Pueblo Elementary School, Scottsdale Unified School District
Quentin STEM Academy, Littleton Elementary School District
Riggs Elementary School, Chandler Unified School District
Sonoran Heights Elementary School, Dysart Unified School District
Sossaman Middle School, Higley Unified School District
Sycamore Elementary School, Vail School District
Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy, Laveen Elementary School District
Western Sky Middle School, Litchfield Elementary School District
“The A+ School of Excellence™ Award shines a spotlight on the positive stories and successes occurring in public schools,” said AEF Executive Director, Kim Graham. “The application and evaluation process for this program is comprehensive and rigorous. We applaud these schools for exceeding expectations to meet their students’ needs and for achieving overall success despite the many challenges that face the education community statewide.”
Applicant schools are evaluated in the areas of student focus and support, school culture, active teaching and learning, curriculum, leadership, community and parent involvement and assessment data.
Applications are made available to Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade public schools statewide. Evaluation of schools is based on a written application submitted by the school and a site visit conducted by a team of trained judges. In the application, each school provides demographic information, a description of current programs and practices, documentation of parent and community involvement, and a profile of the school’s principal and the school community’s commitment to excellence, equity, service and sustained high achievement. Preparation of each school’s application involves collaboration among all stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members.
Schools receive $500 and a banner designating them as an A+ School of Excellence™ winner. The award is valid for four years. Recognition through the A+ School of Excellence™ program helps increase confidence in Arizona’s public schools and creates greater parent and community support.
Click here for additional information about the A+ School of Excellence program.
If you have questions or would like more information, contact Matthew Feller, Director of Programs and Partnerships by email at matthew@azedfoundation.org.
About Arizona Educational Foundation:
The mission of AEF is to identify, support and celebrate excellence in Pre-K-12th grade Arizona public education through business and community partnerships. We do this through a variety of programs for teachers, administrators, and students. Some of our programs shine a spotlight on excellence; others provide a steppingstone to help support schools and educators on the road to awesomeness. In addition to the Arizona Teacher of the Year program, AEF also coordinates the Arizona State Spelling Bee, the A+ School of Excellence Award, the Principals Leadership Academy of Arizona, teachSTEM, and Take Your Legislator to School. AEF was founded in 1983 by then State Superintendent of Public Education, Carolyn Warner, who felt a nonprofit needed to be established to champion public education and recognize the great work of public school educators.