The Arizona Board of Education this week issued school letter grades for the first time since before the pandemic, and all of the schools in Santa Cruz County that were evaluated during the 2021-22 academic year received either an A or B.
It was a markedly better performance than the last time school grades were published in 2019, when eight local schools received a C, one was given a D and another got an F. The good grades also offered a source of optimism amid recent studies showing student test scores slipping around the state and nation in the wake of the disruptions caused by COVID-19.
“I am very pleased with our 2022 letter grades, which reflect the work and dedication of all staff to increase student achievement,” Nogales Unified School District Superintendent Angel Canto said in a news release, noting: “We made some very strong gains this year.”
The Arizona school letter grades take into account a number of criteria, which include test scores and year-to-year academic growth, as well as the proficiency and academic growth of English language learners. High schools received scores for graduation rates and college/career readiness, while elementary schools were evaluated on whether a student is ready for success in high school.
At the Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District, where all schools received an A or B for the first time since letter grades became a legal reporting system, officials noted that student growth “clearly drove school ratings.”
