The report cards are in, and most of Yuma and La Paz counties' schools have earned passing grades.
Each year, the Arizona Department of Education releases letter grades for public schools. As the state's accountability model, A-F school letter grades are given to measure school performance.
The grades consider year-to-year the following areas:
- Student academic growth and proficiency in English language arts, math and science
- Academic growth and proficiency for English language learners
- Indicators that elementary students are ready for success in high school
- Indicators that high school students are ready for success in careers and higher education
- High school graduation rates
ADE releases these grades by November 1 each year for the academic year prior.
An A grade means excellent, or "distinguished performance on the statewide assessment, significant student growth, high four-year graduation rates, students on track to proficiency; overall performance is significantly higher than the state average."
Here are the Yuma and La Paz county schools that have earned an A (11 total):
- Bravie T. Soto Elementary School, Somerton School District #11, Somerton
- Desert Sonora Elementary School, Somerton School District #11, Somerton
- Desert View Elementary School, Gadsden Elementary School District #32, San Luis
- Gila Ridge High School, Yuma Union High School District, Yuma
- Gowan Science Academy, Crane Elementary School District, Yuma
- H.L. Suverkrup Elementary, Crane Elementary School District, Yuma
- Harvest Preparatory Academy, Harvest Power Community Development Group, Yuma
- James D. Price Elementary, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Parker Alternative School, Parker Unified School District, Parker
- Rio Colorado Elementary School, Gadsden Elementary School District #32, San Luis
- San Luis High School, Yuma Union High School District, Yuma
A B grade means highly performing, or "high performance on statewide assessment and/or significant student growth and/or higher four-year graduation rates and/or moving students to proficiency at a higher rate than the state average."
Here are the Yuma and La Paz county schools that have earned a B (37 total):
- Arizona Desert Elementary School, Gadsden Elementary School District #32, San Luis
- C.W. McGraw Elementary, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Centennial Middle School, Crane Elementary School District, Yuma
- Cesar Chavez Elementary School, Gadsden Elementary School District #32, San Luis
- Cibola High School, Yuma Union High School District, Yuma
- Dateland Elementary School, Hyder Elementary School District, Dateland
- Desert Mesa Elementary School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Desert View Academy, Juniper Tree Academy, Yuma
- Dorothy Hall Elementary School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Ed Pastor Elementary School, Gadsden Elementary School District #32, San Luis
- Gadsden Elementary School, Gadsden Elementary School District #32, San Luis
- Gary A. Knox Elementary School, Crane Elementary School District, Yuma
- Harvest Preparatory Academy, Harvest Power Community Development Group, San Luis
- James B. Rolle Elementary School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Kofa High School, Yuma Union High School District, Yuma
- Le Pera Elementary School, Parker Unified School District, Parker
- Mesquite Elementary, Crane Elementary School District, Yuma
- Mohawk Valley School, Mohawk Valley Elementary District, Roll
- Orange Grove Elementary School, Somerton School District #11, Somerton
- Palmcroft Elementary School Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Parker High School, Parker Unified School District, Parker
- Pecan Grove Elementary School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Pueblo Elementary School, Crane Elementary School District, Yuma
- R. Pete Woodard Junior High, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Ronald Reagan Elementary School, Crane Elementary School District, Yuma
- Salome High School, Bicentennial Union High School District #76, Salome
- San Luis Middle School, Gadsden Elementary School District #32, San Luis
- Southwest Junior High School, Gadsden Elementary School District #32, San Luis
- Sun Valley Elementary School, Somerton School District #11, Somerton
- Tierra Del Sol Elementary School, Somerton School District #11, Somerton
- Valley Horizon Elementary School, Crane Elementary School District, Yuma
- Vista Alternative High School, Yuma Union High School District, Yuma
- Wallace Elementary School, Parker Unified School District, Parker
- Wallace Junior High School, Parker Unified School District, Parker
- Wellton Elementary School, Wellton Elementary School District, Wellton
- Wenden Elementary School, Wenden Elementary School District #19, Wenden
- Yuma High School, Yuma Union High School District, Yuma
A C grade means a school is performing, or "adequate performance but needs improvement on some indicators, such as proficiency, growth or graduation rate."
Here are the Yuma and La Paz county schools that have earned a C (18 total):
- Antelope Union High School
- Alice Byrne Elementary School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Bouse Elementary School, Bouse Elementary School District, Bouse
- Castle Dome Middle School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Crane Middle School, Crane Elementary School District, Yuma
- Desert View Middle and High School, Carpe Diem Collegiate High School, Yuma
- Ehrenberg Elementary School, Quartzsite Elementary School District #4, Ehrenberg
- Encanto Learning Center, Somerton School District #11, Somerton
- Fourth Avenue Junior High School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- George Washington Carver Elementary School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Mary A. Otondo Elementary School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- O.C. Johnson Elementary School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Ron Watson Middle School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Roosevelt Elementary School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Salida Del Sol Elementary School, Crane Elementary School District, Yuma
- Salome Elementary School, Salome Consolidated Elementary District, Salome
- Sunrise Elementary School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
- Yuma District One Digital Learning Academy, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma (online)
A D grade means minimally performing, or "inadequate performance in proficiency, growth and/or four-year graduation rate relative to the state average."
Here are the Yuma and La Paz county schools that have earned a D (one total):
- Gila Vista Junior High School, Yuma Elementary School District One, Yuma
An F grade means failing, or "systematic failures in proficiency, growth and graduation rates (below 67%); performance is in the bottom 5% of the state."
No Yuma and La Paz schools failed.
To determine these schools' grades, ADE used state test results, English learner test results, attendance, special education metrics, graduation rates and progress towards graduation.
The department noted that the letter grades are just one component to consider when evaluating a school, however. The grades provide general information about a school's performance, but the Arizona School Report Cards website includes info on programs and extracurriculars that schools offer.
"Qualitative measures, which will vary in importance from family to family, should also be considered," reads the Arizona State Board of Education's press release. "Some students thrive in a small school, while others seek the wide range of options a larger school offers. If art or music programs are important to a family, they should consider those factors when choosing a school. Parents and families are encouraged to have letter grade conversations with their student’s school administrator and staff members."
These grades as presented above may be subject to change, too, however. Schools have until Nov. 17 to appeal their letter grade should there be circumstances of incorrect data, adverse testing conditions, a school tragedy, or school/community events or emergency.
This reporting is supported by a grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation.
