The Bad News About Arizona Schools

As with any state, Arizona has high-performing schools and under-performing schools. However Arizona is different than other states in two regards. First, Arizona has taken a unique and aggressive approach to school choice. In Arizona, residents are allowed to send their child to any school in the state on a "space available" basis. The students can move across school or even district boundaries and the budget dollars follow the students. The term used in Arizona for this is open enrollment and it has become a staple of Arizona K-12 education.

The second thing that makes Arizona schools unique is the degree to which they fund (or rather don't fund) schools. Arizona ranks 48th out of 51 (include the District of Columbia) in terms of per pupil expenditures across the country. On a relative basis, the State of Arizona simply does not provide its schools with as much monetary resources as other states provide to their schools. And the gap is significant.

Arizona voters do tend to be fiscally conservative. The state also is an early proponent of charter schools and, as noted earlier, school choice. The fundamental question is this: does the introduction of school choice and reliance on charter schools overcome this funding gap?

A recent research study identified the top 2% and 10% of Arizona K-12 schools based on their performance on the Terra Nova test. The Terra Nova is a nationally normed test that places schools into percentile rankings versus other schools on a national basis. It is highly regarded tool and is often a better measure of school performance than are state standardized tests.

The list below was compiled, in part, to assist parents in selecting from Arizona's best schools for their child's education. The list below represents the best 25 schools in Arizona among those with over 200 students. The results are based on the average Spring 2009 Terra Nova scores across all grade levels within a given school.

BASIS Scottsdale

Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies

University High School

BASIS Tucson

Gilbert Classical Academy Jr.

Arizona School For The Arts

Great Hearts Academies - Chandler Prep

Great Hearts Academies - Veritas Prep

Self Development Charter School

Cambridge Academy East

Tempe Preparatory Academy

GPS Traditional Academy

Cheyenne Traditional Elementary School

Great Heart Academies - Scottsdale Prep

Hamilton Prep

Keystone Montessori Charter School

Bright Beginnings School #1

Kyrene Altadena Middle School

Esperero Canyon Middle School

McDowell Mountain Elementary School

Orange Grove Middle School

Foothills Academy

Quartz Hill Elementary

Valley Academy

Cochise Elementary School

This list of the top 25 schools in Arizona contains private, charter and public schools.

The above list represents the top 2% of schools in Arizona. The study compared the top 2% of schools with where they would rank on a national basis. The answer: as a group they scored at the 85% percentile. This may sound like an accomplishment however the top 2% should, all else being equal, perform at the 99% percentile nationally as a group. This represents a 14% shortfall from where this group of Arizona schools should be performing nationally. Considered in this light their accomplishments, while considerable, are muted by this national comparison.

The study broadened the scope of the "top school analysis" to encompass the entire top decile (the top 10%) of Arizona schools. The top 140 schools, representing the top decile of schools in Arizona scored, on average, at the 77th percentile nationally. Thus while this group of top schools scored on average at the 95th percentile within the state, they were only able to attain the 77th percentile nationally. This represents an even larger 18% gap on state-vs-national percentile ranking.

It is difficult to look at these very straightforward numbers and easily dismiss the issue of public education in Arizona. To be sure, this analysis is simplistic in its design and does not represent an exhaustive review of educational issues in Arizona. However, many of this issues that Arizona schools face are very similar to the issues faced by schools in other states.

In short, Arizona schools clearly underperform the rest of the nation. State and local officials must address this issue with a particular emphasis on funding. The State has conducted an amazing experiment in school choice; the anecdotal evidence of its impact appears positive. However the lack of funding represents a clear challenge that no structural change can diminish. Arizona has a responsibility to better fund schools.

Scott Wallace is an Education Consultant and is the Executive Director of the National Center for School Leadership. To learn more about Mr. Wallace and the services offered by the National Center for School Leadership, visit their website at http://www.ncfsl.org.

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Excelling Arizona Schools Named for 2004-2005 School Year

As with many school systems across the United States, Arizona Schools have several measurement and accountability programs in place to improve student scholastic achievement. One accountability program for the Arizona schools is the AZ LEARNS achievement program. AZ LEARNS holds all Arizona schools accountable for the performance of their students and teachers, measuring performance over several years versus a snapshot one-year measurement. The AZ LEARNS evaluation is based upon four established measurements already required by the Arizona schools. They are:

o AIMS Scores -- Measures reading, language arts and mathematics for elementary schools; and reading, writing and mathematics for high schools.

o MAP -- Measure of Academic Progress for schools, where students scores for AIMS and SATs are compared to the state average.

o Graduation/Dropout Rates -- Used for the high schools.

o AYP -- Adequate Yearly Progress measures student proficiency in the state's academic standards of reading and mathematics over time.

The AZ LEARNS program for the Arizona schools categorizes schools on a graded scale as either:

o Failing to meet academic standards,

o Underperforming,

o Performing,

o Highly Performing, or

o Excelling.

The Arizona schools for the 2004-2005 school year that were named Excelling are (listed by district/charter and school):

Arizona schools' Academy of Tucson, Inc. Academy of Tucson Middle School

Arizona schools' Alhambra Elementary District Alhambra Traditional School

Arizona schools' Allen-Cochran Enterprises, Inc. Center for Educational Excellence

Arizona schools' Amphitheater Unified District Canyon Del Oro High School

Richard B. Wilson Jr. School

Winifred Harelson Elementary School

Arizona schools' Arizona School for the Arts Arizona School for the Arts -- both

elementary & high school

Arizona schools' BASIS School, Inc. BASIS Tucson -- both elementary &

high school

Arizona schools' Basis School, Inc. -- Scottsdale Basis Scottsdale

Arizona schools' Benchmark School, Inc. Benchmark School

Arizona schools' Benjamin Franklin Charter School Benjamin Franklin Charter School in

both Gilbert and Mesa

Arizona schools' Bright Beginnings School, Inc. Bright Beginnings School #1

Arizona schools' CASY Country Day School CASY Country Day School #1

Arizona schools' Catalina Foothills Unified District Canyon View Elementary School

Catalina Foothills High School

Esperero Canyon Middle School

Manzanita School

Orange Grove Middle School

Sunrise Drive Elementary School

Ventana Vista Elementary School

Arizona schools' Cave Creek Unified District Cactus Shadows High School/PSH

Desert Arroyo Middle School

Desert Sun Elementary School

Arizona schools' Challenge School, Inc. Challenge Charter School

Arizona schools' Chandler Unified District Anna Marie Jacobson Elementary

School

Basha Elementary

Basha High School

Chandler High School

Chandler Traditional Academy --

Liberty Campus

Hamilton High School

Jane D. Hull Elementary

John M. Andersen Elementary School

Robert and Danell Tarwater

Elementary

Sanborn Elementary School

Santan K-8

Shumway Elementary School

Arizona schools' Crane Elementary District Ronald Reagan Fundamental School

Arizona schools' D.W. Higgins Institute D.W. Higgins Institute

Arizona schools' Daisy Education Corporation Sonoran Science Academy -- both elementary & high school

Arizona schools' Deer Valley Unified District Arrowhead Elementary School

Cooper Creek Elementary

Desert Sage Elementary School

Greenbrier Elementary School

Hillcrest Middle School

Legend Springs Elementary

Mountain Ridge High School

Sierra Verde Elementary

Arizona schools' East Valley Academy East Valley Academy

Arizona schools' Edu-Prize, Inc. Edu-Prize

Arizona schools' Flagstaff Junior Academy Flagstaff Junior Academy

Arizona schools' Flagstaff Unified District Charles W. Sechrist Elementary School

Flagstaff Middle School

Manuel DeMiguel Elementary School

Thomas M. Knoles Elementary School

Arizona schools' Foothills Academy Foothills Academy -- both elementary & high school

Arizona schools' Fort Huachuca Accommodation District Colonel Smith Middle School

Arizona schools' Fountain Hills Unified District McDowell Mountain Elementary School

Arizona schools' Franklin Phonetic Primary School, Inc. Franklin Phonetic Primary School

Arizona schools' Gilbert Unified District Ashland Elementary

Carol Rae Ranch Elementary

Desert Ridge High

Finley Farms Elementary

Gilbert High School

GPS Traditional Academy

Greenfield Junior High School

Highland High School

Highland Junior High School

Islands Elementary School

Patterson Elementary School

Playa del Rey Elementary School

Sonoma Ranch Elementary School

Spectrum Elementary

Technology and Leadership Academy

Towne Meadows Elementary School

Val Vista Lakes Elementary School

Arizona schools' Glendale Union High School District Sunnyslope High School

Arizona schools' Heritage Academy, Inc. Heritage Academy -- both elementary

& high school

Arizona schools' Hermosa Montessori Center Hermosa Montessori Charter

Arizona schools' Horizon Community Learning Center, Inc. Horizon Community Learning Center

Arizona schools' Humanities and Sciences Academy of the US, Inc. Humanities and Sciences High School

Arizona schools' Ideabanc, Inc. AmeriSchools College Preparatory

Academy -- Tucson

Arizona schools' James Madison Preparatory School James Madison Preparatory School --

both elementary & high school

Arizona schools' Joseph City Unified District Joseph City Junior/Senior High School

Arizona schools' Keystone Montessori Charter School, Inc. Keystone Montessori Charter School

Arizona schools' Khalsa Family Services Khalsa School

Arizona schools' Khalsa Montessori Elementary Schools Khalsa Montessori Elementary School

-- Phoenix

Arizona schools' Kyrene Elementary District C. I. Waggoner School

Kyrene Akimel A-Al Middle School

Kyrene Altadena Middle School

Kyrene Aprende Middle School

Kyrene Centennial Middle School

Kyrene de la Colina School

Kyrene de la Esperanza School

Kyrene de la Estrella Elementary

School

Kyrene de la Mariposa School

Kyrene de la Mirada School

Kyrene de la Paloma School

Kyrene de la Sierra School

Kyrene de las Brisas School

Kyrene de las Manitas School

Kyrene de los Cerritos School

Kyrene del Cielo School

Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School

Kyrene Middle School

Kyrene Monte Vista School

Arizona schools' Lifelong Learning Research Institute, Inc. Lifelong Learning Academy

Arizona schools' Litchfield Elementary District Litchfield Elementary School

Palm Valley Elementary

Arizona schools' Madison Elementary District Madison Heights School

Madison Meadows School

Madison Park School

Madison Richard Simis School

Arizona schools' Marana Unified District Coyote Trail Elementary School

Quail Run Elementary School

Arizona schools' Mary Ellen Halvorson Educational Foundation Tri-City Prep High School

Arizona schools' Mesa Unified District Barbara Bush Elementary School

Entz Elementary School

Falcon Hill Elementary School

Franklin Elementary School

Franklin Northeast School

Franklin South

Franklin West Elementary

George Smith

Hale Elementary School

Hermosa Vista Elementary School

Ishikawa Elementary School

Las Sendas Elementary School

Mountain View High School

Poston Junior High School

Red Mountain High School

Sunridge Learning Center

Arizona schools' Miami Unified District Las Lomas Elementary School

Arizona schools' Mission Montessori Academy Mission Montessori Academy

Arizona schools' Montessori Charter School of Flagstaff, Inc. Montessori Charter School of Flagstaff

-- Campus

Arizona schools' Montessori Schoolhouse of Tucson, Inc. Montessori Schoolhouse

Arizona schools' Nogales Unified District Vasquez De Coronado Francisco

School

Arizona schools' Northland Preparatory Academy Northland Preparatory Academy --

both elementary & high school

Arizona schools' Palominas Elementary District Coronado Elementary School

Arizona schools' Paradise Valley Unified District Boulder Creek Elementary School

Copper Canyon Elementary School

Desert Shadows Middle School

Desert Springs Elementary School

Desert Trails Elementary School

Grayhawk Elementary School

Horizon High School

Larkspur Elementary School

Liberty Elementary School

Mercury Mine Elementary School

Mountain Trail Middle School

North Ranch Elementary School

Pinnacle High School

Pinnacle Peak Elementary

Quail Run Elementary School

Sandpiper Elementary School

Sonoran Sky Elementary School

Sunrise Middle School

Arizona schools' Peoria Unified School District Apache Elementary School

Canyon Elementary School

Centennial High School

Copperwood School

Ironwood High School

Oakwood Elementary School

Paseo Verde Elementary School

Sunrise Mountain High School

Arizona schools' Prescott Unified District Abia Judd Elementary School

Pescott High School

Arizona schools' Queen Creek Unified District Jack Barnes Elementary School

Arizona schools' Scottsdale Unified District Anasazi Elementary

Arcadia High School

Aztec Elementary School

Chaparral High School

Cherokee Elementary School

Cheyenne Traditional Elementary

School

Cochise Elementary School

Cocopah Middle School

Copper Ridge Elementary School

Copper Ridge Middle School

Desert Canyon Elementary

Desert Canyon Middle School

Desert Mountain High School

Hopi Elementary School

Kiva Elementary School

Laguna Elementary School

Mountainside Middle School

Pima Elementary School

Saguaro High School

Sequoya Elementary School

Zuni Elementary School

Arizona schools' Sedona-Oak Creek Joint Unified District Big Park Community School

Arizona schools' Self Development Charter School Self Development Charter School

Arizona schools' Show Low Unified District Linden Elementary School

Arizona schools' Skyview School, Inc. Skyview School

Arizona schools' Sonoita Elementary District Elgin Elementary School

Arizona schools' Tanque Verde Unified District Agua Caliente School

Emily Gray Junior High School

Tanque Verde Elementary School

Arizona schools' Tempe Elementary District Rover Elementary School

Arizona schools' Tempe Preparatory Academy Tempe Preparatory Academy -- both

elementary & high school

Arizona schools' Tempe Union High School District Corona Del Sol High School

Desert Vista High School

Mountain Pointe High School

Arizona schools' Tucson Unified District Fruchthendler Elementary School

Gale Elementary School

Ida Flood Dodge Traditional Middle

Magnet School

Miles-Exploratory Learning Center

Sabino High School

Sahuaro High School

University High School

Arizona schools' Vail Unified District Cottonwood Elementary School

Desert Sky Middle School

Desert Willow Elementary School

Mesquite Elementary School

Arizona schools' Valley Academy, Inc. Valley Academy

Arizona schools' Veritas Preparatory Academy Veritas Preparatory Academy -- both

elementary & high school

Arizona schools' Washington Elementary District Abraham Lincoln Traditional School

Lookout Mountain School

Arizona schools' West Gilbert Charter Elementary School, Inc. West Gilbert Charter Elementary

School

Arizona schools' Young Elementary District Young Teaching High School

In addition to the Excelling schools, Arizona schools named 255 schools across the state as Highly Performing schools.

This information on Arizona schools is brought to you by www.schoolsk-12.com.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12 providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more on Arizona schools visit Arizona Schools

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