AZ School Rankings

As of 2011-2012 school year, department of education has changed the grading system for all Arizona schools. Personally I think the new grading system is much easier to understand. In the past schools were ranked Excelling, Highly Performing, and Performing plus, Performing and Under Performing, ok if you can remember the order and the names. I always felt as though it was a bit misleading. Except for Under- performing, an obvious failing title, the rest sound like a good school. “How are schools in this neighborhood?” “Oh they are Performing Plus!”  Does that sound like a school that just mediocre?

Needless to say I am an advocate for the new and improved, leading edge grading system.  Ready for this, A-F grading system, how did they come up with A-F, I mean it’s brilliant. I am sure you can sense the sarcasm; this is only fueled by years of my own confusion and having to carrying a chart with me so my clients could see the true ranking of area schools.

The A-F grades are based on two things; the percentage of students that passed the AIMS test and academic growth of student year after year.

Break down by letter grade:

“A” school – Excellent performance level – 90 percent of students passing AIMS

“B” school – Above average level – 70 percent of students passing AIMS

“C” school – Average level performance level – 50 percent of students passing AIMS

“D” school – Below average level performance level – less than 50 percent of students passing AIMS

“F” school – are schools that have three consecutive years as a “D” school

All schools, private and Charter are graded on this A-F scale. In 2011-2012 school year, there were 410 out 6189 schools to receive an A grade. Districts and Charters are also graded an on A-F scale, those with at least 140 out of 200 possible received an A grade.

LINKS:

2011-2012 A-F Letter Grades for All Schools by Type

District Rankings

Tags: AZ Schools