How did Sahuarita schools do in the state report card?

Every year, the state of Arizona gives letter grades to schools based on how well they are doing in different areas. These grades are like report cards for schools. They help parents, teachers and students know what is going well and what needs to improve.

This month, the state released the grades for the 2022-23 school year. Sahuarita Unified School District had some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that two schools got better grades than last year. Sopori School got a B instead of a C, and Sahuarita High School got an A instead of a B. That means they did better in things like test scores, student growth and graduation rates.

Three schools kept their A grades. They are Copper View, Wrightson Ridge and Anza Trail Schools. These schools showed that they are doing very well in teaching and learning.

The bad news is that three schools got lower grades than last year. Sahuarita Intermediate got a B instead of an A, and Sahuarita Middle School and Walden Grove High School got C’s instead of B’s. That means they did worse in some areas, like student growth, English language learners and graduation rates.

Sahuarita Digital Pathways Academy, the school that offers online classes, got a C in its first year of being graded.

What does the district think about these grades?

Brett Bonner is the assistant superintendent of SUSD. He said that the school letter grades are important, but they are not everything. They only show how students do on state tests, not how they feel or what they learn in other ways.

He said that the district looks at other things too, like how happy and safe the students, parents and staff are at school.

He also said that the district works with each school to make a plan for improvement. They look at the test results and see what areas need more attention or new strategies. They want to help every student grow and succeed.

He said that some schools are doing well and some schools need to change.

“We’re pleased with the letter grade in some categories and in others we need to pivot,” he said.