Schools Cite Incorrect Data, Construction, School Threats In Letter Grade Appeals

By Evan Wyloge|AZCIR

Seventy-three schools are appealing the letter grades they’ve been given by state school officials, citing a variety of reasons that their grade should be improved.

For about two-thirds of those appealing, school officials say either that the Arizona Department of Education used incorrect data to calculate their letter grade or that the formula the Arizona State Board of Education used to grade schools is flawed.

Four schools say the teacher shortage in Arizona resulted in their poor letter grade.

Other appeals blame road construction, building construction, plumbing problems, air conditioning problems or an outbreak of the flu for their letter grade.

A small number of schools cited unusual conditions.

  • Flagstaff High School received threats of “Columbine-style” violence, resulting in a spike of absences while parents kept their kids at home.
  • Casa Grande Union High School explained that its principal was in China when data was provided to the Department of Education, and that the school’s staff did not include all the data.
  • George Gervin Prep Academy described several specific teachers at the school who caused problems for students and needed to be disciplined or removed from the classroom. One teacher, the school administrators said, was “immensely affected” by and became erratic following the election of Donald Trump as president. Another, they said, bullied and intimidated students.

The Board of Education said they plan to review the appeals and make decisions on them in coming months, but do not have a firm date for when that process will be completed.

Additionally, the Board of Education announced this month that it will revamp the formula used to calculate the grades and issue a new set of “final” grades later this year.

School District/Charter Grade assigned Grade requested Reason
Aguila Elementary School Aguila Elementary District D C Incorrect data used in formula
Aire Libre Elementary School Paradise Valley Unified District B A Challenge to how formula works
Alchesay High School Whiteriver Unified District F D School not aware of deadline
Antelope Union High School Antelope Union High School District D C Remote location, athletic events and fair preparation
Bagdad Middle / Senior High School Bagdad Unified District B/F “Unknown” Grade system is unconventional
Bales Elementary School Buckeye Elementary District D “B or Above” Teacher shortage
Betty Fairfax High School Phoenix Union High School District D C Incorrect data used in formula
Blue Ridge Elementary School Blue Ridge Unified School District No. 32 D D Incorrect data used in formula
Buckeye Elementary School Buckeye Elementary District D Does not specify Teacher shortage
Buckeye Union High School Buckeye Union High School District D C Incorrect data used in formula
Canyon Del Oro High School Amphitheater Unified District C B Incorrect data used in formula
Casa Grande Union High School Casa Grande Union High School District D C Principal was in China / Staff sent incomplete data
Cesar Chavez High School Phoenix Union High School District D C Incorrect data used in formula
Children Reaching for the Sky Preparatory Charter D C Incorrect data used in formula (appeal filed after close of window)
Chinle High School Chinle Unified District D C Power outages (appeal filed after close of window)
Cloves C Campbell Sr Elementary School Roosevelt Elementary District C B Flooding due to storm
Copper Ridge School Scottsdale Unified District B A 6th-grade teacher took medical leave
Copper Trails Avondale Elementary District B A Absences caused by “flu/illness”
Cordova Elementary School Alhambra Elementary District C B Flooding due to storm
Country Gardens Charter School Charter D C Road closures, school construction, “Air Conditioning Debacle”
Desert Horizon Elementary School Pendergast Elementary District D C Student death
Eliseo C. Felix School Avondale Elementary District D C Absences, changed from K-8 to 2-5 school
Fine Arts Academy Littleton Elementary District F Does not specify Construction
Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy Charter C A Incorrect data used in formula
Flagstaff High School Flagstaff Unified District C A Shootin threat caused spike in absences during testing period
Flagstaff Junior Academy Charter C B Incorrect data used in formula
Fountain Hills High School Fountain Hills Unified District C B Challenge to how formula works
George Gervin Prep Academy Charter F No Grade Multiple severe staffing issues
Great Hearts Academies – Trivium Prep Charter C A Incorrect data used in formula or Challenge to formula
Helen Keeling Elementary School Amphitheater Unified District D C Construction / Roof repair / Sick teacher
Horizon High School Paradise Valley Unified District B A Challenge to how formula works
Imagine Prep Coolidge Charter F/C Does not specify Challenge to how formula works
Indian Bend Elementary School Paradise Valley Unified District C B Challenge to how formula works
Indian Oasis Primary Elementary School Baboquivari Unified School District #40 NR B Overcrowding / Students moved among schools in school system
Keystone Montessori Charter School Charter B Does not specify Challenge to how formula works
Kyrene Akimel A-Al Middle School Kyrene Elementary District C B Challenge to how formula works
Kyrene Altadena Middle School Kyrene Elementary District B A Challenge to how formula works
Kyrene de la Estrella Elementary School Kyrene Elementary District B A Challenge to how formula works
Kyrene de la Mariposa School Kyrene Elementary District B A Challenge to how formula works
L M Prince School Amphitheater Unified District F D Flooding due to plumbing problems / Teacher left mid-year
Leading Edge Academy at East Mesa Charter B A Challenge to how formula works
Littleton Elementary School Littleton Elementary District D C Problems with/changes in leadership and staff
Madison #1 Elementary School Madison Elementary District C A Challenge to how formula works
Madison Highland Prep Charter B A Challenge to how formula works
Madison Traditional Academy Madison Elementary District B A Incorrect data used in formula
Mary C O’Brien Elementary School Mary C O’Brien Accommodation District B A Challenge to how formula works
Metro Tech High School Phoenix Union High School District C B Incorrect data used in formula
Michael Anderson Avondale Elementary District C B Absences caused by “flu/illness”
Mingus Union High School Mingus Union High School District C B Changes in administration
Montessori Academy Charter C B Technical/IT problems during testing
Mountain Trail Middle School Paradise Valley Unified District C B Challenge to how formula works
New School for the Arts Charter F Does not specify Incorrect data used in formula
New School for the Arts Middle School Charter F C Incorrect data used in formula or Challenge to formula
North Ranch Elementary School Paradise Valley Unified District B A Challenge to how formula works
Paragon Science Academy Charter C A Incorrect data used in formula
Paramount Academy Charter D C 4th grade teacher left, students were emotionally distressed
Pinnacle High School Paradise Valley Unified District B A Challenge to how formula works
Prescott High School Prescott Unified District C B Incorrect data used in formula
Queen Creek High School Queen Creek Unified District B A Incorrect data used in formula
San Simon School San Simon Unified District D Does not specify Challenge to how formula works
San Tan Foothills High School Florence Unified School District C B Incorrect data used in formula
Sequoia Secondary School Charter F Does not specify Incorrect data used in formula
Shea Middle School Paradise Valley Unified District D Does not specify Incorrect data used in formula
Sinagua Middle School Flagstaff Unified District D C Security, shooting, threats
Sonoran Science Academy – Tucson Charter B A Incorrect data used in formula
Stanfield Elementary School Stanfield Elementary District F D/C Teacher shortage
Steven R. Jasinski Elementary School Buckeye Elementary District D D Teacher shortage
Sundance Elementary Buckeye Elementary District C “B or above” Challenge to how formula works
Superior Junior/Senior High School Superior Unified School District D C Incorrect data used in formula
Topock Elementary School Topock Elementary District D B Challenge to how formula works / Teacher left
Valley Union High School Valley Union High School District C B Challenge to how formula works
Vista Verde Middle School Paradise Valley Unified District D C Challenge to how formula works
Westview High School Tolleson Union High School District C B Challenge to how formula works
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