A+ School of Excellence Archive

"The A+ Site Visit Team is honored to recognize Apollo High School as an A+ School of Excellence, a distinction that reflects a deep commitment to students, families, and community.

From the moment we stepped onto campus, it was clear that relationships are the foundation of everything at Apollo. The school is deeply rooted in its community—many students are multigenerational, and a remarkable number of alumni return to serve as staff. This speaks volumes about the trust, loyalty, and pride that define the Apollo experience.

We consistently heard from students, staff, and families that “security is everyone’s responsibility.” At Apollo, safety does not come from procedures alone; it comes from the relationships people build with one another. This shared ownership is evident across campus—students trust their teachers, teachers trust their leaders, and families trust the school. The result is a culture where people feel seen, valued, and protected.

Apollo High School is also a model of inclusive decision-making. Every stakeholder group—students, parents, staff, and families—has a voice in shaping the school’s direction. The high level of parent engagement was particularly compelling. During our visit, we met a diverse group of parents who were eager to participate in the A+ process and proud to represent their school community.

A significant part of Apollo’s success stems from its intentional approach to campus culture. The freshman experience is carefully designed so that students start their high-school journey with clarity, support, and a strong sense of belonging. This intentionality is then reinforced throughout all four years.

Leadership at Apollo is a true strength. Principal White is a visible, humble, and highly respected leader who “walks the walk.” His history on campus in multiple roles has earned him the confidence of both veteran staff and students. Staff view their leadership team as educators first, which creates a collaborative, team-centered environment where everyone is focused on student success.

New teachers are supported through a comprehensive induction program that ensures consistency, shared expectations, and a strong sense of professional community. Students benefit from this alignment, experiencing a campus where adults are unified in their purpose.

Finally, Apollo thrives because students are involved and invested. With a high participation rate in extracurricular activities, students feel connected, responsible, and beholden to their peers and teammates. This strong sense of belonging contributes significantly to their academic and personal success.

For all of these reasons—its deep community roots, shared ownership of culture and safety, exceptional leadership, commitment to inclusivity, and unwavering focus on relationships—Apollo High School truly exemplifies what it means to be an A+ School of Excellence."

Kiva Elementary is a wonderful educational institution. The community and culture they have built is one of the strongest we have ever seen. This school is high achieving in their academic scores while also allowing student voice and choice in their learning. They prioritize the safety and well being of every child and the professional soul of the teacher supporting the autonomy of their highly qualified educators. Kiva has created an environment where high-level academic success feels like a natural byproduct of a joyful life. Parents feel that Kiva Elementary is home to all of its stakeholders; they come to school early and stay late so that they can talk with other parents, staff and administration. There are many opportunities for students to participate in clubs and other afterschool activities and cannot wait to return from school breaks so they can see teachers and staff. Kiva is a special place that embodies the love of learning for all students.

At the conclusion of our visit, it was abundantly clear that the standard of excellence is deeply embedded in the culture at Youngker High School. From
students and staff to custodians and community members, everyone works diligently to ensure that the 'Youngker Way' is reflected in their behavior, attitude, and practices.

In partnership with their community, all stakeholders collaborate as a unified team to support the academic, physical, and emotional well-being of their
students. The dedication of the staff is unwavering, as they consistently go above and beyond to provide students with the resources they need. This commitment is evident not only in the programs implemented across the campus but also in the overall passion for serving the students. Youngker High School is a place where every student has someone they can connect with.

The students at Youngker High School are dedicated, kind, and respectful. They are passionate about the programs they are a part of and are driven towards success.

It is with great enthusiasm that we recommend Youngker High School for the Arizona Education Foundation's designation as an A+ School.

Nautilus Elementary School deserves an A+ for its commitment to creating a welcoming, positive and supportive environment for all students and staff. The school prioritizes data-driven decision-making, ensuring continuous improvement and transparency with all stakeholders. With consistent systems in place, including attendance, mission and vision, community engagement and clarity with goals, Nautilus fosters stability, academic excellence and a growth-mindset culture where individual needs are met and all students can thrive. The school has an inclusive feel and every stakeholder goes above and beyond for the students and school as a whole. The school motto is Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes. Nautilus Elementary embodies this motto and it is evident to any person who steps foot on their campus. Their passion and dedication to their community is a powerful driving force that allows them to consistently strive for excellence and achieve remarkable results.

"The A+ team recommends Paradise Honors High School receive the A+ School of Excellence designation.

The culture of Paradise Honors High School is strong and student-centered. The staff of Paradise Honors High School are extremely committed to providing a wide range of academic offerings to their students and an environment that makes the well-being of their students a top priority."

"Quartz Hill Elementary should be awarded the AEF A+ designation for several compelling reasons, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and a positive school culture.

The school provides a welcoming environment for all students, regardless of their background. By implementing inclusive teaching practices and offering additional resources for students with diverse needs, Quartz Hill ensures every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Awarding Quartz Hill Elementary the AEF A+ designation would acknowledge the school’s dedication to academic excellence, innovation, and the overall success of its students."

The vision statement of the small-town and family-oriented Rim Country Middle School in the Payson Unified School District is “We are committed to excellence by cultivating the unique skills and abilities of all learners to reach their greatest potential.” The Rim Country learning community’s strong belief in this vision is evident through their shared “students first” perspective; inclusive and supportive environment and programs; collaboration and communication; active community involvement; and willingness to embrace growth and change.

Robert M. Bracker Elementary is a gem of a school in Nogales Arizona. A K-5 school, students showed pride and love for their school, teachers, staff, and principal. During the staff meeting, they reiterated repeatedly that they are so successful because they care about their students and have a strong bond and connection. They also relentlessly pursue data, using enrich and reteach strategies to help students reach their goals. The parents insisted that they were constantly made a part of the school, and indeed parent volunteers were everywhere, working with students, building floats, preparing for the upcoming choir concert, and helping teachers. Much of this hard work is fostered by the Parent Engagement Coordinator. However, the students said it best. They admitted it was an A+ school because the teachers and administration always help them to do their best and work hard, and they love it! Situated on a beautiful campus that looked more like a resort with a homemade stained glass window in the media center, Bracker could not have been more welcoming. Led by Joshua Payne the principal, teachers, and staff agreed it was "night and day" with his efforts to be there when needed. He knows every name, students, parents, and even grandparents. He is open to listening, supportive, and above all, cares! Braker is totally deserving of the A+ School of Excellence Designation.

Sonoran Science Academy -East truly believes every child can learn and achieve. Students in class were engaged in academics, group projects, and interactive lessons. The entire staff felt they were a family, and individuals could be themselves. Support staff especially felt as though they had a voice. Rich in administrative leadership (a Principal, Dean of Students, and a Dean of Academics, the school has a vision for what they want to implement next, especially in STEM. One paraprofessional pointed out that they didn't just have rigor, but they truly identified students' needs and met them where they were in order to close gaps and build academic achievement. Adults are invested in student success through "reteach and enrich", and the data demonstrates that. Students are happy, feel supported, and also voiced that there was little or no bullying. The students were incredibly polite: greeting judges in the hallways, asking if we needed directions or help, and coming up in classes or recess and introducing themselves or chatting. This occurred over and over again. The judges all voiced that they had never felt more welcome by a student body.

In an A+ visit, the judges are tasked with verifying that what is represented on a school’s application is observable and evidenced in person. Starline’s A+ application was written by 9 primary authors and 14 contributing authors including leadership, instructional staff, classified staff, and community members. As we came to learn during our time at Starline, this team approach with community partnership permeates every aspect of the school culture. The application boldly spoke of the Starline school community in absolutes such as “we are all advocates for our children and want the same goals,” “every person who comes into our building are all learners and teachers,” “every student and adult is a leader,” “training is available to all stakeholders,” “every child is treated with the same dignity and intentional support as if they were our own,” “protocols allow all voices of stakeholders and staff to be heard,” “all students and staff feel valued.” “we are all committed to learning, sharing, and using PBIS,” “every staff member impacts students,” “all students are taught to be responsible, “all goals are based on student growth data,” “all our kids are all our kids,” “every decision focuses on student impact,” “each student’s potential becomes a reality,” “all staff go above and beyond for students every day,” and “our specialty is being all in for all kids.” “All” can be found 175 times when searched in their application, “each” can be found 168 times, and “every” can be found 67 times. This means that if there was any evidence of a single child, staff member, family member, or community member for which these absolute statements did not apply, their application could not be verified, and they would not be awarded the A+ designation. For Starline, this was not the case. Their alignment, commitment, love, and pride for their school is a testament of absolutes and was evidenced in each, every, and all among their school community. They are a shining star in Lake Havasu, and in the State of Arizona as an exemplar in educational programing, school culture and climate, and a safe and secure place for students to grow, learn, and thrive. Congratulations on this very much well-deserved achievement. You are the definition of an A+ School of Excellence.