A+ School of Excellence Archive

Towne Meadows Elementary can be described in five words: Positive, Collaborative, Student-driven, Transparency, and Love. Yes, love, the administration and staff hold firm to their promise to love their students. Their common language is one of support, not help. Feedback is constructive and designed to move learners forward. Rubrics are a part of the culture and students understand them! Students know what they are learning and why. Towne Meadows Elementary is without a doubt an A+ school.

"Val Vista Lakes Elementary School in the Gilbert Public School District has been awarded the A+ School of Excellence!

The mission of Val Vista Lakes Elementary is to ensure every student is challenged academically, and develops good character with the support of a nurturing community. All members of the Viking Family strive to meet this mission. Under the leadership of Mr. Miller, Val Vista Lakes Elementary has created a school where staff, families and children want to be.

Teachers deliver quality lessons based on high yield instructional strategies they have studied, practiced, and put into action. Classroom environments model responsibility, respect, and safety. Students report that there is always a teacher to help them.

Teachers cannot do the work of educating children alone. Val Vista Lakes teachers have a village of support staff and families dedicated to making the school a pillar of the community. The dedicated work from the principal, paraprofessional staff, office staff, a social worker, maintenance staff, and many others, keep the wheels in motion each day. Tight and trusting bonds are formed with families through open door communication policies, traditions such as Dad’s Club, and kind gestures such as all teachers knowing the names of all students.

Students at Val Vista Lakes Elementary are bright, engaged, polite, kind, and charismatic.

Congratulations to the Val Vista Lakes Elementary Viking Family on being recognized for your educational excellence!"

Sonoma Ranch Elementary was a unanimous recommendation for the A+ designation from all members of our judges team. Not only did we witness A+ characteristics in person that matched what we read in the application, we witnessed and learned about other components of what is truly an exceptional school. Words such as family, connected, inclusive, loving, and supportive came up time and time again during meetings and conversations. The Sonoma Ranch community has an genuine authenticity that comes out time and time again. The passion of the all school stakeholders is evident, and we were honored to spend two days visiting. Congratulations and great job, Mustangs!

1. Sonoma Ranch is a clean, beautiful, and safe school
2. The SPICE program gives Sonoma Ranch an authentic, inclusive environment. Kindness and care are clearly in place and all students and staff benefit from this inclusivity.
3. Sonoma Ranch has a variety of community partnerships, opportunities for family engagement, and extracurricular opportunities. Sonoma Ranch is well rounded and all stakeholders have opportunities to participate and contribute.
4. Sonoma Ranch clearly embraces the ""we"" and ""our"" of education, it's a team effort. Pronouns matter and it's evident that the Sonoma Ranch community is working together as a team to provide outstanding experiences for all students.

Augusta Ranch shines as an A+ School of Excellence, radiating a sense of community, dedication, and innovation that sets it apart. From the moment you step on campus, it’s clear this is a school where students, staff, and families work together to create a welcoming and inspiring environment. While no school is without its challenges, Augusta Ranch embraces opportunities for growth through reflection, collaboration, and well-established systems for continuous improvement. The campus thrives on a commitment to high expectations, consistent practices, and meaningful relationships, making it a place where students feel empowered to learn, grow, and succeed. During our visit, you could see the pride and sense of family in all aspects of the campus community. The impact of their efforts is evident in their improved academic performance and their enhanced culture. As fellow educators, the panel felt like we would be willing to have our own children enrolled at Augusta Ranch or many of the staff employed on our own campuses. To us that is the highest compliment we can give.

As an A+ Judging team we found Cortez High School certainly embodied, displayed and showcased what was written in their A+ Application. The school embraced their diversity and have established a school culture that's accepting and inclusive for all students. Students were engaged in their classes, have excelled academically as the school received it's first A rating and take pride in their school. The faculty and staff are a family committed to provide the best high school experience for their students while owning the vision and mission of the school and delivering on their purpose in support of the administration team. Cortez High School is truly an A+ School of Excellence!