Apache Junction Unified School District has two “B” rated and three “C” rated school grades in the 2021-22 state accountability labels released Nov. 2.

The system measures year to year student academic growth, proficiency on English language arts, math and science, the proficiency and academic growth of English language learners, indicators that an elementary student is ready for success in high school and that high school students are ready to succeed in a career or higher education and high school graduation rates, according to the website of the Arizona State Board of Education.

Peralta Trail Elementary School, 10965 E. Peralta Road in Gold Canyon, and Apache Junction High School, 2525 S. Ironwood Drive, both received a “B” letter grade for 2022. In 2018-19, the last time the scoring was done, Peralta Trail had a “B” rating and AJHS had a “C” rating.

AJUSD schools that received a “C” rating were:

• Four Peaks Elementary School, 1785 N. Idaho Road in Apache Junction, down from a “B” in the 2018-19 rating.
• Desert Vista Elementary School, 3701 E. Broadway Ave. in Apache Junction, the same as the “C” in the 2018-19 rating.
• Cactus Canyon Junior High School, 801 W. Southern Ave. in Apache Junction, up from the “D” in the 2018-19 rating.

House Bill 2402, passed in 2021, paused A-F letter grades for the 2020-21 school year. In lieu of issuing A-F letter grades, the legislature and the governor directed the board to identify below-average schools, issue a report and direct the Arizona Department of Education to release data, according to azsbe.az.gov/f-school-letter-grades.

Due to HB 2910, A-F letter grades issued for the 2019-20 school year were the same as those issued for the 2018-19 school year, it states at the website.