Four GPS schools earn 2026 A+ School of Excellence recognition

Four Gilbert Public Schools campuses have been named 2026 A+ Schools of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation, bringing the district’s total number of A+ schools to 19.

The newly recognized schools are Campo Verde High School, Gilbert Classical Academy, Highland Junior High School and Playa del Rey Elementary School.

The A+ School of Excellence program was created more than four decades ago as a way to identify Arizona public schools that could be recommended for the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Award. Each year, hundreds of schools apply for the designation, which recognizes campuses that demonstrate strong leadership, high‑quality instruction, community involvement and a student‑centered learning environment.

Judges evaluate schools on factors that include collaborative leadership, professional development, engaging and standards‑aligned instruction, parent and community partnerships, and programs that support students academically and socially.

“A+ designation isn’t something that simply happens,” said Brett Bonner, the Arizona Educational Foundation’s director of professional development and dean of the AEF Academy. “It’s the result of unrelenting dedication to excellence in all areas of education, innovation, and community involvement.”

The selection process begins each August with an online application. AEF staff and judges then determine which schools will advance to interviews and, ultimately, on‑site visits. Judges must be previous A+ School of Excellence recipients or have served in an A+ school.

The 2026 honorees will hold their designation through 2030. During that time, A+ principals will mentor participants in the Principal’s Leadership Academy of Arizona and support training and workshops through the AEF Academy.

Campo Verde High School Principal Tyler Dumas shared the news with his community, noting that visiting judges “consistently commented on the sense of community and the alignment between expectations, support, and opportunity for students.”

Gilbert Public Schools acknowledged the work of students, staff and families across the four schools in earning the recognition.