Silver Valley in Queen Creek named school of excellence

Silver Valley Elementary in the Queen Creek Unified School District has been named an A+ School of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation.

Being named an A+ School of Excellence represents years of work and reflection across the Silver Valley community.

“This recognition is not the result of one individual’s efforts, but rather the collective dedication of a united team that shows up every day focused on growth, collaboration and doing what is best for students,” a district press release stated. “It reflects a school culture grounded in honest conversations, continuous improvement and shared responsibility.

At Silver Valley, clear goals are set and supported. By establishing measurable targets, such as increasing math proficiency by 5% and English language arts by 2%, and building structures to support those goals, continuous improvement has become part of the school’s identity.

A key part of Silver Valley’s success is its Lighthouse Leader in Me culture. Students, teachers and teams lead with ownership and accountability, visible in classrooms, hallways and conversations throughout the campus.

Protecting instructional time and emphasizing academic vocabulary and deep understanding have also been critical. Lessons focus on understanding the “why,” not just the “how.”

“Teachers consistently use checks for understanding, asking students to explain their thinking, compare strategies and learn from mistakes — strengthening reasoning and confidence across grade levels,” the release continues.

The school also focuses on organizational health.

“When data revealed areas for growth, leadership clarified decision-making structures, strengthened leadership capacity and fostered greater autonomy and interdependence among staff,” the release stated. “Strong systems, in turn, support strong instruction.”