While the entire Deer Valley Unified School District is performing well above the state average on two tests, three students in particular stood out.

For the 2024-25 school year, district students performed at a rate 16% higher than the statewide average on the Arizona Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) English Language Arts Assessment, and 17% higher than the state average on the math assessment.

A total of 410 students across Deer Valley Unified earned the best possible score on their ELA math or science assessments. And throughout the district, there were 27 students who scored the highest possible scale score on two of these assessments, including ELA, math, and/or science in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

A trio of students notched the highest test scale scores and the highest medium percentage growth in their seventh grade year in two areas: English language arts, math, or science: Mila Abrams, from Highland Lakes School; Jason Jumawan, representing Sierra Verde STEAM Academy; and Laura Rachinski, of Stetson Hills School.

“To be honest I never expected to win this award but I’m incredibly grateful for it,” Mila said in a statement to the district. “I’m very touched and flattered through receiving it, but truthfully, I never would have won this award if I didn’t have four absolutely wonderful teachers to guide me through my middle school years.”

Jason clinched two perfect scores.

“To my surprise, I received my results and found two perfect scores before me. Never have I thought of myself in any measure good enough to achieve such a thing,” he told the district. “But now the proof is there. My own pessimism has been stripped of ammunition. Where there were doubts, only the proven has remained.”

Laura was absent the night the district governing board recognized each student, but district leadership and the community honored her achievement.