By Stacy Mantle
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The 2025 grades are in for nearly all of Arizona's public and charter schools.  The system, managed by the Arizona Department of Education and required under A.R.S. § 15-241, rates schools annually based on proficiency, growth, and readiness indicators. Supporters argue it promotes transparency for families, while critics contend it oversimplifies complex factors influencing school quality.

In late October, education commentator Tiffany Benson criticized Arizona’s A–F School Letter Grade system, saying it does not accurately reflect classroom performance or student opportunity.

“From the data on the class of 2025, college admissions officers and future employers can reasonably conclude that if the applicant is a graduate of Arizona schools, more likely than not, they cannot proficiently read, write, perform math, or understand science in comparison to their peers,” she wrote in her analysis.

The State Board of Education explicitly notes parents should consider additional factors such as class size, special programs and extracurricular opportunities when choosing a school.

Each district’s full report card, available at AZReportCards, includes data on student demographics, academic performance and program offerings.

What Arizona’s A–F letter grades measure

Under Arizona law, every public school and charter school receives an annual A–F letter grade based on multiple standardized indicators.

The accountability model, developed by the Arizona Department of Education and approved by the State Board of Education, evaluates proficiency in English language arts, mathematics and science; year-to-year academic growth; performance of English-language learners; readiness for the next educational or career step; and for high schools — their graduation rate. 

Schools may appeal their grade, placing them temporarily in “UR” (Under Review) status until final determination. But, in the meantime, the letter grades serve as a quick, statewide-consistent measure of quantitative performance factors.

Districts celebrate rising scores

Paradise Valley Unified School District reported strong results in the 2025 Arizona School Letter Grades, with 89% of its schools earning an A or B. Sixteen campuses, or 42%, scored above 90%, placing several grade-level achievement areas among the highest in the state — a reflection of the district’s focus on rigorous instruction, high-quality curriculum, and comprehensive student support.

"These results highlight the dedication of our teachers, staff, and leaders, and the hard work of our students and families,” said Jean Koeppen, assistant superintendent of curriculum. “PVSchools remains committed to ensuring every student thrives.”

Dysart Unified School District earned top honors again this year, with 100% of its 24 schools receiving A or B grades. “Great things are happening in Dysart,” said Superintendent Dr. John Croteau in his press release. “Our focus on effective teaching strategies, robust student support, and professional development continues to deliver results.” Dysart also reported that all four of its high schools earned an A rating and 15 schools ranked in the top 25% statewide.

Tolleson Union High School District also saw continued success, moving from one A school in 2018 to three this year. The district now holds an overall B grade, with its college-prep University High School recognized among the best in Arizona and the nation. 

Toward a more complete scorecard

Arizona’s A–F letter-grade system remains the state’s primary accountability tool, providing public data on academic proficiency, growth and readiness indicators.

Nationally, several states are expanding beyond single-letter metrics by adding dashboards that track student engagement, attendance and well-being throughout the year, according to the Education Commission of the States and the U.S. Department of Education.

Arizona education leaders have discussed similar approaches as part of ongoing accountability reviews by the State Board of Education. Districts such as Paradise Valley Unified (PVSchools) are also pairing data with qualitative feedback to inform school improvement plans — using surveys, community input and post-graduation tracking to understand how well students are prepared for future opportunities.

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.