The International Center for Leadership in Education named El Mirage Elementary School a 2023 Model School for its focus on relationships and rigorous and relevant academics to impact students.

El Mirage Elementary Principal Stephanie Davis and a team of the school’s teacher leaders will share strategies from their journey at the 31st annual Model Schools Conference, June 25-28 in Orlando, Florida.

The International Center for Leadership in Education’s mission is to celebrate, inspire and support K-12 educators, and the award demonstrates that the team at El Mirage Elementary School recognizes opportunities for growth, fosters a strong culture, and holds high expectations for all students.

“Model Schools are passionate about kids — and their educators are persistent about creating effective learning environments to benefit the students and communities they serve,” said Dr. Linda Lucey, Program Chair and ICLE Associate Partner. “Each of the 2023 Model Schools is proud to share its story of perseverance and strategies others can take away and make their own.”

El Mirage Elementary School is one of 30 Model Schools from across the U.S. that will share best practices at ICLE’s conference. The event provides the inspiration thousands of passionate.

El Mirage Elementary School is a Title I school that serves nearly 800 preschool through fourth-grade students, of which nearly 80% qualify for free and reduced lunch.

Previously, the school was not achieving at a high level, but this school year they were named an A+ School of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation, and an A-rated school according to Arizona state rankings.

Principal Stephanie Davis attributes the school’s improved academic performance to three strategies: changing school culture with a system of schoolwide expectations, using a research-based curriculum with fidelity and using data effectively to focus on growth.

“The staff, students, and community worked diligently to support the growth of our school,” Davis said. “We all focused on our common goal of increasing student achievement. I am proud of what they accomplished to ensure our vision was achieved. El Mirage Elementary strives for excellence every day.”