Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
U.S. News & World Report this spring revealed the 2020 Best High Schools, with a number of Goodyear and Avondale schools among those recognized.
This edition ranks more schools across America than ever before, evaluating more than 17,700 public high schools on how well they serve all of their students, regardless of economic or ethnic background.
“The Best High Schools rankings provide the most comprehensive, data-based information on nearly every public high school in the country,” U.S. News managing editor of education Anita Narayan stated in a news release. “Families can use this information to see how their local schools compare on graduation rates and state assessments, as well as academic performance by students who are traditionally underserved – those who are black, Hispanic or from low-income households.”
The methodology takes a holistic approach to evaluating schools, focusing on six factors: college readiness, reading and math proficiency, reading and math performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth and graduation rates. College readiness measures participation and performance on AP and IB exams.
Millennium High School, 14802 W. Wigwam Blvd., Goodyear, is ranked 76th within Arizona. Millennium is one of five high schools in the Agua Fria Union High School District.
Agua Fria High School, 530 E. Riley Road, Avondale, is ranked 86th within Arizona. Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center-Estrella, 3400 Dysart Road, Avondale, is ranked 105th within Arizona.
Desert Edge High School, 15778 W. Yuma Road, Goodyear, is ranked 108th within Arizona.
Estrella Foothills High School, 13033 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear, is ranked 118th within Arizona. Estrella Foothills is one of three high schools in the Buckeye Union High School District.
Great Hearts Trivium Prep, 2001 N. Bullard Ave., Goodyear, is ranked 129th within Arizona.
Canyon View High School, 6024 N. Perryville Road, Waddell, is the newest school in the Agua Fria district and was not present in the rankings. The school opened in 2018.
Steve Stockmar has been with the Independent Newsmedia team since 2017. An NAU alum and Peoria resident, Steve’s community journalism pursuits focus mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference. In his spare time Steve plays in a vintage baseball league using uniforms and rules from the 1860s, and also acts (badly) in community theater. In addition, he has an unhealthy obsession with baseball and the Chicago Cubs.