This message is to keep our students, staff, families, and Community informed about the status of the Salt River High School letter grade.The preliminary A-F school letter grades were released October 31 by the Arizona Department of Education.
SRHS received a preliminary letter grade of F. Click here to view the SRHS report card, which includes the factors used to determine the SRHS letter grade.
The scores released by ADE are preliminary, because the state provides a two-week appeal window through November 15. During this time, Salt River Schools will review the state’s data to ensure its accuracy.
As we have shared widely throughout the past year, SRHS is at-risk of possible closure due to this letter grade; if that happens, the closure would occur after June 30, 2020. However, please know that we're reviewing all possible avenues to keep SRHS open next school year and beyond. The appeal process is the first step toward that goal.
We need your continued help and support to achieve this goal by making sure your student(s) is at school every day ready to learn and grow. Our staff is committed to working through this process with you—our partners—to make positive changes for our students at SRHS and across Salt River Schools.
Assessment data, results, and letter grades can be difficult to understand. Below is more information and resource links to help clarify the various letter grade elements.
We will update you when we have new information to share. If you have questions, please contact me or SRHS Principal Emily Niu.
Sincerely,
Dr. Cynthia Clary
Acting Superintendent
Salt River Schools
480-362-2500
Click here to view a PDF copy of the Superintendent's letter to stakeholders.
WHAT IS A SCHOOL LETTER GRADE?
Letter grades, or school report cards, are part of an accountability system that measures year-to-year student academic growth and proficiency on English language arts, math, and science. It also includes the proficiency and academic growth of English language learners, indicators that an elementary student is ready for success in high school and that high school students are ready to succeed in a career or higher education, and high school graduation rates. Click here to earn more about school letter grades.
Additionally, the Arizona Department of Education recently released the percent passing results for schools who took the AzMERIT and other assessments (such as the AIMS Science, ACT, and SAT, among others) during the 2018-2019 school year. This is called the Assessment File, and more information about this data can be found here. In past years, these results were released much earlier in the school year, and a recent article in the Arizona Republic about these percent passing results may confuse some readers who mistake them for school letter grades. To be clear: Percent passing results are not the same thing as A-F school letter grades.
Arizona’s A-F letter grades are just one measure of how a school is doing. The letter grades are largely based on how students do on the AzMERIT assessment (if they are proficient and growing) and if students are graduating from high school or taking steps to prepare for career or college, among other things.
Click here to view SRHS student achievement data, which was presented to SRHS stakeholders August 2019.
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WHAT WAS THE SRHS LETTER GRADE LAST YEAR & WHY IS SRHS AT RISK OF CLOSURE?
Click here to view last year's letter grades and learn why SRHS is at risk of closure
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HOW IS SRHS TRYING TO IMPROVE?
Among the many positive changes occurring at SRHS, the school implemented a 90-day action plan in mid-August to improve three priority areas: climate and culture, curriculum, and instruction. This plan was announced and reviewed by the SRHS Site Council and the SRHS Parent/Teacher Advisory Committee. The action plan is available to review online here.