In its six years of establishment, Perry has grown immensely, in both size and academic prestige. Recently, two events have further improved the reputation of the school: the results of test scores and the reception of a statewide honor.
In late February, sophomores took the first two sections of the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS). On the reading and writing portions, the percentages of PHS students who met or exceeded standards were 97 and 93, respectively. For the first time, Perry’s scores have surpassed those of the other Chandler Unified School District high schools.
The scores will give the school good publicity, which may attract academically superior students in following years.
Another recent achievement for Perry is the A+ award from Arizona Education Foundation (AEF).
Throughout the beginning of the year, faculty completed a demanding, 20-page application, which was submitted to AEF. There were seven categories to the application; AEF representatives visited Perry to compare the reality of PHS events and the written accounts.
Principal Dan Serrano said, “Their plan was to check and see if what was in our application is what we really do,”
The A+ award is only valid for three and a half years, meaning PHS will apply again in 2017.
“When you re-apply, the process isn’t nearly as rigorous as the first time,” Serrano said.
This school year, five Chandler schools applied for the A+ award and all five received it and joined the many in the district that were recipients in preceding years.
“It’s an expectation in this district to apply and become an A+ school,” Serrano said.
