When a high school receives recognition for its achievements, it establishes itself as a prominent high school. PHS has been chosen by the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) for a chance to establish its status as an “A+ school”. With campus visits by a panel from the AEF last week, PHS is crossing its fingers in hopes of earning the distinguished title.
The definition of an A+ school means that a school’s students and faculty perform at a superior level when compared to other schools in the state. The AEF looks for schools with high student achievement, an exceptional faculty, and immense community involvement. According to the AEF, Perry appears to perform at a high level under each of these categories.
“Being an A+ school means that you are one of the top schools in Arizona,” Principal Dan Serrano stated. “We want it, because we think we are one of the best schools around.”
While PHS has not been established as an A+ school yet, administration is excited that the AEF is taking their time to come to Perry’s campus and evaluate the day-to-day practices that go on. According to English Department Chair Cindy Pino, one of the primary revisers of Perry’s application to the program, 35 schools applied to the A+ program last year, but only 21 schools got visits.
“The fact that we got a visit speaks to a good application. It means that we were able to tell [The AEF] things about our school that impressed them,” Pino stated.
To even be in evaluation for A+ recognition, a school must fill out an intense application that consists of many questions about class types, student populations, goals, and school history. Perry’s 32-page application was completed by 14 members of the school and then revised and finalized by Pino, sophomore Honors English teacher Catherine Copic, and senior AP English teacher Rhonda Duering, in a rigorous four-day ordeal.
The incentive to become an A+ school is beneficial for the school as well as the district. Every time a new student enrolls in PHS, the school gets a certain amount of money from the government. In an open enrollment district like the Chandler Unified School District, choice plays a huge role when parents want to send their kids to the most highly-ranked school. If PHS became an A+ school, it would keep the school on par with the other high schools in the district, all of whom are previous A+ award winners.
“In this day in age of choice where parents can send their child wherever, for us to say that we excel beyond a grade that the state gives us, that we are one of 20 schools in Arizona that is recognized as an A+ school,” Pino explained, “It speaks a lot about our school.”
AEF evaluators visited campus last Thursday and Friday. The arrival and evaluation was bound to spark mixed reactions, but Serrano believed that administration had nothing to worry about.
“I had a faculty meeting [and told everyone] to just do what you do,” Serrano assured. Perry should know in April if they qualified as an A+ school.
