Friday, November 1, 2019
Dear Mountain View Family,
The Arizona State Board of Education has released a Letter Grade Score (A-F) for every school in the state. Arizona is required by federal law to measure school performance and is required by state law to do so through an A-F letter grade system.
I am pleased to announce that Mountain View High School has again received a letter grade of "B"! This letter grade represents a highly performing level of performance. As the principal of this incredible school, I am proud of this grade and of the talented and dedicated teachers and staff who work tirelessly for our students and school. While our focus on student achievement is above performance standards, there is always more work to be done.
The A-F Accountability System assesses only Quantitative Data - student performance on the April 2019 state standardized tests in grade levels 3-12, annual growth in key areas, as well as student readiness and language proficiency assessment scores. For high schools, factors such as dropout and graduation rates and college and career readiness indicators are taken into consideration. The system does not assess Qualitative Data such as quality and type of programs offered, awards, emotional and social growth, extra-curricular activities, or any of the other exceptional student opportunities that contribute to a safe and successful learning environment, and the growth of our students.
We recognize that a letter grade is only one variable and not reflective of everything happening in our great school.
This year we have implemented our new grading philosophy. As such, we have improved our Base Camp, added an additional day of Summit each week, added our No Opt-Out program and continue to work with our teachers and students on student engagement. These additional levels of support will positively affect our students in every aspect of their education. Our core content areas offer tutoring before school and after school as well. We also continue to work with our Advanced Placement students through Mountain View University and we ensure progress for our special needs students through Mountain View Unites. We are proud to have strategically reduced class sizes in the core content areas of math and English by increasing staffing for the current school year.
Mountain View implemented changes in how we conducted our AzMERIT testing last year. We had our students take their assessment with their English and Math teachers. As relationships had been built throughout the school year, our students were more comfortable in their assessment environment and we recognized that this assisted in our increased AZ Merit scores.
Mountain View teachers embrace higher accountability and data-driven instruction as a means to improve academic achievement. Mountain View counselors have been working tirelessly with our at-promise students in an attempt to keep them on-track for graduation.
You, as a parent, are an essential piece of the educational process as we continue our focus on student achievement and preparing all students to be college and career ready. We attribute our success this year to your continued dedication to your student's education.
Thank you for your continued support. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Todd Garelick
Principal, Mountain View High School
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Mountain View High School | 3901 W. Linda Vista Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85742 | 520-579-4400
