Updated 2018 A-F Results Show More A-rated, Fewer B-rated Public Charter Schools
Arizona issued its initial 2018 “A-F” letter grades for public schools – district and charter- in October 2018. However, those results weren’t final due to a schools’ ability to appeal their letter grade. The State Board of Education finalized the 2018 A-F grades in December 2018, when they concluded their appeals process. Ultimately, the State Board of Education made changes to letter grades for 25 schools across the state.
The impact on the overall 2018 A-F results is a 1 percentage point increase in the A-ratings for public charter schools; a 1 percentage point decrease in the D-ratings for district schools; and a 1 percentage point decrease in the F-ratings for public charter schools.
The State Board of Education allows for schools to appeal their initial letter grade based on a variety of reasons, including data errors that would change the overall rating. The State Board of Education received a total of 79 appeals and made determinations for all but five schools during their December meeting. Three schools’ appeals were tabled and two schools withdrew their appeals from consideration.
• 49 percent of the appeals (39 schools) were dismissed because the schools’ appeals weren’t within the scope of the appeals process. A dismissed appeal results in the maintaining of the school’s original letter grade.
• 32 percent of the appeals (25 schools) were approved; the majority of approvals result in an improved letter grade, but in some cases it results in the school receiving a “Not Rated” designation.
• 13 percent of the appeals (10 schools) were denied; resulting in the maintaining of the school’s original letter grade.
The updated statewide summary is provided in the table below
