An optimistic view
On April 3, Superintendent Todd Jaegar of the Amphitheater United School District provided a comprehensive update to the Oro Valley Town Council, highlighting key developments and initiatives within the district.Jaegar thanks Oro Valley for its contribution to the School District Expressing gratitude for Oro Valley's invaluable support, Jaegar underscored the impact of the town's $100,000 contribution, which has facilitated notable enhancements across various educational facilities. These improvements include the establishment of a preschool playground at Ironwood High School, the expansion of preschool play areas at CDO, and the creation of a cutting-edge "STEAM" room at CDO, fostering hands-on, interdisciplinary learning in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
Additionally, Jaegar lauded Oro Valley's pioneering Resource Officer Program, emphasizing the crucial role it plays in fostering a safe and secure learning environment. “We have here in the town in terms of the level of SRO support and also the relationship that we have with the SRO program and the police department itself here in Oro Valley. We've been in the situation where just a couple of years ago where the only jurisdiction that was supporting its community through the presence of SROs in the community schools was Oro Valley.”
Jaegar’s opened his discussion with council saying that: “Our school district as a whole outperforms its peer districts as well as the state average district in terms of our student performance measures.” He focused on the State Department of Education “grade” system where they “grade” each school on an overall basis. He stated that all of the schools within town limits are rated “A”. He was incorrect. Ironwood High Schools’ overall state determined grade is a “B”. It earned an “A” the prior year. (Source of information: https://azreportcards.azed.gov/schools).
…He fails to note lackluster student achievement results
…He fails to note lackluster student achievement results
Based on the same grading system, less than 60% of students attending Oro Valley’s Amphi Schools are academically proficient at their grade level. (See Chart) At IRHS, 47% of students at that school are academically proficient. The comparative statistic for CDO is 58% proficiency. Student academic proficiency at Basis Oro Valley is 85%. Basis Oro Valley is not part of the district
Yes. Students a both Oro Valley High Schools perform far better than Amphi High School’s 11% student proficiency score. So Oro Valley’s high schools bring up the school district average dramatically!
There are better performing public high schools in the region. For example, Catalina Foothills High School students test at 78% student proficiency level. Three are also worse performing schools like Marana (40%) and Sahuarita (46%). Hopefully, those are not the standards to which Jaegar refers when he says Amphi District outperforms peers.
Oro Valley’s middle and elementary schools show similar lackluster student academic results. Middle and elementary students going in schools in the Catalina Foothills School District achieve higher academic results (Manzanita Elementary: 72%; Orange Grove and Esparero Middle Schools: 66%).
Want to do your own comparisons? Click here
The Amphi “Portrait of a Graduate”
Yes. Students a both Oro Valley High Schools perform far better than Amphi High School’s 11% student proficiency score. So Oro Valley’s high schools bring up the school district average dramatically!
There are better performing public high schools in the region. For example, Catalina Foothills High School students test at 78% student proficiency level. Three are also worse performing schools like Marana (40%) and Sahuarita (46%). Hopefully, those are not the standards to which Jaegar refers when he says Amphi District outperforms peers.
Oro Valley’s middle and elementary schools show similar lackluster student academic results. Middle and elementary students going in schools in the Catalina Foothills School District achieve higher academic results (Manzanita Elementary: 72%; Orange Grove and Esparero Middle Schools: 66%).
Want to do your own comparisons? Click here
Jaegar outlined the district's steadfast commitment to nurturing well-rounded graduates equipped with essential skills for success in an ever-evolving world. The District developed the Portrait of a Graduate (panel left) in concert with business leaders, parents, and students. The concept identifies the need that graduates have "soft skills" such as critical thinking, the ability to collaborate, creativity, communication skills , a desire for community involvement, and problem-solving skills. The goal is to ensure that every graduate leaves with a well-rounded education that prepares them to be productive citizens capable of tackling real-world challenges.
Staffing and funding: A forever complaint
Staffing and funding: A forever complaint
Jaegar concluded his council briefing by addressing ongoing concerns regarding insufficient funding for teacher salaries and essential capital purchases, as well as the challenges encountered in teacher recruitment: “Most certainly one of the areas that we have to grapple with here in Arizona is the difficulties we have as a State in recruiting staff to our state whether that's school bus drivers or competent and qualified highly certificated teachers. It is very hard for school districts to compete number one with districts in other states, but even for staff that might be also hired by the private sector.”
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