Laveen’s Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy has once again been included in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best” elementary and middle school rankings.
Vista del Sur received a “Best” ranking in both the elementary and middle school categories for 2024.
This recognition is based on the schools’ success in educating students from all socioeconomic backgrounds with the goal of preparing them for success in high school.
“Vista’s impressive rankings speak to the commitment of the schools’ leadership, teachers, and staff to provide each and every student a quality education,” said Dr. Jeff Sprout, Laveen Superintendent. “Our families must also be commended for the level of support they provide to their children as well as their support of the schools’ educational programs.”
The rankings are based on students’ performance on the 2021-2022 mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments and their results in the context of socioeconomic demographics, such as free or reduced-price lunch and underserved ethnicity groups.
U.S. News & World Report predicted math and reading achievement levels based on this data. The greater the actual results compared to the predicted results determined a school’s ranking.
Over 68,000 schools nationwide were evaluated by U.S. News. Vista del Sur was one of 1,100 K-8 schools across the nation to be included in both the best elementary and best middle school rankings.
In addition to being named a Best Elementary and Middle School, Vista was named one of the top ten middle schools in Arizona, being ranked as #8 among Arizona middle schools. The school was ranked #22 in Arizona Elementary Schools.
Vista del Sur is an accelerated school where all students work a grade level ahead in mathematics and English language arts. The school is a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and an Arizona Educational Foundation A+ School of Excellence. It also received the U.S. News Best Ranking in 2022. It has historically received an “A” label from the Arizona Department of Education each year.