HUSD News Stories

Cooley Middle School in the Higley Unified School District has been named a 2026 Arizona School to Watch®, a prestigious designation recognizing middle schools that demonstrate excellence in academic achievement, developmental responsiveness, and strong organizational systems and structures. Cooley's comprehensive and reflective application highlighted a school culture grounded in high expectations, shared leadership, and continuous improvement. The school earned strong ratings across all Schools to Watch domains and was celebrated following a detailed evaluation of its written application and a successful site visit by an evaluation team.

Under the leadership of Principal Chad Cantrell, now in his third year at Cooley, the school has experienced significant academic growth, earning an A rating from the Arizona Department of Education and an A+ School of Excellence Award. Cantrell's steady leadership has been instrumental in cultivating a positive school climate and culture where students thrive academically and socially. Students, staff, and parents consistently describe him as a visible, trusted, and student-centered leader who has helped elevate Cooley's performance and sense of community.

"Cooley Middle School exemplifies what happens when strong leadership, a dedicated staff, intentional systems, and a belief in every student come together," said Dr. Robert Caplinger, Director of Arizona Schools to Watch. "The school's commitment to rigorous pathways, meaningful intervention and enrichment, and a culture of belonging reflects a deep understanding of what effective middle schools must provide for young adolescents."

Academically, Cooley offers multiple pathways for students, including accelerated and double-accelerated coursework, opportunities for high school credit in mathematics, and integrated learning experiences. The planned implementation of "Success Hour" reflects a proactive, standards-based approach to intervention and enrichment, ensuring students receive targeted support or extended learning opportunities during the school day.

Beyond academics, Cooley's developmental responsiveness is a hallmark of its success. Students have access to a wide range of athletics, fine arts, leadership organizations, and service clubs. Programs such as WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) ensure that nearly all incoming seventh graders attend orientation, easing the transition into middle school and fostering immediate connections.

During the site visit, parents spoke enthusiastically about the school's culture. Parents shared, "There is an impressive level of engagement with parents and students. Students are encouraged to be problem-solvers and to take risks that increase their academic confidence. Cooley is the epitome of what a middle school should be."

Students echoed this sentiment, noting that making friends was easy and that the transition into middle school was smooth, which increased their confidence. They consistently shared

that teachers and staff know them personally and genuinely care about their success. A member of the site evaluation team added, "Cooley Middle School is a model for other middle schools across Arizona. The coherence of its systems, the strength of its leadership, and the authentic sense of belonging felt by students and families make it a campus that exemplifies the Schools to Watch framework in action."

Organizationally, Cooley demonstrates strong accountability and data-driven decision making, with protected Professional Learning Community time and the intentional use of student performance data to refine instruction. The school has maintained a sharp focus on preserving high-quality programming and positive student experiences.

Cooley Middle School will be formally recognized at the National Schools to Watch Conference in Washington, D.C., in June, and at the Arizona Middle Grades Summit at Arizona State University in September. They will join a statewide and national network of exemplary middle grades schools committed to ongoing improvement.