HUSD News Stories

Every In-Person Higley Unified School Earned State’s ‘A’ Rating

Higley Schools, Ariz. — Every in-person school in the Higley Unified School District (HUSD) has earned an “A” letter grade from the Arizona Department of Education for the 2024–25 school year. This achievement reflects the district’s commitment to academic excellence, student growth, and high-quality research-based instruction across all campuses.

The district's nine elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools earned “A” ratings, the majority of the schools maintaining their “A” rating from the previous year. Coronado Elementary, home of the district’s Mandarin Dual Language Immersion Program, scored the highest with 100.66/100 points. Higley’s Virtual Academy increased their letter grade to a “B”. That learning model has since transitioned into an alternative program based out of each high school.

According to the Arizona Department of Education’s official accountability data, HUSD schools consistently outperformed peer and neighboring districts on state assessments and have shown considerable growth. In the most recent Arizona Academic Standards Assessment (AASA), Higley students achieved a 61% proficiency rate in math and 55% in English language arts, placing the district among the top-performing school systems in Maricopa County, ahead of neighboring Chandler Unified, Gilbert Public Schools, Queen Creek Unified, and Mesa Public Schools.

“This is a testament to the hard work and expertise of our teachers and staff, and our families,” said Superintendent David Loutzenheiser. “These letter grades are truly a cause for celebration. We know we have high-performing schools, students, and educators. To be able to say every single campus is A-Rated is a point of pride for all of us here in Higley.”

HUSD’s performance not only reflects strong academic outcomes but also reinforces its reputation as a destination district for families seeking excellence in education. With programs such as Dual Language Immersion, Career and Technical Education, Leader in Me, Project-Based Learning, and more, HUSD continues to prepare learners for limitless opportunities.

Learn more about school grades through the district’s new Letter Grade Dashboard on the website at husd.org.