Sunrise Drive and Senita Valley elementary schools received national recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday.
National Blue Ribbon Schools are models of effective and innovative school practices for educators and other schools throughout the nation, according to the department.
Schools are judged based on their data, activities, programs and other measures.
Both Sunrise Drive and Senita Valley were nominated by the Arizona Department of Education.
Principal Andrea Davidson attributed Sunrise Drive Elementaryโs achievement to the attention faculty, staff, family members and the community give to its students.
But, as she told a group of fourth graders, itโs the studentsโ hard work and attitudes that made the grade.
โThis is a true recognition of your hard work โฆ the โspirit of sunrise,โโ Davidson said.
Sunrise Drive is in the Catalina Foothills School District. It has nearly 500 students in grades kindergarten through fifth.
โWhether youโre new โ like me โ or have been here since the school opened โฆ when you get to campus, there is a spirit of collaboration. Itโs palpable,โ said Chris Wittoesch, Senita Valleyโs interim principal.
Senita Valley is in the Vail Unified School District. It has nearly 670 students enrolled in grades prekindergarten through twelfth.
The recognition is based on a schoolโs overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments. Sunrise Drive and Senita Valley are two of among 353 schools receiving the designation nationwide in 2023.
Arizona had another two schools honored: Fireside Elementary School in Phoenix and Neely Traditional Academy in Gilbert also were honored.
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