PRESS RELEASE: November 1, 2024
Crane Schools are Highly-Performing
Yuma, AZ – The Crane Elementary School District has received an overall “B” Letter Grade according to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), which classifies it as a highly-performing district. ADE has released the annual public school letter grades, as required by Arizona Revised Statutes § 15-241 to “develop an annual achievement profile for every public school in the state based on an A through F scale (subject to final adoption by the State Board of Education).” The school letter grade reflects factors such as student academic achievement, student growth, and proficiency in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. Crane Schools is proud to share that four of its district schools have received an “A” Grade, given to excelling schools in Arizona that have attained distinguished performance on the statewide assessment, significant student growth for the year, and overall performance that is higher than the state average. Gary A. Knox Elementary School, Gowan Science Academy, H.L. Suverkrup Elementary School, and Mesquite Elementary School have all received an “A” Grade. Two of the schools – Gowan Science Academy and Mesquite Elementary – have received three consecutive A’s since 2022. No school grades were issued by the state in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The school principals each reflected on the significance of the grade for their respective schools.
Principal Jamie Haines at Gowan Science Academy: “We are incredibly proud of our students, teachers, staff, and families for their hard work and dedication. This achievement reflects our commitment to academic excellence and to fostering a learning environment where every student can thrive.”
Principal Trish Valentin at H.L. Suverkrup Elementary: “H.L. Suverkrup proudly received an A grade from the state, highlighting our commitment to academic excellence and student success. This achievement – our second consecutive A – reflects the hard work of our dedicated teachers, staff, and students, as well as the support of our community.”
Principal Karen Burns at Mesquite Elementary: “Mesquite’s ‘A’ designation reflects the dedication and commitment of our students, staff, families, and community. It shows that when we come together, we can accomplish great things and create a strong foundation for learning and growth!”
Gary A. Knox Elementary School is receiving an “A” this year, having moved up from a “B” last year under the guidance of then-principal Mrs. Laura Hurt (now principal at Centennial Middle School): “This ‘A’ belongs to EVERY member of the Gary A. Knox community including parents, teachers, and support staff. We’ve kept our eyes on the prize for years and what a wonderful feeling it is to finally experience this beautiful A.”
The new principal at Knox, Mrs. Lauren Daniels, says she is honored to serve her school and see firsthand how the caring and tireless work of the entire school community has helped create a special culture. “Our students love our school, are excited to learn, and are motivated by tracking their academic growth. Congratulations to Mrs. Hurt for her leadership, to the staff, students, and families for their dedication and commitment to learning at Gary A. Knox Elementary.”
The Crane District is also pleased to announce that the following Crane schools have received a “B” Grade, which is considered highly-performing: Centennial Middle School and Ronald Reagan Elementary School. We’re so incredibly proud of the effort and care that our entire school community has put into student growth and achievement.
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