Hamilton High School ".Saves Kids," Earns A+ Rating from Arizona Educational Foundation
Chandler School's Multiple Options for Students Appealing to AEF's Top Judges

CHANDLER - July 9, 2009 - Much like the rapidly growing East Valley city surrounding it, Chandler's Hamilton High School finds itself in the midst of change.

Is it adapting to the change well? You bet! Hamilton High School is adapting so well in fact that the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) recognized it as one of 17 Arizona A+ Schools for 2009.

Built in the heart of south Chandler farmland just 10 years ago, Hamilton now finds itself in the middle of the rapidly growing East Valley city. Besides the more urban surroundings, Hamilton's demographics have also shifted from being 70-percent Caucasian in its early years to 55-percent currently. The increasingly diverse campus now features growing African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Mid-eastern and Pacific Island populations.

While the faces of Hamilton are changing, the school's academic results have remained remarkably solid. Hamilton has maintained high AIMS scores and has witnessed steady growth in participation in Advanced Placement courses and testing. The school has also introduced two additional options for its students - The Academies of Hamilton and Hamilton Prep.

The Academies of Hamilton afford students the opportunity to select and specialize in their areas of interest by joining small communities in Science, Social Studies and athletics. Hamilton Prep, meanwhile, is designed to accommodate students preferring a smaller scholastic environment. Prep students meet at a satellite location off from the main campus.

The many options available to Hamilton's students appealed to the AEF's A+ certification judges.

"We found that Hamilton High School saves kids," the judges wrote. "(Hamilton's staff and teachers) have created a multiplicity of opportunities, strategies and programs for students in order to ensure this takes place."

Hamilton's distinguished academic track record during its short history includes placement in both US News and World Report and Newsweek's lists of top US high schools as well as a 2006 Siemen's Award as the top Arizona AP School in science and math.

2008 was a particularly strong academic year for Hamilton High School. Among its many honors, Arizona State University selected Hamilton as the winner of its Lead and Inspire Award, and the school was the winner of the annual Arizona Science and Engineering Fair. Hamilton also produced a Flynn Scholar and a National Merit finalist and semifinalist.

Hamilton High School will maintain its A+ designation for three years.

According to the AEF website, azedfoundation.org, the A+ program celebrates education and brings to light the positive stories and successes happening in public schools every day. Created in 1983, the program's stated purpose is threefold:

• To identify and publicly recognize outstanding public schools in Arizona ;
• To make available a comprehensive framework of key criteria for school effectiveness that can serve as a basis for participatory self-assessment and planning in schools;
• To facilitate communication and sharing of best practices within and among schools based on common criteria related to success.

In order to be recognized as an A+ school, each school must submit an application providing demographic information, a description of current programs and practices, documentation of parent and community involvement, a profile of the school principal and his/her vision of the commitment to excellence, equity, service; and sustained high achievement or significant improvement in assessment. The winning schools are recognized for their superior ability to meet the needs of their student populations.

The AEF A+ School Recognition Program is sponsored by APS, The Arizona Republic, Desert Schools Federal Credit Union, Safeway and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. To learn more about the AEF A+ School Recognition Program, please visit, http://www.azedfoundation.org/school-recogition-program.php.