Sahuarita On-Route to Excellence
In Southern AZ with Galileo Online
Educational Management System

TUCSON, Ariz. – Feb. 1, 2008 – Over the past century, Sahuarita Unified School District #30 has experienced profound growth, consistently increasing its boundaries.  Today the district encompasses nearly 607 square miles in Southern Arizona’s Border region, serving nearly 4,200 students.  That is nearly double the the 2,244 students served in 2002-2003. 

To address the growth (Sahuarita’s enrollment is expected to double again by 2015), the school district has consistently added classroom space.  But Sahuarita needed more than bricks and mortar to keep pace with its steadily rising enrollment. The district also needed a system for monitoring student progress and streamlining all its academic and planning efforts. 

Sahuarita has found just such a system, and recent statistics indicate its students are now reaping the academic benefits!  With the help of the Galileo K-12 Online Educational Management System, Sahuarita Unified School District was one of only two southern Arizona school districts to have all of its schools meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) standards in 2006-07.

Now in its third year of use, the Galileo system was just what Sahuarita was looking for, according to Assistant Superintendent Manny Valenzuela

“The Galileo K-12 On-line Educational Management System …was selected because it is scientifically valid, flexible, standards-aligned and formatted like state assessments in many ways,” said Valenzuela.

Galileo’s multiple tools and reports have allowed this fast-growing district to more efficiently utilize its resources, focusing them on developing plans to assist students. Sahuarita educators and administrators can access Galileo reports to identify subjects and skill areas where a large number of students may be struggling, and adjust the curriculum accordingly. 

Galileo’s reporting system also helps the district pin-point individual students with the greatest academic needs – allowing teachers to develop individualized plans to help that student improve.

Similar reports can help Sahuarita measure educational performance at the class, school, and district level, allowing the district to develop better overall programs to address the students’ needs.

Valenzuela believes programs created as a result of Galileo ensure a bright future for Sahuarita students and educators: “Sahuarita’s programs will help create a district of excellence, rather than just pockets of excellence.”