Patterson Elementary School Receives A+ Certification from the Arizona Educational Foundation

GILBERT - October 6, 2009 - While Gilbert may be thought of as a fairly new and vibrant East Valley community, there's one local elementary school that has established an impressive long-term reputation amidst the city's rapid growth and changing landscape.

Patterson Elementary School proudly claims, "A tradition of excellence for 30+ years." That's mighty big talk from the Gilbert Unified School District campus, but these impressive Panthers just may have the goods to back it up! Patterson certainly has turned the heads of the Arizona Department of Education, which has named it an "Excelling" school - the department's highest rating - for the past three years.

Recently the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) also showed some love for the Panthers -- Patterson was one of only 17 schools in 2009 to earn an A+ certification from the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF).

So what makes this school so special? What motivates Patterson to claim on its website that the school is a "...great place to learn" as well as a "great place to be?" According to the school's A+ certification paperwork, Patterson long has enjoyed, "... an outstanding reputation for its academic excellence, diverse student programs and contagious school spirit."

As one might expect from a 30+-year-old campus, tradition is also an important part of the Patterson experience. Patterson participates in a slew of annual events that help it reach out to its neighboring community including the Back-to-School Barbeque, Costume Parade, Holiday Dinner, Fun Runs, Spring Carnival...the list goes on and on!

The combination of academic excellence, school spirit and the 30+-year tradition has drawn students from Gilbert and beyond. While there are many excellent schools within the Gilbert Unified School District, Patterson draws 40% of its student population from open enrollment with 14-percent of the boundary exceptions coming from outside the school district.

Patterson Elementary School also has plenty of appeal to teachers and staff. In 2007, Patterson Elementary School was ranked at #16 on the list of the "Best Places to Work in the Valley" by BestCompaniesAZ and the Phoenix Business Journal. It was the first elementary school ever to be honored with such a distinction. In addition, Phoenix Magazine recently featured Patterson alongside organizations such as Mayo Clinic, SRP, and the Phoenix Suns as one of the Top 21 Places to Work.

Patterson Elementary 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, www.azedfoundation.org/school-recogition-program.php.