Despite Tremendous Growth Queen Creek High School Sticks to Mission, Receives Top Grade from Arizona Educational Foundation

QUEEN CREEK - August 7, 2009 - Most likely every Arizona high school has a mission statement. But perhaps no school takes it as seriously as Queen Creek High School.

That mission statement is serving the school well - Queen Creek High School was one of 17 schools to be recognized by the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) as a 2009 Arizona A+ School.

At first glance, the statement sounds simple enough: "Queen Creek High School ...in partnership with its parents and community, is actively preparing all of its students today for tomorrow by fostering measurable high achievement in a caring environment."

The words may sound simple and similar to the statements of many other schools, but according to Queen Creek High School’s A+ Schools certification, it is passionately upheld.

"This mission statement is honored and openly used throughout the ...campus," Principal Angela Chomokos and her staff wrote. "It is a train track that guides every decision, curriculum alignment and innovative program that is used at the high school."

By sticking to its mission, the East Valley school has survived and thrived while experiencing tremendous and constant growth.  The campus has blossomed from a single building housing both the middle school and high school to a 53-acre facility including a performing arts center, career and technological education (CTE) labs, a comprehensive library, state-of-the-art athletic facilities and a computer lab in each building.

The outstanding facilities and the school’s history of student success are drawing students from both near and far. The school often finds itself with a waiting list of students wishing to attend. The environment has also drawn a top-notch staff, led by Principal Chomokos, who was named the Arizona High School Principal of the Year by National Association of Secondary School Principals. Other award-winning staff members include CTE Director Lisa Doll, named the CTE Administrator of the Year for 2008, and Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Paul Reynolds received National Athletic Director certification.

Queen Creek 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.