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Articles in District News

Laveen Principal Named State Director for the AZ Schools to Watch Program.

Congratulations to Laveen School Principal Dr. Robert Caplinger who was selected as the State Director for the Arizona Schools to Watch program.

Schools to Watch is an initiative of the National Forum, an alliance of educators, researchers, national associations, and officers of professional organizations dedicated to improving education in the middle grades. Schools to Watch recognizes outstanding middle-grades schools across the country. Through a rigorous evaluation process, schools are identified for their practices in academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structures.

Dr. Caplinger, along with other middle grades administrators, teachers, and an esteemed group of education faculty from the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University, are in the final stages of establishing the Arizona Association for Middle Level Education (AzAMLE). This will be a state affiliate organization of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE).

Learn more: https://www.middlegradesforum.org/post/arizona-schools-to-watch

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Mission: Kindergarten 2024 is February 5

Decorative Image OnlyEnrolling a kindergartner next school year? Join us for an exploration of Laveen’s kindergarten program on February 5  from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at all Laveen schools.

Each of our nine schools will host an information night for prospective families. Our school principals will navigate you through everything you need to know as you prepare to launch your child into a successful academic career.

Registration* for the 2024-25 school year will open on February 5. Apply online at www.LaveenSchools.org/registration. Enrollment requirements may apply.

Students may be enrolled in any of our schools regardless of where they live, space permitting. Families living outside of a school’s transportation zone will be responsible for providing transportation.

*Children must be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2024 to register for kindergarten. Preschool for children ages 3-5 is offered at Desert Meadows, Estrella Foothills, Paseo Pointe, and Vista del Sur.

Visit www.LaveenSchools.org/Kindergarten for more information.

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US News Ranks Vista Del Sur in “Best” School Ratings

Laveen’s Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy has once again been included in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best” elementary and middle school rankings.

Vista del Sur received a “Best” ranking in both the elementary and middle school categories for 2024.

This recognition is based on the schools’ success in educating students from all socioeconomic backgrounds with the goal of preparing them for success in high school.

“Vista’s impressive rankings speak to the commitment of the schools’ leadership, teachers, and staff to provide each and every student a quality education,” said Dr. Jeff Sprout, Laveen Superintendent. “Our families must also be commended for the level of support they provide to their children as well as their support of the schools’ educational programs.”

The rankings are based on students’ performance on the 2021-2022 mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments and their results in the context of socioeconomic demographics, such as free or reduced-price lunch and underserved ethnicity groups.

U.S. News & World Report predicted math and reading achievement levels based on this data. The greater the actual results compared to the predicted results determined a school’s ranking.

Over 68,000 schools nationwide were evaluated by U.S. News. Vista del Sur was one of 1,100 K-8 schools across the nation to be included in both the best elementary and best middle school rankings.

In addition to being named a Best Elementary and Middle School, Vista was named one of the top ten middle schools in Arizona, being ranked as #8 among Arizona middle schools. The school was ranked #22 in Arizona Elementary Schools.

Vista del Sur is an accelerated school where all students work a grade level ahead in mathematics and English language arts. The school is a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and an Arizona Educational Foundation A+ School of Excellence. It also received the U.S. News Best Ranking in 2022. It has historically received an “A” label from the Arizona Department of Education each year.

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Lisa Sandomir Memorial Scholarship Honors Late M.C. Cash Principal

The family of Lisa Sandomir, MC Cash’s late principal, has made a donation in the amount of $150,000 to the Laveen Education Foundation in her memory. This generous gift will be used to create the Lisa Sandomir Memorial Scholarship which will support 8th grade promotees of M.C. Cash School in attending college or trade schools after they have graduated from high school.  “We have heard from so many people about Lisa’s impact in their lives, and or family is thrilled to continue her legacy by funding these scholarships,” stated Mr. Sandomir.

The Laveen Education Foundation will begin accepting applications from M.C. Cash alumni for the Lisa Sandomir Memorial Scholarship in January, 2024, for the 2024-25 school year.

Scholarship Application

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