As the school year draws to a close, Laveen Elementary School District is proud to recognize the extraordinary achievements of our students in the Superintendent’s Math All-Stars program. Over the course of the 2024–2025 academic year, students across all nine district schools logged a combined 1,103,854 minutes of math practice.

This year’s Hall of Fame leaderboard celebrates schools with the highest cumulative and average minutes. Leading the pack in total minutes is Desert Meadows, with an astounding 318,464 minutes—the highest in the district. Not far behind is Paseo Pointe, who collectively logged 248,637 minutes.

When it comes to average minutes per student, Desert Meadows also claimed the top spot with 1,409 minutes, followed by Paseo Pointe at 1,207 minutes and MC Cash with 715 minutes.

Here’s a breakdown of the final totals:

• Desert Meadows – 1,409 avg | 318,464 total

• Paseo Pointe – 1,207 avg | 248,637 total

• MC Cash – 715 avg | 101,481 total

• Vista del Sur – 655 avg | 111,403 total

• EFGA – 430 avg | 82,901 total

• Cheatham – 401 avg | 50,890 total

• Rogers Ranch – 375 avg | 84,365 total

• Trailside Point – 305 avg | 60,596 total

• Laveen – 253 avg | 45,117 total

Thank you to our students, families, and teachers for your support in promoting math fluency and a love for learning. The Math All-Stars program continues to inspire young mathematicians to build skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

The Laveen School District is hosting a job fair for teachers interested in joining our team. The job fair will be held on February 27, 2025, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Laveen Education Center, 5001 W. Dobbins. Participants will be able to meet with Laveen administrators, including school principals.

16 of Laveen’s brightest students competed for the coveted title of District Champion. These talented young spellers showcased their skills and determination through 12 grueling rounds, captivating the audience with their poise under pressure.

In the end, one word made all the difference—realm. With that, Shadia Mbaju emerged as our 2025 District Spelling Bee Champion! Congratulations, Shadia, on your incredible achievement!

The competition was fierce, with Morgan McClintock earning the title of Runner-Up after a stellar performance. Both Shadia and Morgan have now qualified to represent the Laveen Elementary School District at the Region 3 Spelling Bee. The event will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at the Madison Center for the Arts.

We are so proud of all 16 participants who showcased their hard work, dedication, and love of language. Their enthusiasm and resilience made this year’s bee a memorable event. A big thank you to our teachers, families, and staff for supporting our students and fostering a love for learning.

Best of luck to Shadia and Morgan as they prepare for the next round of competition! The entire Laveen community is rooting for you!

Each year, U.S. News & World Report evaluates public elementary and middle schools nationwide, assessing their academic achievement through state assessment data. These rankings consider two main factors: students’ proficiency in mathematics and reading and the context of the school’s socioeconomic demographics. Schools excelling in these areas demonstrate an ability to educate all students effectively, making them eligible for recognition.

Schools in the top 40% of their state earn the prestigious U.S. News Best Elementary Schools and/or Best Middle Schools award “badge,” a symbol of educational excellence and achievement.

We are thrilled to announce that seven of our schools have earned badge eligibility for 2025, a testament to their commitment to academic excellence and student success. Please join us in congratulating the following schools and their leadership:

• Desert Meadows School
  Principal JP Ketcham
  Ranked in the top 40% of all Arizona elementary and middle schools.
• Estrella Foothills Global Academy
  Principal Erin Lebish
  Ranked in the top 40% of all Arizona elementary and middle schools.
• Laveen Elementary School
  Former Principal Dr. Robert Caplinger and current Principal Melissa Garcia
  Ranked in the top 40% of all Arizona elementary and middle schools.
• Paseo Pointe Dual Language Academy
  Principal Jonathan Rohloff
  Ranked in the top 40% of all Arizona elementary schools.
• Rogers Ranch STEM Academy
  Principal Dr. Kaitlin Gretkierewicz
  Ranked in the top 40% of all Arizona elementary and middle schools.
• M.C. Cash Elementary School
  Principal Nicole Goodwin
  Ranked in the top 40% of all Arizona middle schools.
• Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy
  Principal Jessica Epacs
  Special recognition for ranking #24 among all public elementary schools in Arizona and #5 among all public middle schools in Arizona.