A Different Look at Cave Creek Unified AIMS 2013 Test Scores

The full set of AIMS scores can be found at the Arizona Department of Education, but we wanted to show a different look at the scores.  Instead of looking at the percent passed, let’s check out the number of failed tests by grade and school for grades three through eight.

By Grade

By School



That is 1087 failed test or around 15%.  Some interesting things stand out like…

• 111 7th grade students at Sonoran Trails failed the writing test
• Almost 100 students in grade six in the district failed the math test
• Almost 22% of the test taken at Desert Sun Academy resulted in a failure, significantly higher than the district result of 15%.

As we have said before, in an area with our demographics, these numbers are way to high, and the district needs to take a serious look at what is happening at Desert Sun. Poor scores like this show why Cave Creek Unified is failing to capture the students in its own boundaries.

Once Again, Cave Creek Unified Students Deserve Your Vote

Cave Creek Unified Students Deserve Your Vote

We have made our disagreements with the Cave Creek Unified School District crystal clear and we will not rehash them here. As early ballots will begin arriving today, we wanted to communicate our feelings on the override vote.

For the first time CCUSD Cave Creek Unified Schools fail to make adequate progress

For the first time in district history (as far as we can tell, going back to 2003), an individual school has failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress. AYP is a federal benchmark based on results of the AIMS test.   According to the Arizona Republic, both Sonoran Trails Middle School and Cactus Shadows failed to make progress.

Now you may recall that for the past 2 years the district as a whole has failed to make AYP.  With 2 schools failing to make progress, we would imagine this would be the third year in a row that the district did not make AYP.


2011 AYP determination


Sonoran Trails Middle School - Not met

Black Mountain Elementary School - Met

Desert Willow Elementary School - Met

Desert Sun Academy - Met

Lone Mountain Elementary School - Met

Horseshoe Trails Elementary School - Met

Cactus Shadows High School - Not met


For comparison, some neighboring middle and high schools...

Paradise Valley Unified District - Explorer Middle School - Met

Paradise Valley Unified District - Pinnacle High School - Met
Paradise Valley Unified District Horizon High School - Met

Scottsdale Unified District Desert Mountain High School Met
Scottsdale Unified District Chaparral High School Met
Scottsdale Unified District Cheyenne Traditional Elementary School Met
Scottsdale Unified District Copper Ridge Elementary School Met

Foothills Academy Foothills Academy Met

Things are going so well in CCUSD that the governing board is taking off July

Apparently things are going so well in Cave Creek Unified that the governing board has decided to take off the month of July.  They decided to cancel the single board meeting in July becuase they had done so well with the budget.

Not suprisingly, AIMS, Stanford 10, AZ Learns Labels and AYP notification are also scheduled for public release in July.  At least this will give the administration a month come up with a whole new set of excuses for why our schools under perform.

If you are a governing board member, you should request to be notified of these scores NOW, as they have been released to the districts.


Embargoed release to districts/schools


AIMS, AIMS 3-8, and Stanford 10 scores available via the ADE Common Logon.
June 29, 2011

Preliminary AYP evaluations for all schools and districts.
June 8, 2011

Preliminary AZ LEARNS Achievement Profiles for all schools.
June 29, 2011


Public release

AIMS, AIMS 3-8, and Stanford 10 scores.
July 13, 2011

Final AYP evaluations for all schools and districts.
July 20, 2011

Final AZ LEARNS Achievement Profiles for all schools
July 20, 2011

Goldwater Institute and Sonoran News rebuke Cave Creek Unified CCUSD

The Goldwater Institute rebukes Cave Creek Unified for promoting a PAC in its recent press release...

District needs schooling in Arizona election law

A couple weeks ago, the Goldwater Institute sent a letter to the district urging it to withdraw the press release which prominently features comments from the ballot committee LearnYes.org, which is campaigning in support of and fundraising for the district’s November budget override election. Attorney General guidelines specifically prohibit the use of district-sponsored web pages to sway election outcomes.

Thanks to all for your feedback on Cave Creek Unified School...

Thanks so much to all for your feedback and comments. We love the contrary views and many of your posts are well thought out and well informed.

For example we learned that Desert Sun is moving towards Core Knowledge this fall. This is excellent news and an excellent start!

Please remember we don't have all the information or all the answers but understand that we are not anti-tax, NIMBY's, or anti-children. We are not asking for administrator's heads or governing board resignations.

We understand that world class schools in our area will benefit all.

Thanks again!

Open Letter to Marvin Christensen formely of the Cave Creek Unified School Board

We tried to contact Dr. Christensen for a comment but have not heard back. If you know him please pass this on. He can contact us either here in the comments or via email ccusdwatch@hotmail.com

-----------------

Dr. Christensen,

We are dismayed to hear about your resignation from the CCUSD governing board.

Our organization is comprised of CCUSD parents, teachers, students, community members, business leaders, administrators, and staff. We are not a political action committee. Our Mission is to improve the stewardship, leadership, fiscal responsibility, and most of all improve the learning, curriculum, and performance of all CCUSD schools.

We would be fascinated to hear why CCUSD is headed in the wrong direction and what steps can be taken to right the ship. We feel that serious problems are occurring in the district and your opinion would be greatly valued.

We would be happy to post your comments on our popular blog in full without modification or with what ever you are comfortable with.

Thank you,

CCUSD Watch
http://ccusdwatch.blogspot.com
ccusdwatch@hotmail.com


Update 5/22/2008: The Sonoran News has posted Dr. Christensen's resignation letter. Still doesn't tell us what must be done, just that the "Board has failed the children, failed the community and created conditions for further failure". We at CCUSD Watch already knew that.

You can read the letter in its entirety here...

Letter to CCUSD Board Members and Dr. Tacy Ashby

Would Superintendent Ashby Leave for SUSD?

Cave Creek Unified School District Superintendent Ashby was a finalist for the superintendent position in the Scottsdale Unified in 2004. See this information from the Scottsdale Governing Board in 2004...

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING/EXECUTIVE SESSION

Vote to convene in Executive Session for: A. Interview with final candidates Tacy Ashby, Dr. John Baracy, Dr. Rochonne Bria, Dr. Marjorie Kaplan, Dr. Vickie Markavitch, and Dr. Carol Wood, for the position as Superintendent of Scottsdale School District, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(1).

With voters and community not supporting her grand plan for CCUSD and the board in disarray, chances could be good that she would make the jump. There is no question that Scottsdale is the premier district in the state. Not sure that she has proven herself here at CCUSD, so it would be an uphill battle.