AIMS test results: Are Arizona schools making the grade?

PHOENIX - As of Thursday, parents can find out which Arizona schools are making the grade, after the state released school letter grades and results of AIMS standardized spring tests.

View a complete list of AIMS test results by grade, school, district, charter and county.

Search A-F letter grades for all Arizona schools.

Of the nearly 1,300 schools graded across Arizona, 283 were awarded "A's" compared to 231 last year. More than half --865 -- got "B's" or "C's."

None were given "F's" -- a grade reserved for those that have been ranked "D" schools for three consecutive years.

AIMS scores also were released Thursday, showing a slight improvement in scores this year across the state in all subject matters.

The AIMS tests are for students in grades 3 through 8 plus high school sophomores and measure their mastery in math, reading, writing and science.

Reading has been one of the better areas for Arizona students.

In writing 71 percent of sixth graders passed in 2010, but that number dropped to 56 percent last year.

ABC15 spoke to State Superintendent John Huppenthal recently about the drop.

He said while the scores seem lower, the standards have gotten higher. "The results for writing didn't actually go down. We set a higher standard, so anytime you set a higher standard, it's going to have fewer students passing it. But the actual results went up modestly, along with our reading and math scores," said Huppenthal.

Twenty-five percent of schools raised their letter grade from last year. 

Haley Elementary in Chandler went from a "B" last year to an "A" this year.

"Its important because parents do make decisions on where to take their kids based on that grade," said principal Pam Nephew.     "It takes more than the grade to be a great school.  We have great parents and teachers."

Sixty-two percent of schools maintained their letter grade from last year.

You can also find more information online.