*Scottsdale Unified District page on Arizona Department of Education website: http://www10.ade.az.gov/ReportCard/DistrictDetails.aspx?id=4240&ReportLevel=2

Pima Elementary is south Scottsdale's only Title 1 Excelling School, described by Governing Board member Jennifer Petersen as, "The ROCK STAR on the block." However, many parents and people in the community may not know how the Excelling rating is determined.

The State of Arizona uses a rating system for schools called Arizona LEARNS (AZ LEARNS). The overal performance levels for each school are described by profiles. The profiles for elementary and middle schools are based on multiple indicators:

• AIMS test results indicated through percent of students passing the AIMS test and improvement or decline of AIMS scores over three years
• Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) results indicating percent of students in each grade making year-to-year academic progress
• Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status

The State then rates schools on the following scale:

• Excelling — Significantly above state performance goals, in addition a significant number of students have exceeded the standard on the AIMS test.
• Highly Performing — Above state performance goals or has demonstrated adequate improvement, in addition a significant number of students have exceeded the standard on the AIMS test.
• Performing Plus — Above state performance goals, however the number of students exceeding the standard on the AIMS test is not sufficient to earn a highly performing or excelling label.
• Performing — Meets state performance goals.
• Underperforming — Needs to meet state performance and state progress goals.
• Failing