Sam Nuanez
Executive Director of Communications
nuanez@lesd79.org
623-535-6047
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Litchfield Elementary School District Earns “A” Rating Following Successful Appeal
Litchfield Park, AZ — Litchfield Elementary School District (LESD) is proud to announce it has been officially designated an “A” Rated School District following the approval of a letter grade appeal submitted for Rancho Santa Fe Elementary School.
School and district letter grades were publicly released by the Arizona Department of Education at the end of October. After the release, the district submitted a letter grade appeal for Rancho Santa Fe Elementary under the category of Adverse Testing Conditions, citing a technology error that negatively impacted third grade math assessment scores. Rancho Santa Fe was originally .01 of a point from an A.
After review, the Appeals Committee granted Rancho Santa Fe Elementary’s appeal, adjusting the school’s letter grade to an A. The appeal was formally approved by the Arizona State Board of Education on January 26, 2026. As a result, Litchfield Elementary School District’s overall letter grade is an A, with a district GPA of 3.53. “This achievement is a direct reflection of the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our staff and our Litchfield Learners,” said Dr. Carter Davidson, Superintendent of Litchfield Elementary School District. “Every day, our educators and support teams go above and beyond to ensure student success, and our students continue to rise to the challenge. We are proud of this recognition and grateful that the appeal process allowed for an accurate representation of our school and district’s achievement.”
Governing Board President Melissa Zuidema echoed that sentiment, stating, “This ‘A’ rating represents the collective effort of our students, teachers, staff, and families who believe in the power of public education. We are proud of the work happening across Litchfield Elementary School District and remain committed to supporting policies and practices that help every student thrive.”
Litchfield Elementary School District remains focused on academic excellence, continuous improvement, and providing high-quality learning experiences that support the success of every student.
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