Arizona School Letter Grades Explained (A-F System)

Arizona gives every public school, district or charter, a letter grade from A to F each year. The grade is a points total built mostly from state test results: how many students are proficient, how much students grew compared with similar students, and how English learners are progressing, plus readiness points for K-8 schools and graduation and college-and-career points for high schools. It is useful, it is being revised, and it says nothing about private schools.

Who grades schools, and under what law

A.R.S. 15-241 requires the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to compile an annual achievement profile for every public school, including charter schools, and the State Board of Education to adopt it and assign each school a letter grade. The statute requires the grades to measure proficiency and academic gain on the state English language arts and mathematics tests, graduation and attendance, and progress toward college and career readiness for schools with grades 9 to 12. According to the Auditor General, statute requires the State Board to assign the grades by November 1 each year, and letter grades have been part of the profiles since 2011. The 2024-25 grades were released in October 2025.

What goes into the grade

The Auditor General's June 2026 report lists six indicators in the traditional models (as of the 2025-26 school year):

Proficiency. Points for students scoring partially proficient or above on the state ELA and math tests, with more points as students reach higher levels.
English language learners. Points for the share of English learners reaching proficiency and showing growth on the AzELLA.
Growth. Points for students whose current score percentile is higher than that of their academic peers (students who scored similarly the prior year). Student growth percentiles of 1 to 33 count as low, 34 to 66 average and 67 to 99 high. The report notes this measures relative progress, not progress toward proficiency.
Acceleration and readiness (K-8 only). Points for third-grade literacy, eighth-grade math, attendance, subgroup results and inclusion of special education students in mainstream classes.
Graduation and graduation rate improvement (high school only). Points for students completing within four to seven years, with more for four-year completion; full improvement points need a two-point gain or a rate of at least 90 percent.
College and career readiness (high school only). Points for graduating seniors who complete activities such as AP testing, dual enrollment, the FAFSA, CTE courses and workplace certifications. ADE's accountability page says this indicator counts 20 percent of a traditional high school's grade and needs at least 10 students to be scored.

Indicator weights, 2025-26 school year

Indicator	Traditional K-8	Traditional 9-12
Proficiency	30%	30%
English language learners	10%	10%
Growth	50%	20%
Acceleration/readiness	10%	not used
Graduation	not used	20%
College and career readiness	not used	20%

Source: Arizona Auditor General, Table 2, from ADE's 2024-25 business rules.

Cut points

Schools earn up to 100 indicator points, plus bonus points. The Auditor General reported the State Board-approved cut points (as of the 2024-25 business rules):

Model	A	B	C	D	F
K-8	84 to 100	72 to 83.99	60 to 71.99	47 to 59.99	below 47
9-12	82 to 100	65 to 81.99	48 to 64.99	31 to 47.99	below 31

Schools that serve both K-8 and high school grades are graded on both models, weighted by enrollment. Alternative schools and Arizona Online Instruction schools have their own models; in the alternative model the college-and-career indicator counts 35 percent.

What the 2026 audit found, and what is changing

In June 2026 the Arizona Auditor General (report 26-101) concluded that the letter grade system "obscures key performance differences between schools." For 2024-25, about 92 percent of high schools and 75 percent of K-8 schools earned an A or B. The report found that most schools earned 80 percent or more of the points available on indicators other than proficiency, that a school can reach a B with 65 of 100 points, and that Arizona was the only state reviewed that awarded bonus points. It also found that the individual indicator grades the Legislature required in 2018 had not been issued. The State Board agreed with the findings in its response.

On August 24, 2026 the State Board voted unanimously to eliminate the bonus points category, the first of an expected series of changes; news reports say the effect will first appear in grades for the 2026-27 school year, expected in October 2027, and ADE's accountability officer estimated that about one in ten schools would drop a letter grade without them. Cut scores and indicator weights are still under review (as of October 2026). Check the State Board's A-F pages at azsbe.az.gov for the current model before relying on any weight on this page.

How to read a report card

Open the school at azreportcards.azed.gov and look past the letter. The report card shows each indicator's points, so you can see whether an A came from proficiency or from growth, how English learners are doing, and for high schools the graduation rate and readiness points. Compare it with the district and with two other schools you are considering; the site compares up to three at a time. For a child who is behind grade level, weight growth; for a child who is ahead, weight proficiency at the highest level and the programs listed in the readiness indicator.

Private schools and the grades

The A-F system applies to public schools. Private schools are not graded, do not give the state tests, and appear on no state report card. For them, use accreditation, programs, the school's own published outcomes and a visit; see How to evaluate a school from far away.

Sources and where to verify

Frequently asked questions

Is an A the same as a 90 percent?

No. Under the cut points in use for 2024-25, a K-8 school needed 84 of 100 indicator points for an A and a high school needed 82; a B started at 72 and 65. The Auditor General found these are in the middle of the range among states with letter grades, and the State Board is reviewing them.

Does a charter school get a letter grade?

Yes. A.R.S. 15-241 covers every public school, and charter holders must submit the data for their profile.

Why does a school with low test scores have an A?

Because growth carries half the points in the K-8 model and a fifth in the high school model, and growth is measured against students with similar prior scores rather than against proficiency. The report card shows the proficiency rate separately.

When do new grades come out?

The Auditor General says statute requires the State Board to assign grades by November 1 each year; the 2024-25 grades were released in October 2025. Check the report card site for the most recent year shown.

What are bonus points?

Extra points beyond the 100 indicator points, awarded for things like special education enrollment, test participation and postsecondary enrollment. ADE's business rules allowed up to 9 for high schools in 2024-25. The State Board voted in August 2026 to remove them.

Do private schools get graded?

No. Only public schools, including charters, receive A-F grades.

Can a school appeal its grade?

Yes. A.R.S. 15-241 requires the State Board to provide an appeals process, including for grades based on incorrect data. A school listed as "under review" is usually in that process.

Last reviewed October 11, 2026. Figures change; the sources above are where to check.