Behind the A Rating: The Drive for Continuous Improvement at GPS

At Gilbert Public Schools, excellence doesn't come by accident. The district's mission is to inspire excellence in every learner, which requires a non-negotiable commitment to student success across the district. That commitment has earned GPS an A-rating from the Arizona Department of Education for three consecutive years since the return of district letter grades, with 32 schools earning an A and 6 earning a B for the 2024/25 school year. GPS’s 3.84 (A) rating this year is a significant achievement that wouldn’t be possible without extensive work being done behind the scenes at both the campus and district levels.

For many years, GPS schools have seen consistent academic success thanks to dedicated teachers, committed students, and a supportive community. However, three years ago, the district saw an opportunity to take that success to an even higher level by ensuring every classroom and every department worked toward the same shared vision and goals for student academic growth. To make that possible, GPS developed a district Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) — a framework that provides clarity, direction, and alignment so that everyone is moving forward together in five focus areas:

• Reading and literacy
• Math achievement
• Future-ready graduates
• Differentiated learning opportunities
• and Culture.

Each school year, every GPS school participates in three Impact Checks, which provide opportunities to reflect on how their campus is supporting students and advancing goals in these areas. In Impact Checks, schools identify strengths, challenges, and next steps to ensure every learner is thriving. From there, each school tailors its own goals and action steps to meet those priorities in ways that best serve its students, staff, and community.

This approach brings both unity and flexibility. Schools share the same targets, but each campus defines what those targets look like in its setting. “Every school is unique,” said Mr. Jared Ryan, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. “A school of 3,000 students has different needs than one with 300. The plan gives structure, but it also gives ownership to every team.” This balance ensures all GPS schools are working toward the same vision, while also empowering local problem-solving and innovation.

This shared vision can be seen across every GPS campus. At Greenfield Junior High, professional learning communities (PLCs) have been fine-tuned over the past three years to better serve both teachers and students. Departments share clarity maps to align grading and expectations, and data conversations center on what helps students grow — not just what content was covered. The result is a stronger sense of community among staff and a more consistent learning experience for students.

At Settler’s Point Elementary, the same spirit of improvement drives teachers to embrace new instructional strategies and analyze data from classroom assessments. Staff share successes, celebrate progress, and use insights from district data tools to plan meaningful learning experiences and targeted support. “It’s about growth,” said Andrea Emerick, Principal at Settler’s Point Elementary, “and our teachers are open to learning right alongside their students.”

Across GPS, improvement is a collective effort that involves administrators, instructional coaches, specialists, teachers, and all staff working in sync. Collaboration with teams like Data and Research ensures schools have the tools to make informed decisions, while partnerships between departments like Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Finance, and the Office of Talent Management align resources to student needs. Every part of the GPS Family plays a role in supporting the classroom.

Families who want to learn more about their school’s Continuous Improvement Plan have several ways to stay connected. Parents can read school newsletters for regular updates, attend Site Council or PTA meetings to hear progress reports, or visit their school’s website to explore the goals being worked on throughout the year. Families who want to be more involved can also volunteer for committees, attend performances, or participate in campus events to see learning in action.