Catalina Foothills School District is proud to announce that both Sunrise Drive Elementary School and Ventana Vista Elementary School have been named 2026 A+ Schools of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation. The two schools are among just 48 public schools across the state to earn the designation this year.

The A+ School of Excellence program, which has recognized outstanding Arizona public schools since 1983, evaluates far more than test scores and letter grades. The award examines every dimension of school success: academic achievement, school culture, leadership, community engagement, and the overall learning environment. Schools that earn the designation demonstrate a commitment to quality and opportunity for all students, responsive and innovative instruction, and holistic care for students’ social, academic, and intellectual growth.

Originally designed to identify Arizona’s candidates for the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Award, the A+ program has become a respected benchmark in its own right. Earning the designation signals to families, educators, and the broader community that a school is operating at the highest level.

Sunrise Drive Elementary School

Sunrise Drive Principal Andrea Davidson addresses students at an all-school assembly.

Under the leadership of Principal Andrea Davidson, Sunrise Drive has built a reputation that reaches well beyond its neighborhood. The school serves approximately 490 students in grades K through 5, with families enrolling from across the Tucson metro area through open enrollment. Belonging rather than geography defines the Sunrise Drive neighborhood.

Sunrise Drive is home to CFSD’s Mandarin Chinese Immersion Program, where roughly a quarter of students spend part of each day learning academic content in Mandarin. The school holds the distinction of being a National Blue Ribbon School, earning the honor from the U.S. Department of Education in 2023. It carries an A rating from the Arizona Department of Education. And in the 2024 Arizona Accountability Model, Sunrise Drive was the only K–8 school in Arizona to earn a perfect score of 100.

The school’s offerings reflect a belief that academic excellence and a rich, well-rounded experience go hand in hand. Students have access to a LEGO Robotics Lab, gifted education services, visual arts, music, and physical education, all taught by certified specialists. The Chess Team, Student Council, and Purple Hands anti-bullying program reflect a culture that values character and leadership alongside academics.

Sunrise Drive students examine a fossil up close, bringing hands-on discovery into everyday learning.

The school’s longtime staff contributes to a sense of continuity and community that families describe as the “Spirit of Sunrise.” School events, performances, and volunteer opportunities bring parents and families to campus regularly. Many schedule time off from work to be in the Robotics Lab or to help out at Science Day. They love watching and supporting students as they become self-directed learners and collaborative problem-solvers. It is deeply rewarding for all to participate in and contribute to our learning community.

Teachers stay, traditions endure, and innovation continues. It’s easy to see why the school’s catchphrase is: “It’s great to be at Sunrise!”

Ventana Vista Elementary School

Principal Dr. Judi Dauman welcomes families to Ventana Vista’s Noche de Lotería, a bilingual bingo night run by fifth graders.

Ventana Vista, led by Principal Dr. Judith Dauman, serves approximately 400 students in grades K through 5 and is the home of CFSD’s Spanish Immersion Program. The school carries an A rating from the Arizona Department of Education.

At Ventana Vista, students don’t just learn Spanish. They learn in Spanish. In the partial immersion model, students spend half the day learning content in Spanish with a native-speaking teacher or a teacher with native-like proficiency, and the other half in English. The program begins in kindergarten, and by the time students leave Ventana Vista, many have developed strong bilingual and biliterate skills that serve them through middle school, AP coursework in high school, and beyond.

Ventana Vista kindergartners proudly show off their self-portraits during a Spanish immersion lesson.

The school’s offerings extend well beyond language. Students engage in robotics beginning in kindergarten, have access to extended math and reading programs, and may receive gifted education services. Music and visual arts are taught by certified specialists, and students can participate in after-school band, orchestra, and choir, as well as musical productions. A FIRST LEGO League team competes at the regional level, and the school maintains a community garden.

School culture at Ventana Vista is grounded in the Bobcat Code: be safe, supportive, engaged, and flexible. These expectations are taught, practiced, and reinforced by students and staff across campus, creating a positive and consistent learning environment.

Community events bring families together throughout the year. Pop-stah!, a family night of pasta and student pop star performances, has become a favorite tradition. Noche de Lotería is a bilingual bingo night run entirely by fifth graders. Fifth graders also attend a leadership camp every fall that builds teamwork and responsibility. Add in the Spelling Bee, Mileage Club, and a full calendar of family activities, and Ventana Vista’s school culture is as strong outside the classroom as it is inside it.  All of this is possible with a strong Family Faculty Organization that works with Dr. Dauman to host events that unify the school community.

Ventana Vista students run their own businesses during Market Day, applying math, entrepreneurship, and collaboration skills.

What This Means for CFSD

Having two schools earn the A+ designation in the same year reflects the district-wide commitment to educational excellence that defines Catalina Foothills. Both Sunrise Drive and Ventana Vista bring distinct strengths to the district, with Sunrise Drive anchoring the Mandarin immersion pathway and Ventana Vista serving as the home of the Spanish immersion program. Together, they represent the breadth of what CFSD offers: rigorous academics, world language immersion, strong arts and STEM programming, and school cultures built on relationships and high expectations.

Congratulations to Principal Andrea Davidson and the Sunrise Drive community, and to Dr. Judith Dauman and the Ventana Vista community, on this well-deserved recognition. The A+ School of Excellence designation is earned through the collective effort of students, teachers, staff, families, and the community. Both schools have demonstrated exactly what that collective effort can achieve.

About the A+ School of Excellence Award

Administered by the Arizona Educational Foundation since 1983, the A+ School of Excellence program identifies and recognizes educational excellence in Arizona public schools. The award examines academic achievement, school culture, leadership, innovation, community engagement, and care for students’ social, academic, and intellectual needs. Schools that earn the designation serve as models of what public education can accomplish.

Learn more: arizonaeducationalfoundation.org