The FY26 Arizona Alternative School Letter Grades, released by the state, show Rose Academies achieving notable results: two of its campuses, Mountain Rose Academy and Canyon Rose Academy East Campus, received an 'A' rating, while Canyon Rose Academy, Desert Rose Academy, and Pima Rose Academy each earned a 'B'. Out of only nine alternative charter high schools statewide to earn an 'A', two are Rose Academies, underscoring the network's consistent performance in a challenging educational segment.
The implications of these results are significant for families and policymakers evaluating alternative education options. Canyon Rose Academy East Campus ranked 2nd in Arizona for alternative school proficiency on the state ACT test, compared against all public alternative high schools, including both district and charter schools. In Pima County, the campus earned the highest point total overall, placing #1 among all district and charter alternative schools. This suggests that Rose Academies' model is not only effective in absolute terms but also competitive against a broader set of providers.
The Arizona Alternative letter grade model evaluates schools on proficiency, growth to graduation, graduation rates, and college and career readiness indicators tailored to student populations working to recover credits and earn a diploma. Rose Academies' performance across these metrics indicates that its small, personalized learning environment is succeeding in helping young adults catch up on credits, improve academic skills, and prepare for post-secondary opportunities.
Superintendent Hurtado noted that since opening its first school in 1999, the focus has been on helping students who need a different path to graduation find success. The 'A' and 'B' ratings, according to Hurtado, demonstrate that the model continues to deliver the academic structure and support families seek and reflect the daily effort of students and staff. For a sector often judged by traditional metrics, these results provide evidence that alternative charter schools can achieve high standards when designed around the needs of credit-recovery students.
As Arizona continues to grapple with graduation rates and student engagement, the outcomes at Rose Academies offer a potential blueprint for other alternative schools. The network's tuition-free public charter high schools may serve as a model for how targeted support and accountability can translate into measurable academic gains. Families interested in learning more about enrollment options can visit the academy's website.
