By Christa Rowland
Since 2016, Higher Ground has been a pioneer in implementing the Community School strategy in Arizona. With eight Restart SMART Community Schools across the Tucson, Sunnyside, and Chandler School Districts, Higher Ground is expanding its reach and impact.
Serving over 3,000 students, 550 families, and 550 educators last school year, Higher Ground has implemented a highly effective and data-driven approach to Community School implementation. The results are clear, as demonstrated in their forthcoming end-of-year report for the 2023-24 school year: significant increases in attendance, enrollment, and student wellness.
Each of the eight Restart SMART Community Schools has shown improvement in the state school accountability system since 2018. Two schools have climbed four letter grades (from F to C/D and from D to B), while one has made an impressive five-letter grade jump (from F to B).
Among the students directly supported by Higher Ground, a remarkable 47% improvement in attendance and a 56% reduction in discipline incidents were observed.
This impactful initiative is transforming the lives of students, families, and educators, leaving a lasting positive impact on Arizona’s educational landscape.