30 JANUARY 2024 By Jennifer Marshall In the fall of 2023, Echo Canyon School was invited by the Arizona Department of Education to apply for the National ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) Distinguished School Award. The honor is bestowed upon schools that have succeeded in the Arizona Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) for the past two years. This year, 150 nationwide Title I schools applied – and Arcadia’s Echo Canyon School was won of two selected for 2023. “We are very proud of the hard work and dedication of our students, staff and families to make gains in student achievement and were excited to file the initial application,” Principal Kat Hughes said. Hughes describes Echo Canyon as a community of lifelong learners. The school is open for preschool through eighth- grade students and prides itself on the social, emotional and academic aspects of each of them. However, learning and enrichment go way beyond the traditional classroom, as students participate in extracurricular activities and sports. Echo Canyon is known for its unique, hands-on learning programs like Chef in the Garden. To even enter, much less qualify, schools had to be invited by the Arizona Department of Education, and these invitations were based on a school’s AASA for the two prior years. “Our students have demonstrated exceptional performance and academic growth on the assessments,” Hughes said. “We completed the initial application by answering seven questions discussing what has contributed to our success, how we have engaged families and our community.” The department reviewed the applications and conducted site visits to 14 Arizona schools. During the visit to Echo Canyon, students, teachers, staff and parents were eager to show off their school – especially the gardens. The Department of Education oversees all of Arizona’s Title I schools. Title I is a federally funded program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that “provides resources to ensure that all students, especially those considered most academically at-risk, can close achievement gaps and succeed in school.” “As one of Scottsdale Unified School District’s schools of choice with no geographic boundary, Echo Canyon draws students from a wide swath of economically diverse families,” SUSD Director of Communications Kristine Harrington said. The winner was announced after all school site visits had been completed. Echo Canyon is one of two Arizona schools named National ESEA Distinguished School for 2023 and the only one in the state to be recognized for academic growth and achievement. “It truly is an honor to win this award and represent Arizona,” said Hughes. “We know we have an amazing school in Arcadia where our students have unique learning opportunities not offered anywhere else. We are thrilled to be recognized for our efforts on a national stage.” In February, Echo Canyon will be recognized at the National ESEA Convention in Portland, Oregon, and in March, Echo Canyon will hold a school-wide celebration. eseanetwork.org Echo Canyon earns national honor PHOTOS COURTESY OF KAT HUGHES The Arizona Department of Education visited to present the National ESEA Distinguished School Award. Echo Canyon is one of two Arizona schools named for 2023. Echo Canyon serves over 350 students. Students participate in a multitude of extracurricular activities, including the Chef in the Garden program. T H E XAVIER EFFECT Where Young Women Finish Strong xcp.org At Xavier College Preparatory Young Women Finish Strong . They learn there are no limits to their possibilities in life. In a girls’ school, their voices are always heard. Xavier College Preparatory is a Catholic community that strives to prepare young women of faith with knowledge, skills, and integrity to meet the challenges of a changing global society in a positive and productive manner celebrating unity. Go to XCP.org for more information All are welcome! * ..............

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