Excelling for the second straight year, Litchfield Elementary School was able to keep its label due to its success teaching English Language Learners.
This year was the first time schools serving English Language Learners were able to receive an extra point on their AZ LEARNS profile.

The point means they were able to educate at least 30 percent of the ELL population to the point where they could pass the English Proficiency Test.

Litchfield Elementary was one of 113 schools statewide to receive the point, although it was only one of 11 statewide that benefited from the credit.

The earned point pushed the school to 19.4, above the 19-point threshold for "excelling."

"I think excelling is excelling, and we're certainly going to celebrate that," said Litchfield Elementary School District Superintendent Julianne Lein. "I'm thrilled to hear we're having success with the ELL program."

Lein said Litchfield uses the Wilson Language System in its ELL program, which is also helpful in teaching young children to read by teaching how letters go together in a meaningful way.

Last year, Litchfield Elementary School had 35 out of about 700 students actively in the ELL program, although more use some form of it.

Five schools statewide were able to move up from "underperforming" with the added ELL point.

Five other schools in the Southwest Valley received the ELL point, although it didn't change their label. They are Sun Canyon School (Fowler Elementary School District), Palm Valley Elementary (Litchfield Elementary School District), Verrado Middle School (Litchfield district), Western Sky Middle School (Litchfield district) and Underdown Junior High School (Littleton Elementary School District).