McDowell Mountain Elementary School has yet another feather to wear in its cap, and this one is an especially vibrant piece of plumage. As of last week, the school has been recognized as an Arizona Educational Foundation A+ School of Excellence.

Applying for this kind of recognition is an involved and time-consuming process. The local site’s application included a 40-page breakdown of the campus and its offerings, which was compiled by Principal Valerie Dehombreux and members of her staff. After making it through the application process, the AEF sent representatives to the local site to take a tour of the campus, witness campus events, sit through instruction time with every teacher and conduct numerous interviews with various stakeholders.

Last Wednesday, April 10, Dehombreux and her staff held a special assembly to let students know about the new A+ designation, an honor only 50 schools in the state could boast in 2018.

The Times would like to join the community in congratulating McDowell Mountain Elementary School for bringing yet another outstanding recognition to Fountain Hills. The A+ designation is the result of years of hard work from staff, students, parents and volunteers, all of whom should be very proud of their accomplishment.