Arizona State Superintendent Celebrates Academic Success at Wheeler Elementary

A man in a blue suit and woman in a blue dress pose for a photo, woman holds certificate

A man in a blue suit addresses the audience

Two women and two men stand in front of a set of doors, with a group of kids off to the side ready to play their violins

A man in a blue suit and a woman in a blue dress hold an award certificate behind a clear podium

A man in a blue suit looks on as a man in a gray suit talks to the audience

Tucson Unified’s Wheeler Elementary is the latest school in Arizona to get out of “School Improvement” status – a celebratory occasion that brought State Superintendent Tom Horne down to Tucson on Thursday, November 20 to present an award to the school.

The State Superintendent’s office oversees Project Momentum, a school support and improvement program committed to help educators do the right work to ensure that all students succeed. Wheeler is one of 108 schools statewide that have made it out of the School Improvement.

The School Improvement status is conferred when a school needs to raise its academic performance based on federal student accountability measures. States are required to identify and intervene in the lowest five percent of Title I schools and other schools that consistently underperform. Schools must follow an improvement plan using evidence-based strategies.

During Thursday’s celebration, Horne was greeted by Wheeler’s violin students. After the performance, Horne, as well as Tucson Unified Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo, gave a speech and presented Wheeler Kari Baltes with a certificate.

Communications and Media Relations logo Summary: Tucson Unified’s Wheeler Elementary is the latest school in Arizona to get out of “School Improvement” status.

Posted: 11/20/2025

Keywords: article, 2025-2026, school, wheeler elementary, award