The Rose Academies, a network of tuition-free public charter high schools in Arizona, received strong marks in the official FY26 Arizona Alternative School letter grades, according to an announcement from the organization. Mountain Rose Academy and Canyon Rose Academy East Campus both earned an “A” rating, while Canyon Rose Academy, Desert Rose Academy, and Pima Rose Academy each received a “B” rating.
The results are particularly notable because only nine alternative charter high schools statewide earned an “A” this year, and two of them are Rose Academies. The grades are based on a state model that evaluates proficiency, growth to graduation, graduation rates, and college and career readiness indicators tailored to student populations working to recover credits and earn a diploma.
Canyon Rose Academy East Campus also stood out for its performance on the state ACT test. Compared against all public alternative high schools statewide, including both district and charter schools, the campus ranked 2nd in Arizona for alternative school proficiency. Within Pima County, Canyon Rose Academy East earned the highest point total overall, placing first among all district and charter alternative schools in the county.
“Since opening our first school in 1999, our focus has been helping students who need a different path to graduation find success,” said Rose Academies Superintendent Hurtado. “These ‘A’ and ‘B’ ratings show that our model continues to deliver the academic structure and support our families look for. It’s a reflection of the daily effort put in by our students and staff.”
The results matter for Arizona families because alternative schools serve students who are often behind on credits or seeking a smaller, more personalized environment. For students considering alternative charter high schools, the ratings offer an independent measure of how well a school is helping students recover credits, graduate, and prepare for what comes next. The strong showing by Rose Academies suggests its approach is producing measurable outcomes at a time when accountability for alternative schools is increasing.
Rose Academies operates tuition-free public charter high schools in Arizona and provides a small, personalized learning environment designed to help young adults catch up on credits, improve academic skills, and prepare for post-secondary opportunities. The FY26 letter grades indicate that the network’s model is delivering results that state officials and families can verify, which could strengthen its position as more students look for alternatives to traditional high schools.
