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HRS Certification

Marana USD Gladden Farms Elementary Staff Holds HRS Level 2 Certificate

Since 2022, Marana Unified School District has proudly participated in the Marzano High Reliability Schools (HRS) program, a research-based framework that guides long-term school improvement and promotes student success.

Developed by Marzano Resources, the HRS model outlines five progressive levels of performance that schools must master to ensure high levels of learning for all students. By focusing on these areas, schools create a more consistent, effective, and supportive learning environment.

The Five Levels of the HRS Framework. MUSD is HRS Level 2 certified!

  1. Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Culture
  2. Effective Teaching in Every Classroom
  3. Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum
  4. Standards-Referenced Reporting
  5. Competency-Based Education

This structured approach helps schools focus their improvement efforts by aligning initiatives under one unified system. Using a combination of leading and lagging indicators, educators gather feedback, assess, monitor, and validate their progress at each level.

Achieving HRS Certification - Marana Schools’ Story Levels 1, 2 & 3

By 2024, all MUSD schools completed Level 1 HRS certification - Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative culture, which is the foundation for every level that follows. Without such a positive culture, student achievement will be compromised. Day-to-day school operations are addressed and evaluated in Level 1.

In 2025, all Marana Schools earned Level 2 HRS certification, excluding the two new schools that opened this year, Tangerine Farms K-8 and Marana Vista Academy. Level 2  addresses factors related to developing and maintaining effective instruction in every classroom. This is a central feature of effective schooling - the quality of teaching in classrooms.

Beginning in 2025-26, schools will begin working toward Level 3, Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum.

The Marzano Certification Process

Certification is earned through a collaborative process between school data teams and analysts from Marzano Resources, requiring schools to gather evidence and demonstrate success at each level of the hierarchy.

Through the HRS framework, MUSD is committed to ensuring every student gains the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in college, career, and beyond—transforming schools into proactive, high-performing learning communities.

HRS Level 1 Schools:

HRS Level 2 Schools:

Marana Vista Academy and Tangerine Farms K-8 School opened in 2025 and will begin their HRS journey after getting established through year one.