America's Promise Alliance recognized Mesa Public Schools as No. 1 for its graduation rate among the nation's 50 largest cities.

"We are a large district, but our focus has always been on the individual student," Superintendent Debra Duvall said.

The district uses test data to determine the individual strengths and weaknesses of students to direct them to course work that will bolster their skills, tutoring sessions or summer school classes. Mesa Public Schools has continued to develop its menu of choice programs to keep students interested in school and headed toward the goal of graduation.

Programs include International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, the Health Science High School, Biotechnology, engineering classes, distance learning and credit recovery.

Students also participate in electives and clubs that motivate them to stay on track for graduation - activities include creative and performing arts, sports, career and technical education, robotics, Academic Decathlon, We the People and Speech and Debate.

The district has transition programs that welcome students as they move from one school level to another. The junior high schools welcome incoming sixth-graders and high schools assist the new 10th graders with support them during their first year as they become acquainted with the new school.

Mesa Public Schools' teachers work with students in junior high school to look ahead to their post-high school years through academic and career planning. A new online program, introduced this year, allow the students and parents to plan classes from home.

For more information about the America's Promise Alliance study, visit the organization's Web site at http://www.americaspromise.org/APA.aspx.