Over 1,000 Seals Earned Above and Beyond Diplomas in Dysart

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 05/12/2025

DYSART SCHOOLS - This year Dysart Unified School District students are showcasing 1,009 extra seals on their high school diplomas for earning the Arizona State Seal for proficiency in arts and/or finance. Best of all, for the second year in a row, Dysart students earned the most arts seals of any district across the state of Arizona for the 2024-2025 school year, at 261. Twelve Dysart students even earned double arts seals for completing the requirements in two different disciplines this year.  Additionally, 748 Dysart Unified School District graduating seniors earned the Arizona State Seal of Personal Finance for the 2024-2025 school year, up from the 640 earned last year.  

Students from each of Dysart’s high schools, including Dysart High School, Shadow Ridge High School, Valley Vista High School, and Willow Canyon High School earned seals. The arts seal is awarded to high school students who meet rigorous standards, and have demonstrated artistic literacy and high levels of competency in media arts, visual arts, dance, theatre, or music. Students must meet certain requirements to qualify, which include achieving a minimum “B” average on all approved arts courses, completing a minimum of 4 credit hours of approved arts courses, completing 80 hours of arts-related extracurricular activities, and a senior capstone project.   

“Our students have put in countless hours of dedication to their art, and we're excited to showcase their hard work," stated Danae Marinelli, Arts Director. "The Seal of Arts Proficiency encourages motivated students to go beyond their classroom learning. These students have created portfolios that display their artistic growth during high - school and their future aspirations. As arts educators, we strive to cultivate lifelong artists who will cherish and engage with the arts after high school. The Seal is crucial in achieving this goal.” 

The personal finance seal is awarded to high school students who achieve a high level of proficiency in Personal Finance, and they receive a seal on their diploma, and a notation on their transcript. Students must meet certain requirements to qualify, which includes a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 in all social studies courses. Participating students must then complete an approved personal finance program, participate in a co-curricular or extracurricular program, complete a college and/or career readiness plan, and pass a personal finance assessment.