Original Research by School Decision on International Commerce Secondary Schools Inc. (4334)
International Commerce Secondary Schools Inc. is a small charter district in Maricopa County that serves students in grades nine through twelve. With an enrollment of about two hundred, the student body is predominantly Hispanic, and the remaining students are Black, White, and Native American, with a very small Asian presence. The district operates one active school, International Commerce High School in Phoenix; a second school listed under the district, Humanities and Sciences High School, is inactive.
A parent looking at this district will immediately notice that the grade distribution is unusual. More than two-thirds of the students are in twelfth grade, followed by eleventh grade, then tenth grade, and only a single ninth grader. That pattern suggests the school may serve students who are finishing high school after transferring in, possibly from other settings or programs. Without additional context from the district, the reason is unclear.
State testing data was not available for this district, and there is no reported graduation rate. Because the district serves only high school grades and is not a special-purpose or alternative entity by its own designation, those gaps are notable. A parent considering this school would need to ask directly about academic performance and how many students earn diplomas. The absence of these measures means the usual yardsticks for judging a high school’s outcomes cannot be applied here.
The district does report a low rate of chronic absenteeism, placing it in the top quartile among Maricopa County’s districts. That is a strength: students appear to be showing up consistently. Per-pupil spending is in the upper range compared to other districts in the county, which could mean more resources are directed to each student, though without academic results or program details it is hard to say what that spending buys. No information was available on course offerings, career and technical pathways, Advanced Placement, or dual enrollment, so a parent would have to contact the school to learn what is available.
The district brief turned up no recent parent-relevant changes, budget shifts, or leadership moves of lasting impact. The administrative and policy environment appears stable, but that is based on what little could be found. The district’s charter status is not explicitly marked in the data, but it operates as a charter district under the International Commerce Secondary Schools Inc. name.
For a family, this is a district with a very small footprint and a lot of unknowns. The student body is mostly Hispanic, and the school may be a destination for upperclassmen finishing high school. The low absenteeism is a positive signal. But the lack of state test results, graduation rate, and program descriptions means a parent cannot compare this school to others on the usual metrics. Anyone considering International Commerce High School should plan to visit, ask about the school’s academic track record, and confirm what pathways are open after graduation. The data available gives a sketch of a small, quiet district, but not a full picture.
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