The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Daisy Education Corporation Dba Sonoran Science Ac (79049)
Daisy Education Corporation, operating as Sonoran Science Academy, is a small Kindergarten-through-12th-grade district in Pima County that runs two schools: a brick-and-mortar campus in Tucson and a virtual academy. The enrollment is modest for a district serving all grade levels, and its student body is diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest share, followed by white students, with smaller but meaningful numbers of Asian, Black, and multiracial students, and a very small Native American and Pacific Islander presence. Data on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners was not available, so a parent or guardian would want to ask the district directly about the support systems in place for those populations.
State test results paint a mixed picture that varies notably by grade and subject. In elementary English language arts, performance is a soft spot. Third-grade proficiency is low, but the district sees a jump in fourth and fifth grade, suggesting that some students find their footing as they move up. Middle school reading results improve further, with seventh and eighth graders reaching a level that is roughly average for the state. Math proficiency is a more consistent challenge. The early elementary grades show a solid share of students meeting benchmarks in third grade, but that figure drops steadily through fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, and remains low in seventh and eighth. Science results are available for fifth and eighth grade; the fifth-grade number is weak, while eighth-grade science proficiency is stronger and more in line with the reading results at that level. When compared across Pima County's districts, the district's overall proficiency, averaging across subjects and grades, sits above the midpoint, meaning it performs better than a typical district in the county. That is a meaningful bright spot, particularly for a small district. Because the proficiency index lumps all tested grades together, the variation by grade is not visible in that single number. A parent with a child in the early elementary grades may want to examine the school-level data more closely, since the district's overall standing is lifted by the stronger middle school results.
Chronic absenteeism affects about a third of students, a rate that is above the midpoint when compared to other districts in the county. That is a concern worth discussing with the school, since high absence rates can disrupt academic progress even when in-school instruction is solid. The district spends less per pupil than most of its county peers, landing in the lower range of current expenditures. The comparison set notes that spending per pupil is neutral in the framework, meaning it is not itself a measure of quality, but a family may want to understand how that level of funding translates into class sizes, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
The district operates a virtual academy alongside the Tucson campus, which is an option for families seeking an online learning environment. Details about program offerings such as Advanced Placement, career and technical education, or dual enrollment were not provided, so a parent interested in those pathways should contact the schools directly. The search for recent district-level changes or strategic priorities turned up little of lasting impact, so this narrative reflects the current snapshot without the context of recent shifts or initiatives. For a family weighing this district, the central takeaway is that it performs above average for the county overall but has real variation by grade and subject, with math in the upper elementary and middle grades being the main area to investigate, and with chronic absenteeism as a factor that could affect a student's experience.
See more original research from School Decision →