The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Edkey Inc. Dba Sequoia Charter School (6446)
Edkey Inc. dba Sequoia Charter School operates as a single charter school district in Maricopa County, serving kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district’s only active school is Sequoia Charter School; a secondary school it previously ran is no longer operating. With a small enrollment, the student body is heavily Hispanic, with smaller representations of White, Black, multiracial, and American Indian students. Data on family income and special education or English learner status was not available.
State assessment results are available only for certain grades, and many individual grade-level scores were suppressed because of small student counts, a common practice when numbers are too low to report reliably. Where data is reported, third-grade reading and math proficiency rates were around moderate levels, but the district’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades placed it below the midpoint among Maricopa County’s districts. An aggregate measure of reading and math performance across the district showed low proficiency rates, indicating that performance in later grades likely lags. Science results for grades five and eight were also suppressed. Parents may want to ask the school directly for a fuller picture of academic outcomes, particularly in upper grades.
Chronic absenteeism, the rate at which students miss a substantial portion of the school year, is a significant concern. The district’s absenteeism rate fell in the bottom quarter of county districts, meaning it is higher than many of its peers. This pattern can affect learning continuity and may be linked to broader community or family circumstances, though the available data does not provide a cause. Per-pupil spending was in the middle range, slightly above the typical level for the county, suggesting the district has adequate funding relative to its size.
No information was found on program offerings such as Advanced Placement, career and technical education, or dual enrollment. The district’s website and recent news were searched for strategic changes or notable developments, but nothing of lasting impact was identified. Graduation rate data was not reported, so that measure cannot be assessed.
For a family considering this district, the key considerations are the small scale, the high rate of chronic absenteeism, and academic performance that trails most other districts in the county. Without additional data on special programs or student supports, a direct visit to the school and conversations with administrators would be valuable to understand what is being done to address absenteeism and to see how the curriculum and student experience match a family’s expectations.
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