The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Edkey Inc. - Sequoia Ranch School (81052)
Edkey Inc. - Sequoia Ranch School operates as a single-school district serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Maricopa County, Arizona. The district’s one open campus is named Children First Leadership Academy. With a small enrollment for a K-8 district, the school draws a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black population and a very small White and multiracial presence. Information on free or reduced-price meal eligibility, special education, and English learner identification was not available in the data reviewed, so a parent should follow up directly with the district on those support programs.
State assessment results from the most recent testing years paint a clear picture of low academic attainment. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was in the single digits or low teens across grades three through eight, with the highest rate in fifth grade and the lowest in eighth grade. English language arts performance was somewhat stronger in seventh grade, where roughly three in ten students met proficiency, but in the other tested grades the rates were similarly low. Science results for both fifth and eighth grades were suppressed and therefore not reported, likely due to a small number of test-takers. Overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places this district in the bottom quartile among Maricopa County’s districts. A parent considering this school should weigh these outcomes carefully and discuss with the school what academic interventions and supports are in place.
Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern. The reported rate places the district in the bottom quartile among county districts, meaning a very high share of students miss substantial instructional time. This is a data point a family would want to explore further with the school to understand the causes and the strategies being used to improve attendance.
On the financial side, per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among Maricopa County’s districts. Publicly reported information indicates that per-student spending has declined over a recent four-year span while per-student revenue grew over the same period, representing a notable shift in the district’s financial profile. How that translates into classroom resources, staffing, and programs is not detailed in the available data, so a parent may want to ask about current class sizes, teacher experience, and the condition of facilities.
The district does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. No state testing data was available for kindergarten through second grade, which is typical for those early elementary years. Information about the surrounding community, such as housing market, local town characteristics, and broader economic context, was not available in the data provided, leaving a gap for a family researching the area. Likewise, data on course offerings, discipline, staffing, and access to enrichment programs were absent.
This is a small, low-attainment district serving a diverse, predominantly Hispanic student population, with a high rate of chronic absenteeism and a spending level that is above the county median but has been falling. It is best suited for a family that is prepared to investigate the school’s academic supports and attendance challenges directly and that values a close-knit setting. The lack of detailed data on several key areas means that a parent’s own visit and conversation with the school principal will be essential to filling in the picture.
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