The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on The Odyssey Preparatory Academy Inc. (90287)
The Odyssey Preparatory Academy Inc. is a district in Maricopa County, Arizona, serving kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is a charter district, meaning students enroll by choice rather than by residential assignment. The district operates four schools across the county: The Odyssey Preparatory Academy, The Odyssey Preparatory Academy Goodyear, Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies, and The Odyssey Preparatory Academy - Sienna Hills. Because this is a charter district, there is no traditional attendance boundary, and families who live anywhere in the county can apply.
The student body is large and diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest share, followed by white students, with Black students comprising a smaller proportion, and small shares of Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and multiracial students. The district released data on enrollment by race and ethnicity, but did not report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a common proxy for household income. That gap means a family cannot gauge the economic composition of the student body from this data alone.
Academically, the picture is mixed, and the pattern varies by grade. For the school year ending in 2025, proficiency in math started at a rate that was lower than half of tested students in third grade, then dropped further in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, and fell to the lowest point for seventh and eighth graders. English language arts proficiency was higher but still uneven: the fourth-grade group posted a solid outcome, while third, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade groups were in a lower range. Science results, available for grades five and eight, showed a similar pattern, with fifth graders at a modest level and eighth graders lower. The district's overall proficiency, averaged across all subjects and grades tested, sits below the midpoint among Maricopa County's districts. The data covers a single year, so there is no prior year to compare for trend.
The district's chronic absenteeism rate, the share of students who miss many school days, is above the midpoint among county districts, which is a concern. A family may want to ask the district what supports are in place to improve daily attendance.
Per-pupil spending is in the lower range of the county's districts. This is a common pattern for Arizona charter districts, which receive less per-student funding than many traditional districts and do not have the same local property tax base. Lower spending does not necessarily signal lower quality, but it can affect class size, facility condition, and support staff availability. The data did not include information on course offerings, advanced or career-technical programs, or staffing ratios.
The district was not found to have announced major changes, facility plans, or policy shifts in recent public reporting, so this narrative cannot describe any new direction. Families choosing this district will be deciding based on the academic profile described here, the convenience of the four campus locations, and the flexibility of charter enrollment, rather than on a known reform plan.
A parent or resident considering the Odyssey Preparatory Academy district should weigh the uneven proficiency results, particularly the steep decline in middle-grade math and the below-average position among Maricopa County districts, against the appeal of school choice and a district that spans all grade levels across multiple campuses. The absence of key details such as economic data, student support services, and program offerings means a thorough visit, calls to the schools, and a review of each campus's specific curriculum would be important before enrolling.
See more original research from School Decision →