The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Science. The lowest is 26% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Asu Preparatory Academy (92716)
ASU Preparatory Academy (92716) is a small elementary district in Maricopa County serving kindergarten through fourth grade. The district is a charter network, and its single open school is ASU Preparatory Academy - South Phoenix Primary. Because it serves only the early elementary years, there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on high school pathways such as AP, dual credit, or career programs. The enrollment is small, with a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, followed by a smaller share of Black students, and very small numbers of white, American Indian, and multiracial students. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available. The district's chronic absenteeism rate sits below the midpoint among Maricopa County's districts, meaning a larger share of students are missing substantial school time compared to many other districts in the county. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what supports are in place.
State assessment data comes from the 2017-18 school year and shows where students stand in math, English language arts, and science. In third-grade math, about a quarter of students scored proficient or above, and fourth-grade math was similar. In English language arts, third-grade proficiency was just under a quarter, while fourth-grade was slightly higher. Science, tested only in fourth grade, had a higher proficiency rate. These results place the district's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades below the midpoint among Maricopa County's districts. The participation rate on the assessments was strong.
The district spends well above the typical amount per pupil compared to other Maricopa County districts, placing in the upper range for current expenditures. This is a notable feature given the district's small size, but the data does not explain what drives the spending level. A parent may want to ask how those funds are directed toward instruction, class size, or student support.
The district's web presence and public records are thin. We looked for recent district changes or strategic plans and found little beyond basic directory data and historical background. There are no publicly reported recent boundary changes, bond measures, or program additions to describe. The district's locale information is also absent, so the setting, whether urban, suburban, or rural within the Phoenix metro area, is not confirmed by the data.
This is a very small, early-elementary charter district with a single school. For a parent considering this option, the key takeaways are the small student body, a predominantly Hispanic demographic, and state test results that fall below the midpoint in the county. The high per-pupil spending is an outlier, but without context on how that money is used, it is hard to weigh. Chronic absenteeism is a concern that merits a conversation with the school. The absence of data on many typical metrics, such as student-teacher ratio, special education services, and English learner support, means a family would need to gather that information directly from the school to get a full picture.
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