Original Research by School Decision on New Learning Ventures Inc. (320470)
New Learning Ventures Inc. is a small K-through-8 charter district that operates a single school, Phoenix Modern. It draws its roughly 120 students from somewhere in Maricopa County, though the district itself does not report a specific city, and available sources did not provide a locale description. The student body is almost evenly split between White students and Hispanic students, with small numbers of students who are Black, Native American, Asian American, or multiracial. The district does not report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, nor the share who receive special education services or English learner support, so a full picture of the student population is incomplete.
State testing results are largely suppressed. Arizona suppresses proficiency data for student groups that are small enough to risk identifying individuals, and that applies to nearly every grade level here. The state did release a combined, all-grades proficiency figure for the single school year tested. In English language arts, roughly a third of students scored proficient or above. In math, about a fifth did. These are low rates compared to state averages, and a parent would want to follow up directly with the school for more detail. The district serves only through eighth grade, so there is no high school graduation rate to report.
Chronic absenteeism stands out as a concern. The share of students who miss many school days is among the highest in Maricopa County, placing the district in the bottom quarter of its 386-district comparison set. That level of absenteeism often correlates with challenges in academic engagement and family support, and it is worth asking the school what steps are being taken to improve attendance.
Per-pupil spending is in the middle range but on the lower side of it among county districts. That reflects the district’s modest scale and charter funding model. No recent changes such as curriculum shifts, tax referendums, or boundary adjustments were found in publicly available sources. The district appears stable in its operations.
For a family considering this district, the central question is whether Phoenix Modern’s specific approach and environment fit their child. The data here is thin. State test scores are low and largely hidden by suppression; absenteeism is high; and many common indicators such as class size, teacher qualifications, and program offerings are absent from the record. A visit to the school, conversations with current families, and a look at the school’s own reporting would be necessary to understand the academic program and student experience.
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