Queen Creek Unified District (4245), AZ

Original Research by School Decision on Queen Creek Unified District (4245)

Queen Creek Unified District serves families across a rapidly growing stretch of southeastern Maricopa County, covering parts of Queen Creek and Mesa. The district is large, enrolling students from preschool through twelfth grade across fifteen schools, including three comprehensive high schools, a junior high, several elementary schools, a virtual academy, and a college preparatory school. Its most recent addition, Crismon High School, opened for the 2022-23 school year to address the enrollment pressure created by sustained population growth in the area.

Housing in the district's primary zip codes carries a value well above the state median. Rents and home prices both saw a slight year-over-year dip, but the overall market remains expensive relative to national averages. For a family moving into the area, this means the district serves communities where housing costs are a meaningful factor in the household budget.

Academically, the district’s state test results show a mixed profile. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three through eight range from slightly more than half of students meeting the bar in fourth grade to just under half in eighth grade. Math results follow a similar downward slope across the grades, with the highest rate in third grade and the lowest in eighth grade. Science scores for fifth and eighth graders show roughly half of students reaching proficiency. When compared with other districts across Maricopa County, the district's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint, meaning its combined performance across tested subjects and grades is stronger than that of many neighboring systems. The district itself has publicly noted that it has been rated an A-rated school district by the Arizona Department of Education, and it reports that students score above state and national averages on state assessments.

The district's chronic absenteeism rate is above the midpoint among county districts, meaning a substantial portion of students miss enough school days to be counted as chronically absent. A parent may want to explore how the district addresses attendance and what support systems are in place. Per-pupil spending falls in the lower range compared to other Maricopa County districts, which is a noteworthy data point when considering how resources are allocated across the system. Data on free and reduced-price meal eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner populations was not available, leaving gaps in understanding the district's economic and instructional support landscape.

Enrollment growth is a defining feature of this district. Average daily membership has risen steadily, with projections showing continued increases that require new facilities and additional staff. For families, this growth means more students in the pipeline, which can affect class sizes, program availability, and the pace of school construction. The district's mix of offerings includes a college preparatory school and a virtual academy, giving families some choice in instructional model within the traditional public school system.

The district's student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic enrollment and smaller shares of students who identify as Black, Asian, multiracial, or other backgrounds. State testing data was present for grades three through eight and for science in grades five and eight; high school assessment results and graduation rate data were not available in the provided information, so it is unclear how older students perform or what share of the cohort graduates on time. A parent of a high school student would need to seek that information directly from the district or individual high schools.

Overall, Queen Creek Unified operates in a context of rapid growth and above-average test performance among its elementary and middle grades, set within a high-cost housing market. The district faces the practical challenges of scaling up facilities and managing attendance while spending below many of its county peers. Families moving into the area will find schools that, on the whole, perform solidly on state measures compared to other Maricopa County districts, with the caveat that high school outcomes are not documented in this profile and that chronic absenteeism is a known concern.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

14,503

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 25%

Black 3%

White 64%

Asian 2%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

39%

—

Gr 4

51%

—

Gr 5

37%

—

Gr 6

42%

—

Gr 7

40%

—

Gr 8

28%

—

Math

Gr 3

49%

—

Gr 4

50%

—

Gr 5

43%

—

Gr 6

40%

—

Gr 7

24%

—

Gr 8

21%

—

Science

Gr 5

34%

—

Gr 8

28%

—

Schools in this District

15 schools are officially reported under this district.

Queen Creek Elementary School

Desert Mountain Elementary

Queen Creek Junior High School

Queen Creek High School

Jack Barnes Elementary School

Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary

Newell Barney College Preparatory School

Queen Creek Virtual Academy

Gateway Polytechnic Academy

Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School

Eastmark High School

Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary

Silver Valley Elementary

Schnepf Elementary School

Crismon High School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

63%

Grade 3

44%

Grade 4

44%

Grade 5

49%

Grade 6

40%

Grade 7

34%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

55%

Grade 3

65%

Grade 4

53%

Grade 5

54%

Grade 6

54%

Grade 7

45%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

49%

Grade 5

43%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$576,344

Year-over-year change-0.9%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$562K to $587K

vs. state typical1.36x

vs. national typical1.57x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
85142	Queen Creek	$587K	-0.8%	56.5%
85212	Mesa	$562K	-1.1%	43.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,193/mo

Year-over-year change-0.5%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$2,185 to $2,199/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
85142	Queen Creek	$2,199	-0.1%	56.5%
85212	Mesa	$2,185	-1.0%	43.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,908/mo

Home price / national median income6.9x

Annual rent / national median income31.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$715/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$423,746 (-1.6% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.