The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pacific Heritage Academy
Pacific Heritage Academy is a single‑school charter district in Salt Lake County serving kindergarten through eighth grade. With an enrollment around that size for a K‑8 campus, it operates as a standalone charter organization rather than part of a larger district. The district brief notes that no significant recent changes were found, so the school appears to be running on a familiar footing without major structural or leadership upheavals in the past several years.
The student body is notably diverse. A little under half of the students are Hispanic, and a sizeable share is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Smaller groups include Asian, white, multiracial, Black, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. This mix gives the school a distinct peer environment compared with many of the more homogeneous districts in Salt Lake County. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status are not available in the provided records, so a parent would need to ask the school directly about those supports.
On state assessments, the academy’s proficiency rates place it in the bottom quarter among Salt Lake County’s districts. In math, roughly a fifth of students scored proficient. In English language arts, the share was around three in ten, and in science, around three in ten as well. These figures are well below the county median, making academics a clear area where the school differs from many of its neighbors. Because the data come from a single year for math and science and from the prior year for ELA, and because Utah recently changed cut scores for ELA, it is not possible to reliably compare trends across years. Still, the overall picture is one of low proficiency rates relative to the county.
Chronic absenteeism is another area that stands out. The school reports a rate that places it in the bottom quarter among county districts, meaning a high proportion of students miss a substantial number of school days. This is a pattern that can affect instructional continuity and peer learning, and a parent considering the school may want to understand what drives absenteeism and what supports are in place to address it.
One bright spot is per‑pupil spending, which falls in the upper range of Salt Lake County districts. That suggests the school directs above‑average resources toward each student, possibly for smaller class sizes, extra staff, or specialized materials. Without more detailed budget or program information, it is hard to say exactly how those funds are used, but it is a positive indicator relative to peers.
Because the academy ends at eighth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to evaluate. The school’s program offerings, course access, and staffing ratios are not reported in the available data, so families exploring this option would need to contact the school directly for details on electives, specials, intervention programs, and enrichment.
Pacific Heritage Academy fits a family looking for a small, diverse K‑8 charter setting in Salt Lake County, one where the academic results on state tests are currently lower than many area districts and where chronic absenteeism is a concern. The above‑average spending may signal that resources are available to address those challenges, but a parent should investigate what the school is doing to improve learning outcomes and attendance. For a family that values a close‑knit, culturally varied school community and is willing to engage actively with the school around academic support, this may be a suitable match.
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