The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 35% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Desert Sun Academy
Desert Sun Academy is a regular public school serving preschool through sixth grade in northern Scottsdale, part of the Cave Creek Unified District. It is a relatively small elementary school, with a student body that is predominantly white and includes a smaller but noticeable share of Hispanic students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, leaving a gap in understanding the school’s economic diversity. Similarly, information on students with disabilities and English learners was missing from the reported data.
Because the school ends at sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. State testing results are available for some grade levels in the most recent school year, but results for third, fourth, and sixth grades in both math and English language arts were suppressed, likely due to small group sizes. That means the only reported proficiency rates come from a single grade level each. In math, fifth-grade students showed a proficiency rate that was modest. In English language arts, fourth-grade students had a stronger rate, while fifth-grade students had a lower one. In science, which is tested only at fifth grade, the proficiency rate was moderate. With only one year of data available, no trend can be assessed. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint relative to other districts in Maricopa County, placing it in a middle-to-upper tier among a large field of county districts.
The school itself is a traditional, non-charter public school with no magnet designation. The district reported no recent notable changes or strategic initiatives. Scottsdale, where the school is located, is a large and affluent city with a tourism-driven economy and a major employment center around the Scottsdale Airpark. The housing market is very expensive, with home values far above national and state benchmarks and rents similarly high, making the area one of the pricier parts of the Phoenix metro. The cost of entry for a family is steep, and the high rent-to-income ratio suggests that housing consumes a large share of household budgets.
Families considering Desert Sun Academy are looking at a small, traditional elementary school in an affluent northern Scottsdale setting. The school’s academic picture is mixed but generally falls in line with many area schools, with some grade-level results stronger than others. The suppressed data for several grades means that the full picture of student performance is incomplete, and a parent may want to ask the school directly for more detail on how students in those grades are performing. The school’s size and grade band make it a neighborhood elementary option for families living in its attendance zone, and the lack of middle or high school grades means students will transition to another school afterward. The very high cost of housing in the area is a practical consideration for any family looking to move into the school’s boundaries.
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