Black Mountain Elementary School, Golden Valley AZ

Original Research by School Decision on Black Mountain Elementary School

Black Mountain Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Golden Valley, a large unincorporated community in Mohave County. It is part of the Kingman Unified School District. The school enrolls several hundred students, drawn from the surrounding rural desert area where homes sit on acre-plus lots and there is no traditional town center. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic share and smaller representations of other racial and ethnic groups. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners was not reported.

State assessment results for the 2024-25 school year provide a mixed picture. In mathematics, proficiency rates were reported for only two grade levels: about a quarter of fourth graders and a modest share of eighth graders met the state standard. In English language arts, reported rates ranged from roughly a quarter of sixth graders to just over two-fifths of eighth graders. Science results were available for two grades: a little more than a quarter of fifth graders and a little more than a third of eighth graders scored proficient. Results for several other grade levels were suppressed, typically because the number of students tested was too small to report publicly. The school’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Mohave County. Only a single year of data was available, so no trend can be assessed.

Because the school ends at eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access were not provided. The district’s online presence did not surface any recent changes or initiatives of lasting parent relevance.

Golden Valley itself is a low-density residential census-designated place, originally developed from inexpensive large parcels. The population skews older, with many retirees, and labor force participation is low. Most working residents commute roughly ten miles east to Kingman or west to Bullhead City. There is no downtown, no transit system, and very limited retail or commercial activity. Sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure are essentially absent; daily life is car-dependent. The Arizona State Prison near Kingman is a notable local employer. Civic services are provided by the county sheriff and a local fire department. Public parks and libraries are not found within the community; residents rely on nearby cities for amenities.

For families considering this school, Black Mountain Elementary offers a setting that reflects the character of its surrounding community: rural, spread out, and quiet. The academic results indicate that a majority of students are not reaching state proficiency standards in tested subjects, and the school’s performance is below the typical level for the county. Parents who want a deeper understanding of instructional practices or student support are best served by contacting the school directly. The pathway beyond eighth grade leads to Kingman, where students would attend high school for the district.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 423%

School 23% · District 33% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 815%

School 15% · District 14% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 431%

School 31% · District 35% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 530%

School 30% · District 30%

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 625%

School 25% · District 25%

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 842%

School 42% · District 28% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Science

Grade 527%

School 27% · District 27%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 836%

School 36% · District 24% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

This schoolKingman Unified School District (79598), same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.