The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on James W. Rice Elementary School
James W. Rice Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through eighth grade as part of the Alhambra Elementary District in Phoenix. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it operates in a large, sprawling urban setting. The school enrolls a substantial number of students, and the student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, a demographic profile that shapes the peer environment.
Academically, the picture is mixed. The school participates in Arizona’s state testing program, the AASA for math and English language arts and the AzSci for science. For the 2024-25 school year, some grade-level results are reported, while others are suppressed, which is typical when tested groups are too small to release. Among the grades where data is available, proficiency rates in both math and reading are lower than what many families might hope to see. Placed alongside other districts in Maricopa County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint, meaning its combined test performance across subjects and grades trails a typical district in the county. A parent exploring this school will want to ask the school directly about its academic improvement efforts and how it supports students who are not yet at grade level.
The school’s wide grade span, from PK through eighth grade, means a student can spend nearly their entire K-8 career in one building, which can offer stability and long-term relationships with staff. However, because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on college readiness or advanced coursework for older students. The district brief did not turn up recent parent-relevant changes like boundary shifts, school closures, or program additions, so the operating context appears stable.
Phoenix itself is a fast-growing urban center with a strong economy anchored in technology, manufacturing, tourism, and services. The housing market in the school’s zip code shows home values slightly below the state median and typical rent that accounts for a modest share of income, which may make the area relatively accessible for a city of this size. A family considering this school should know that the neighborhood is part of a very large city with car-oriented infrastructure and a wide range of civic amenities, from major sports venues to art museums and large parks.
Student support data such as the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the share with disabilities, or the share designated as English learners was not available. Given the school’s demographics and typical patterns in similar urban schools, it is likely that a meaningful portion of students come from low-income households and that English learner support is a central part of the school’s work, but the absence of data means a parent should verify this directly.
The civil rights and discipline data also was not provided, so it is not possible to assess suspension rates or equitable access to courses from the information at hand. The school’s course access and staffing data were likewise absent.
In summary, James W. Rice Elementary is a large, diverse PK-8 school in an urban district where academic proficiency on state tests falls below the county median. It offers the advantage of a continuous program from early childhood through middle school, set in a growing city with moderate housing costs relative to the broader Phoenix area. A family drawn to a school with a deeply Hispanic student body and a stable district context may find it a reasonable option, though they will want to investigate academic intervention programs and student support services to see if the school fits their child’s needs.
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