The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Westwood Elementary School
Westwood Elementary School sits within the Alhambra Elementary District in Phoenix, a large, sprawling urban center that has long been one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. The school itself is a regular public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade, and its enrollment of several hundred students places it at a size typical for an elementary campus in this district. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller shares of Black, white, Native American, and Asian students. The data did not include the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, nor counts of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the supports available in those areas.
Academically, the state assessment results for the most recent school year show that proficiency rates in math and English language arts are well below the midpoint when compared with schools across Maricopa County. In math, the share of students scoring proficient was in the low teens for both third and fourth grades. In English language arts, fourth-grade proficiency was higher than math but still modest, while third-grade results were suppressed in the data; the school can be asked directly about that grade’s performance. Science results for fifth grade from a prior year were similarly low. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quarter of schools in the county, a clear signal for a family weighing academic outcomes.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to consider. The data also did not include chronic absenteeism rates, discipline records, or information about course access or staffing. There is no indication that the school is a charter or a magnet, and no program offerings were reported. The district’s recent history, based on available public sources, does not show any major parent-relevant changes such as boundary shifts or new initiatives, though that is not unusual for a district that was not in the news for such items.
The neighborhood context around the school reflects a large, car-oriented city with a precise grid street pattern. Home values and rents in the ZIP code area have seen a modest decline over the past year, and the typical home price is below the statewide average, making the area relatively more affordable than many parts of the Phoenix metro. A family looking at this school will find a campus that serves a heavily diverse student population in a large urban district, but one where academic proficiency is an area of concern based on the available state tests. Without data on supplemental programs, special education services, or English learner supports, a parent would be wise to visit, talk with the principal, and ask about the school’s approach to raising achievement and meeting the needs of all learners.
See more original research from School Decision →