The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Science. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Asu Preparatory Academy- Phoenix Elementary
ASU Preparatory Academy – Phoenix Elementary is a public charter school serving kindergarten through fourth grade, located in central Phoenix within the ASU Preparatory Academy network. The school occupies a single campus on East Fillmore Street in a densely developed urban corridor of the city. Because it serves only early elementary grades, there is no graduation rate or secondary-level program data to report, and state testing results are limited to the grades it tests.
The school enrolls a medium-sized elementary student body for this grade band. The student population is diverse, with a large majority identifying as Hispanic, along with smaller shares of Black, White, and multiracial students, and very small numbers of Asian, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on economic disadvantage, English learner status, and special education identification were not available, so a parent should inquire directly about these supports and the school’s approach to serving students with different learning needs.
State assessment results offer a mixed picture. In third-grade math, proficiency was below the midpoint among schools across tested grades and subjects in Maricopa County. In fourth-grade math, the result was suppressed, meaning it could not be publicly reported, often due to a small group size. In fourth-grade English language arts, the proficiency rate was below the county midpoint as well. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested subjects and grades, falls below the midpoint of districts in Maricopa County. This soft spot in core academic performance is a reason for a parent considering this school to ask about the school’s curriculum, intervention strategies, and how it supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks. Science assessment data is more dated, coming from the 2018-19 school year, the last year before the pandemic disrupted statewide testing, and is not current enough to characterize the school’s present performance.
Phoenix itself is a large, sprawling urban center that blends commercial, residential, and industrial uses across a very large footprint. The city has a flat topography with a precise street grid and car-oriented built environment. Its economy shifted in the mid-20th century from agriculture to services, technology, tourism, and manufacturing, particularly in electronics, transportation, and aerospace. Phoenix has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, though the immediate neighborhood around the school reflects the older, central parts of the city. Housing values in the area are roughly comparable to the statewide benchmark for Arizona, with rental costs also near the state median, making the area moderately priced relative to other parts of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The ASU Preparatory Academy network operates multiple campuses in the Phoenix area. No recent district-level changes that would be directly relevant to a parent were identified in public sources. The school shares its name and charter with Arizona State University, which may appeal to families who value a university-aligned approach, though the specific curriculum or academic model of this elementary campus is not detailed in the available data.
For a family looking at this school, the key considerations are clear. The school serves a diverse, urban elementary population. Academic proficiency in math and reading, where results are available, is below the midpoint of its county peers. The school does not serve grades beyond fourth, which means families will need a plan for the next step in their child’s education. The charter structure offers an alternative to the traditional district public schools in the area, and the university affiliation may bring resources or an academic orientation worth exploring directly with the school. A parent should follow up on the suppressed fourth-grade math score, the school’s approach to students who are not yet proficient, and the availability of the student support services that are not reflected in the data here.
See more original research from School Decision →