Charles W. Harris School, Phoenix AZ

Original Research by School Decision on Charles W. Harris School

Charles W. Harris School is a regular public school in Phoenix’s Cartwright Elementary District, serving children from preschool through eighth grade. With an enrollment that is sizable for an elementary and middle school, it draws almost entirely from the surrounding neighborhood. The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, and the school reflects the demographics of west Phoenix—a densely populated, working-class part of the city. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, though these are common areas families would want to clarify directly with the school.

On state assessments, performance is a soft spot. In math, proficiency rates across third through eighth grade are consistently low, with the highest rate in third grade and the lowest in sixth grade. English language arts results are similarly modest: the strongest showing comes in fourth grade, while other grades trail well behind. Science results were available only for eighth grade, where the proficiency rate is low; fifth-grade science results were suppressed, so no conclusion can be drawn there. Compared with other districts across Maricopa County, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. A parent considering Charles W. Harris may want to look into what academic interventions or supports are in place, particularly in mathematics and literacy, and how the school addresses the needs of students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks.

The school serves only through eighth grade, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing were not provided, nor was there information about course offerings, extracurricular programs, or specialized pathways. The district did not report any recent notable changes or initiatives, so a family would need to ask current parents or the school office about programming specifics.

Charles W. Harris is located in Phoenix, a fast-growing urban center with a sprawling footprint and a car-oriented street grid. The city’s economy is anchored in high-technology, manufacturing, tourism, and services, and it has been one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities over recent decades. The school sits in a zip code where home values have seen a slight year-over-year decline and are below the state average, while rents have also eased a bit. The housing stock in this part of Phoenix is relatively affordable compared with national benchmarks, which may matter for families looking to buy near the school.

For a parent or resident sizing up this school, the picture is straightforward. Charles W. Harris is a neighborhood school with a largely homogeneous student population, set in a high-growth urban area with affordable but softening housing. Academic results are below typical levels for the county, especially in math and science. Families who value a familiar, close-to-home option and are prepared to engage with the school’s academic challenges may find it a reasonable fit. Those seeking strong test scores or a wide array of enrichment programs will want to look into what specific supports the school offers, as the data available here leaves many of those details unaddressed.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 334%

School 34% · District 24% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 423%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 19%

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 612%

School 12% · District 14% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 28 pts below county median

Grade 715%

School 15% · District 8% · ▲ 7 pts above district

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

Grade 818%

School 18% · District 10% · ▲ 8 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 319%

School 19% · District 16% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 433%

School 33% · District 27% · ▲ 6 pts above district

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

Grade 515%

School 15% · District 21% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 615%

School 15% · District 23% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 28 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

Grade 720%

School 20% · District 24% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 826%

School 26% · District 24% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 812%

School 12% · District 16% · ▼ 4 pts below district

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

This schoolCartwright Elementary District (4282), 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.