The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in Math. The lowest is 22% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on El Mirage Elementary School
ElMirage Elementary School is a regular public school within the Dysart Unified District, serving students from preschool through fourth grade based on current enrollment. While its official grade band extends through eighth grade, the school’s enrollment data shows students only in grades PK through 4, with no students in grades 5 through 8. This reflects the district-wide reconfiguration that took effect in the 2021-2022 school year, when Dysart converted several of its schools into separate elementary and middle school campuses, altering which grade levels each building serves. Families entering the district should be aware that the school’s role in the feeder pattern may have shifted as a result.
El Mirage itself is a suburban city within the northwestern Phoenix metropolitan area. Originally an agricultural settlement, it has grown into a diverse community with a mix of residential subdivisions, strip commercial development along Grand Avenue, and industrial parks anchored by a Foreign Trade Zone. Major employers include Luke Air Force Base, Walmart, Dysart Schools, and several industrial companies. The city lacks a traditional downtown; civic life centers on a new city hall, parks, a library, and a YMCA-run recreation facility. Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to the state as a whole, and the city has seen steady population growth, though development has historically been constrained by proximity to Luke Air Force Base flight paths.
Academically, El Mirage Elementary’s state assessment results from the 2024-2025 school year place its overall proficiency below the midpoint when compared to other districts across Maricopa County. In math, a majority of third and fourth graders met or exceeded the state’s proficiency standard. In English language arts, proficiency was lower: roughly two in five third graders and just under half of fourth graders reached the benchmark. Science data is available only from an earlier testing cycle, before the grade reconfiguration, and no longer reflects the current student body. Because the school serves only early elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available.
The student population is diverse and predominantly Hispanic, with smaller shares of white, Black, multiracial, and other backgrounds. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, as well as counts of students with individualized education programs and English learners, were not reported in the available records. A parent may want to inquire directly with the school about these figures, as they often shape the level of support services and resources available.
The Dysart district itself underwent a branding change in July 2022, adopting the name Dysart Schools, alongside the grade reconfiguration. This means that families considering El Mirage Elementary should clarify which middle school their child would feed into after fourth grade, as earlier patterns have changed. The school operates as a standard, non-charter public school; no magnet or Title I status was reported in the data.
For a parent weighing this school, the strengths include a manageable early elementary setting with a focus on foundational grades, set within a growing community that offers relatively affordable housing compared to the broader Phoenix area. The main soft spot is the below-county-average proficiency, particularly in English language arts. Because the school only serves through fourth grade, academic performance in later grades must be evaluated at the middle school level. Given the district reconfiguration, it would be wise to confirm the current feeder school and any changes to program offerings that may accompany the transition.
See more original research from School Decision →