The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in English language arts. The lowest is 49% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Charles W Sechrist Elementary School
Charles W Sechrist Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade in Flagstaff, Arizona, as part of the Flagstaff Unified School District. It is a regular public elementary school, not a charter or magnet school, and sits within a community shaped by Northern Arizona University, tourism, and scientific institutions.
The school’s student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic presence and a smaller but present American Indian or Alaska Native population. Families looking at the school will see a peer environment that is not highly diverse compared to some other Flagstaff schools. Data on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor was information on the share of students receiving special education services or identified as English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the range of student support needs it serves.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, Sechrist’s results show a clear pattern. In third grade, the share of students meeting proficiency in both math and English language arts was moderate, with math slightly behind English. By fourth grade, the school posted stronger results in both subjects, with English language arts proficiency reaching a solid level and math also improving notably. Fifth-grade proficiency in English language arts and math settled back somewhat from the fourth-grade peak, though both remained above the third-grade marks. In fifth-grade science, roughly half of students reached the proficient level. Considered across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Coconino County, a strong standing. The district’s website notes that high school students have access to dual-enrollment and career and technical education, but since this school serves only elementary grades, that pathway is not available here.
No chronic absenteeism data was reported, and graduation rate does not apply to an elementary school. Information on class sizes, teacher experience, and discipline was also not available, so a family considering the school would need to seek those details from the school or district.
The Flagstaff Unified School District has sought voter approval for bonds and overrides in recent election cycles, which has implications for school funding and local property taxes. The district has expanded magnet school programs, including elementary magnets for bilingual education and arts and science, though Sechrist itself is not one of those magnet schools.
Flagstaff itself is a mid-sized city with a historic downtown featuring restored sandstone buildings. Northern Arizona University is a major presence, along with federal scientific installations and tourism as key economic drivers. Housing in the area commands a premium relative to the state as a whole, and rents are also elevated, reflecting the city’s desirability and the constraints of its mountain location. The city has been experiencing drought conditions, an environmental factor that affects the broader region.
For a parent, Sechrist Elementary presents as a school with a strong proficiency record relative to other schools in the county, particularly in fourth grade, and a predominantly white student body. The absence of data on the share of economically disadvantaged students and on student support programs means there are open questions about the range of needs the school typically handles. Families with a child who will enter preschool can find that option here, since the school serves from that grade upward.
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