The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Math. The lowest is 33% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Islands Elementary School
Islands Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade as a regular public school in Gilbert, Arizona, part of the Gilbert Unified District. The school is located on McQueen Road in a primarily residential area of this fast-growing suburban community southeast of Phoenix. Gilbert has transformed from an agricultural town into a large master-planned suburb, with a small historic downtown in the Heritage District but an overall car-dependent layout of subdivisions and strip commercial corridors.
The state testing data available for the 2024-25 school year covers math and English language arts for grades three through six, and science for grade five. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Maricopa County. That aggregate picture, however, masks a notable grade-level pattern. In math, proficiency rates for third and fourth graders are moderate, while fifth graders perform at a similar level. Sixth graders, by contrast, reach a noticeably higher proficiency rate in math. The pattern in English language arts mirrors this: third and fourth grade rates are lower, fifth grade improves to a more moderate level, and sixth grade again shows a strong result. In science, the fifth-grade proficiency rate is moderate. The data suggests that students tend to gain ground by the time they reach the upper elementary grades, but earlier grades show more mixed results. A parent may want to investigate what academic supports are available for younger students, particularly in literacy and math.
The student body is diverse. The largest racial or ethnic groups are White students and Hispanic students, each making up a substantial share of enrollment, followed by smaller groups of students who identify as two or more races, Black, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. 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 in the data. That gap limits a full understanding of the school’s support needs and resource allocation.
The Gilbert Unified District has faced recent financial challenges that directly affect its schools. In November 2023, voters rejected a maintenance and operations budget override for the third consecutive election, turning down a measure that would have generated additional annual revenue. Voters also rejected a bond request that would have funded school renovations, technology upgrades, and new construction. In response, the district implemented budget reductions for the 2024-25 school year, including eliminating some teaching positions through attrition and reducing discretionary budgets at individual school sites. These cuts have implications for class sizes and school-level resources. The district has also adopted a five-year strategic plan focused on student success, safe schools, employee excellence, and family and community engagement, which guides priorities through 2027.
Gilbert’s housing market reflects the area’s desirability. Typical home values and rents are above national benchmarks, though home values have seen a modest recent decline while rents have edged up. The town’s top employers include the school district itself, healthcare systems, and defense and professional services firms. Growth has been explosive over the past several decades, with the population rising sharply from a small town to a large suburb, although the pace has slowed from its peak.
Islands Elementary sits within a suburban neighborhood setting typical of Gilbert’s residential fabric. The school does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate applies. For a family considering this school, the academic data shows a school where sixth graders perform well, but earlier grades have room for improvement. The broader district context of constrained funding and recent budget cuts is worth weighing alongside the school’s specific academic profile. The student population is racially and economically diverse, though the absence of free-lunch and special-program data makes it harder to assess the full range of student needs and supports.
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