The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in English language arts. The lowest is 48% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Carol Rae Ranch Elementary
Carol Rae Ranch Elementary is a regular public school in Gilbert, Arizona, serving students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. It belongs to the Gilbert Unified District, one of two main school systems that cover this large, fast-growing suburban community east of Phoenix. The school enrolls roughly several hundred students, making it a mid-sized elementary school for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a sizable Hispanic population and smaller shares of Asian, Black, Native American, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals was not available, and information on students with disabilities or English learners was also missing from the records we reviewed. A parent may want to ask the school directly about the range of support services and how they are resourced.
Academically, Carol Rae Ranch Elementary posted solid results on Arizona’s state assessments in the most recent testing year. In math, proficiency rates climbed steadily across grades: roughly half of third graders met the bar, a bit more than half of fourth graders, somewhat fewer than half of fifth graders, and about three in five sixth graders. In English language arts, the pattern was similar but higher: about half of third graders, three in five fourth graders, and nearly three in five fifth graders reached proficiency, while seventh-tenths of sixth graders did. Science results for fifth graders showed roughly half reaching proficiency. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint among all school districts in Maricopa County. That puts it in a solid middle-to-upper position compared with a large field of nearly four hundred district peers. The data does not allow a multi-year trend comparison because only a single year of comparable results was available.
Because the school serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report and no high school program offerings. Course access data for enrichment or gifted programs was not provided in the information we had.
The housing market in the area around the school is notably expensive. Home values run well above the state average and are also higher than the national average. Rents are similarly elevated. The monthly cost of owning a home after a standard down payment is significantly higher than renting, which points to a market where homeownership is a stretch for many families. The broader Gilbert economy is anchored by healthcare, education, and government employment, with large employers including the school district itself, Banner Health, and the town government. Gilbert has experienced explosive population growth over the past several decades, transforming from a farming community into a sprawling suburban city of master-planned subdivisions. Development continues, though at a slower pace. The town is largely car-dependent, with the Heritage District providing a small walkable core.
For families considering this school, the district context carries weight. Gilbert Public Schools has seen three consecutive failures of a maintenance and operations budget override, most recently in 2023, and voters also rejected a bond request that same year that would have funded renovations, technology upgrades, and new construction. In response, the district made budget reductions for the following school year, including eliminating some teaching positions through attrition and cutting discretionary spending at school sites. This sustained budget pressure directly affects class sizes and school-level resources. The district has adopted a five-year strategic plan focused on student success, safe schools, employee excellence, and family engagement, but the funding constraints remain a real consideration for parents weighing the day-to-day experience at Carol Rae Ranch Elementary against other options in the area.
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