The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in Math. The lowest is 55% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Coronado Elementary School
Coronado Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in the Higley Unified School District, one of two public school systems that serve the town of Gilbert, a large, primarily residential suburb southeast of Phoenix. The school sits in a fast-growing part of town where master-planned subdivisions and commercial corridors have replaced what was once farmland, and where development continues, though the explosive pace of earlier decades has moderated. The school’s enrollment falls in the range of several hundred students, making it a relatively small elementary and middle school for Gilbert’s sprawling landscape.
The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic representation, smaller Asian, Black, multiracial, and Native American populations, and a very small Pacific Islander share. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not reported, so family income levels among the student population are not available from that standard measure. Data on the share of students with disabilities and those classified as English learners were also not reported.
Academically, Coronado Elementary stands on strong ground. On the state assessments given in the 2024-25 school year, across math, English language arts, and science, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the top quartile of all schools whose districts sit within Maricopa County. This is a high-performing position relative to the wide field of schools across the county. In math, proficiency rates were solid across grades three through six, with the strongest performance in fifth grade. In English language arts, rates were also solid across those same grades, with fourth and sixth graders posting the highest results. In science, for which the state tests only fifth grade, a majority of students scored proficient or above.
The school does not serve grades seven or eight, despite its PK through eight grade-band designation in official records; enrollment data shows no students in those upper grades. This means the academic profile covers only elementary and early middle school years, and the school’s graduation rate is not applicable because it does not serve high school grades.
Many families considering Coronado will be drawn to its consistently strong test results across the grade levels it does serve. The school’s overall proficiency ranks high among its county peers, and the pattern across subjects and grades is steady and positive. For a parent looking for an elementary through early middle school pathway in the southeast Gilbert area, the academic data suggests a school that is performing well on the state’s benchmarks.
The context of the community matters here. Gilbert has become a major suburban city with a large population, strong employment in education, healthcare, and defense, and an extensive parks system. The Heritage District offers some walkable civic and cultural life, but the town’s overall fabric is car-dependent, with wide roads and residential subdivisions. Housing values in the school’s ZIP code are elevated, and rents are also high, reflecting the area’s desirability and the broader Phoenix market’s affordability pressures. The local housing market has seen a slight softening in both values and rents recently, but the area remains expensive relative to national averages. The unemployment rate is low, and median household income for the nation is in the mid-eighties, though that national figure should be taken as a general reference, not a local number.
No data was available on the school’s chronic absenteeism rate, which means a parent who wants to understand student attendance patterns would need to ask the school directly. Similarly, information on course access, staffing, discipline, and program offerings was not in the available records, so the range of electives, arts, music, or advanced coursework at the middle school level is not captured here. The school’s Title I status was also not reported, which could affect how resources and supports are allocated, but this information was missing from the data rather than indicating a negative finding.
The district brief was not available, so there is no information here on any recent or upcoming changes in Higley Unified School District’s leadership, boundaries, or policy that might affect Coronado families. A parent moving into the area would want to check with the district office or the school itself for the most current updates on zoning, transportation, and programming.
In sum, Coronado Elementary is a well-regarded academic school in a growing, affluent suburb, with strong state assessment results that place it among the higher-performing schools in its county. It serves an elementary and early middle school population, with no upper middle or high school grades on site. Families seeking a school with clear evidence of strong student achievement across the grades it covers will find much to like here, while those wanting a fuller picture of attendance, programming, and student supports will need to pursue those details directly with the school.
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