The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in English language arts. The lowest is 54% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Centennial Elementary School
Centennial Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through sixth grade, though its official designation extends through eighth grade and includes prekindergarten. In practice the current enrollment runs from kindergarten through sixth, with the largest cohort in fifth grade. The school belongs to the Higley Unified School District and sits in the fast-growing southeastern Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, a town that has transformed from a farming community into a large master-planned residential suburb with a small historic downtown along Gilbert Road and wide arterial roads connecting neighborhoods to commercial corridors.
On state assessments Centennial Elementary stands out as a high-performing school relative to districts across Maricopa County. Its overall proficiency index sits in the top quarter of the county, a meaningful indicator for families weighing school options. Reading this across tested grades and subjects, the school’s strongest results come in the middle elementary years. For example, fourth graders posted a very strong proficiency rate in both math and English language arts, and third graders also performed well. Sixth graders remained solid in both subjects. The one area where performance dipped meaningfully was fifth grade math, where the proficiency rate was notably lower, a soft spot that a parent may want to ask about directly. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed roughly half of students proficient, which is consistent with many elementary schools across the state. The school lacks a multi-year trend line that would show whether these scores are improving or declining from prior years, so the snapshot is a single year.
Gilbert itself is a place of rapid recent growth, with a population that has swelled substantially over recent decades. The housing market reflects that demand: home values are high relative to national benchmarks, and rents are similarly elevated. Most families commute by car, and the built environment is suburban and spread out. The school is located near major arterials, and the Heritage District a few miles north offers some pedestrian-oriented amenities. Gilbert’s largest employers include school districts, health care systems, and defense firms, so many parents likely work locally or in nearby areas of the Phoenix metro.
The student body at Centennial Elementary is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population making up roughly a quarter of enrollment. There are smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, Black, Asian, and Native American. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status are missing from the available reporting, so a family that relies on those metrics to understand peer environment or support services would need to get them directly from the school. Likewise, information on discipline rates, staffing ratios, and course access was not provided.
Because the school is part of the Higley Unified School District, families should expect that the district’s overall approach and resources apply here. No specific district-level changes or strategic priorities were reported, so the local context is limited to what the locale brief describes. The school’s strong academic standing in the county is its clearest asset, and the suburban, car-oriented setting of Gilbert will feel familiar to families looking for a stable, growing community. The gap in fifth-grade math and the missing student support data are points worth exploring before enrolling. For a family that prioritizes above-average academic outcomes in a large, fast-growing suburb with a relatively high cost of living, Centennial Elementary merits serious consideration, but the lack of information on programs and special populations means a phone call or visit would be wise.
See more original research from School Decision →