The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 26% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Indian Wells Elementary
Indian Wells Elementary is a regular public school serving students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in the small, rural community of Indian Wells, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. The school sits at the crossroads of Route 77 and another local road, within a dispersed census-designated place that covers a large area with very low population density. The school was built specifically so that elementary-aged children could attend school in their own community rather than making the long drive south to Holbrook, where the district’s secondary schools are located. After sixth grade, students move on to Holbrook Junior High School and Holbrook High School.
Indian Wells itself is a community that has seen population decline over recent decades. Historically anchored by a trading post, a store, and a Presbyterian hospital, those commercial and civic institutions have closed or relocated. No downtown or commercial core exists today; the built environment consists of scattered homes, a chapter house, a post office, and the elementary school, connected by rural roads across rolling hills and mesas. Most working-age residents commute to border towns or the Phoenix metropolitan area for employment. The chapter house and the school are the primary civic anchors. The district brief for Holbrook Unified District, which oversees Indian Wells Elementary, turned up no recent major changes or initiatives of lasting impact.
The student body is small, with an enrollment that reflects the surrounding community’s composition. An overwhelming majority of students are American Indian or Alaska Native. A small share of students are Hispanic, and a similarly small share identify as two or more races. The school serves a very small number of white students. Data on eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as counts of students with disabilities or English learners, were not reported in the available records, so a family looking for a fuller picture of the school’s support needs may want to ask the school directly.
Academic performance data from state assessments is mixed in completeness. For several grade levels in math, English language arts, and science, the results are suppressed, likely because the number of tested students in those grades falls below a threshold for reporting. Where results are reported, proficiency rates are modest. The school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades, when averaged, places it below the midpoint among the districts in Navajo County. In the most recent year, the combined ELA proficiency rate across all tested grades was lower than the combined math rate, but both were well below a majority of students reaching proficiency. Because the school serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate.
The data does not include information about programs such as art, music, physical education, or extracurricular offerings. No course access or staffing details were available. A parent interested in what enrichment or support services are available would need to inquire with the school directly.
Indian Wells Elementary is a small community school in a rural, primarily Navajo area. It provides a local elementary education so that young children do not have to travel to Holbrook daily. The academic results, where they are available, show that a majority of students are not meeting state proficiency benchmarks, and the suppressed data in several grades makes it hard to see the full picture. Families considering this school may want to discuss the school’s instructional approach, support services, and how it prepares students for the transition to Holbrook’s secondary schools.
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