The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 23% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Joseph Zito Elementary School
Joseph Zito Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the Isaac Elementary District, located in the West Phoenix neighborhood near Encanto Boulevard. The school sits within a large, sprawling urban center that functions as a major financial, communications, and transportation hub for the Mountain West. The area has experienced decades of rapid population growth, and the housing market in the immediate vicinity has softened recently, with both home values and rents showing a slight decline compared to a year earlier.
Academically, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades fell below the midpoint when placed against elementary schools in districts across Maricopa County. That composite picture reflects mixed results by subject and grade level. English language arts was the school’s strongest area: fourth graders posted a proficiency rate that was a clear majority, while third- and fifth-grade ELA results were not reported because the tested student groups were too small to release. In mathematics, fourth graders also performed at a modest level, though lower than in reading; third-grade math results were suppressed for the same small-group reason, and fifth-grade math was suppressed as well. Science results were available only for fifth graders and were notably lower than the school’s ELA performance. The multi-year data shows only one year of testing—the 2024-25 school year—so no trend is available. The fifth-grade results in both math and ELA were suppressed, which typically happens when the tested cohort falls below a state threshold for reporting.
The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with a small number of children identifying as Black, white, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, or two or more races. Enrollment appears to be stable across the grade levels, with each grade from kindergarten through fifth having a roughly similar number of students. Data on students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, those receiving special education services, and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly for that information. No information was provided on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or staffing ratios, so those dimensions of the school environment are not part of this profile.
Program offerings were not listed in the data, and the district brief found little recent change publicly reported. The school does not appear to be a magnet or charter school.
For families considering Joseph Zito Elementary, the school fits within a large district serving a wide area of Phoenix. The academic picture is mixed: stronger in fourth-grade reading than in math or science, with several grade-level results suppressed due to small group sizes, which may reflect the school’s overall size. A parent concerned about math and science performance may want to investigate whether the school offers targeted supports in those subjects. The surrounding housing market has been softening, which could affect affordability for incoming families. The school’s setting is a car-oriented urban grid, and the broader Phoenix economy is diversified across technology, manufacturing, tourism, and services. The lack of data on student support programs and school climate means that a visit and conversation with the principal would be especially valuable for any family trying to determine whether this environment matches their child’s needs.
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