Laveen Elementary School, Laveen AZ

Original Research by School Decision on Laveen Elementary School

Laveen Elementary School is a regular public school serving students from preschool through eighth grade in the unincorporated community of Laveen, Arizona, which sits within Maricopa County. It is one of eight K-8 schools in the Laveen Elementary School District, a district that has been growing rapidly as residential development transforms what was once a rural farming area. Because the school stops at eighth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report; students who complete eighth grade here move on to high schools in the Phoenix Union High School District, such as Betty H. Fairfax or César Chávez High School.

The school’s academic results, based on Arizona’s state assessments, show that proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades fall below the midpoint when compared with other school districts in Maricopa County. In both math and English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient varies by grade, but across the board the rates are modest. For example, in math, proficiency hovers around a fifth to a little over a third of students depending on the grade level, with no grade reaching the halfway mark. English language arts shows a similar pattern: a few grades reach around two-fifths proficient, while others are lower. Science results are also limited, with about a quarter of fifth graders and just over a quarter of eighth graders meeting the proficiency bar. A parent considering this school will want to look into how the school supports students who are below grade level and what interventions are in place, as the overall picture suggests that a majority of students are not yet meeting state standards.

The student body is diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest share, with Black, white, American Indian, Asian, and multiracial students also represented. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners is not available in the reported information, so a fuller picture of the school’s socioeconomic and support needs is incomplete. The school’s website or district office would be the place to ask about these programs.

Laveen itself is a place in transition. Historically an area of alfalfa, cotton, and dairy farms, it has seen explosive residential growth over the past couple of decades. Much of the community remains unincorporated county land, while parts have been annexed into Phoenix and are designated as Laveen Village. The built environment is low density and car-oriented; a freeway extension along 59th Avenue opened recently and has spurred plans for more retail, a hospital, and additional housing. Home values in the area are moderate by national standards but have seen a slight recent decline, while rents have edged up. A typical home purchase would require a significant portion of household income, and renting may be more financially manageable than buying, given the mortgage-versus-rent comparison.

The Laveen Elementary District has been responding to growth. In 2023, voters approved a bond to build new classrooms, make safety upgrades, and improve technology infrastructure. A year later, in 2024, they passed a budget override that provides additional funding for full-day kindergarten, art, music, physical education, lower class sizes, and preschool. These investments suggest that the district is actively working to expand capacity and enrich its offerings, though the impact on academic outcomes at Laveen Elementary will take time to materialize.

For a family considering Laveen Elementary, the school offers a K-8 pathway in a setting that is still partly rural but rapidly suburbanizing. The academic results are a clear area of concern, and a parent would be wise to visit classrooms, talk to teachers about how they address gaps, and ask about specific supports for struggling students. The district’s recent funding measures signal an intent to improve facilities and programs, but the current proficiency data points to a school where most children are not yet performing at grade level in core subjects. This context would suit a family that is prepared to be actively involved and to supplement learning at home, or one that values the community setting and is willing to work with the school on academic progress.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 336%

School 36% · District 39% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 420%

School 20% · District 37% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 527%

School 27% · District 30% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 631%

School 31% · District 24% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 719%

School 19% · District 24% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 820%

School 20% · District 22% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 337%

School 37% · District 32% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 437%

School 37% · District 44% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 31% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 641%

School 41% · District 38% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 725%

School 25% · District 42% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 841%

School 41% · District 41%

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Science

Grade 525%

School 25% · District 30% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 27% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

This schoolLaveen Elementary District (4276), same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.