Estrella Foothills Global Academy, Laveen AZ

Original Research by School Decision on Estrella Foothills Global Academy

Estrella Foothills Global Academy is a regular public school in the Laveen Elementary District, serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school opened in 2020 with a global studies curriculum focused on world languages, cultural understanding, and global awareness, adding a specialized program option for families in the growing Laveen area. Because it serves only through eighth grade, the school does not report a graduation rate, and no high-school-level metrics like AP or dual-credit offerings apply here.

The school enrolls a large student body for its grade band. The student population is diverse, with a majority of students identifying as Hispanic, followed by smaller but substantial shares of White students, Black students, and students of two or more races. The school reports that a small number of students identify as Asian, and a very small number as American Indian or Alaska Native. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available in the reviewed records; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these support contexts.

On state assessments, results varied by grade and subject. In English language arts, proficiency rates for most tested grades clustered in a moderate range, with the highest rate in fourth grade and the lowest in fifth grade. In math, the pattern was more uneven: the highest proficiency rates were in third and fourth grade, while rates dropped noticeably for fifth through seventh grade. Eighth-grade math results were not reported in the available data, which may reflect suppression for small group sizes. In science, fifth-grade proficiency was moderate, and eighth-grade science proficiency was lower. Compared to other districts in Maricopa County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint.

The district has seen recent investments that directly affect Estrella Foothills Global Academy and its families. In November 2023, voters passed a bond to fund new classrooms, safety and security upgrades, middle school classrooms, and technology improvements. In November 2024, voters approved a budget override providing additional funding for full-day kindergarten, art, music, and physical education at all schools, lower class sizes, preschool, and other educational services. This override is funded through secondary property taxes, which will affect homeowners in the district.

Laveen itself is a rapidly growing area with a mix of agricultural roots and new residential developments. The community is predominantly suburban and rural in layout, with limited walkability and a car-oriented environment. The Loop freeway extension along 59th Avenue opened in recent years, reinforcing auto dependence and spurring plans for new retail and a hospital. Community activists have pushed for equestrian trails and open spaces in new developments. The area lacks a traditional downtown core, with schools and civic institutions spread across the community. South Mountain Park borders Laveen to the south, and the Gila River Indian Community lies to the west.

For a family considering this school, the profile is clear. A relatively new K-8 school offering a global-studies theme in a fast-growing part of metro Phoenix. Test scores are mixed, with some grades performing better than others, and the school’s overall proficiency index trails its county peers. The school has no high school grades, so families will need to plan for where their child will attend ninth grade, likely through the Phoenix Union High School District. District voters have approved additional funding for facilities and programs that directly support the elementary and middle school experience. A family whose priority is an early- to middle-grade global studies emphasis in a growing, car-centric suburban setting may find this a natural fit. A family focused on consistently high state assessment scores or on a single K-12 progression should look into the middle school years closely and consider the high school options that follow.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 354%

School 54% · District 39% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 451%

School 51% · District 37% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 524%

School 24% · District 30% · ▼ 6 pts below district

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

Grade 626%

School 26% · District 24% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 719%

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

▼ 13 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 455%

School 55% · District 44% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 531%

School 31% · District 31%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 13 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 739%

School 39% · District 42% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 839%

School 39% · District 41% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 532%

School 32% · District 30% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 825%

School 25% · District 27% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 10 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.