The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in Science. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pima Butte Elementary School
Pima Butte Elementary School is a regular public school serving preschool through fifth grade in Maricopa, Arizona, within the Maricopa Unified School District. The city itself is a fast-growing bedroom community southeast of Phoenix, dominated by master-planned residential subdivisions and a car-dependent layout. Its population has risen steeply in recent decades, and new housing construction continues. The school sits in this expanding suburban context, and the district recently opened a second comprehensive high school to keep pace with enrollment growth.
State testing results are available for grades three through five in math and English language arts, and for fifth-grade science. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to other schools across Pinal County districts, a signal that academic performance here is stronger than in many nearby schools. That said, the pattern differs by grade. In third and fourth grades, about a third of students scored proficient in math, and roughly two in five did so in reading. Fifth-grade results are notably higher: a majority of students met standards in math and more than half did so in reading and science. This jump is a point of strength for the upper elementary years, though families with children in the early grades may want to ask the school about academic support and intervention practices there, since the dip is visible in the data.
The student body is mixed by race and ethnicity, with white and Hispanic students each making up a substantial share, and Black students and students identifying as two or more races each representing about one in ten. Asian and American Indian students are present in smaller numbers. Key indicators that would round out the picture of student need are absent from available data: the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, the proportion with disabilities, and the count of English learners are all unreported. A parent interested in the school’s approach to economic disadvantage, special education, or language support will need to ask directly, because the record does not speak to those dimensions. No discipline data, staffing ratios, or course access information are available either, so the profile of student support and school climate is incomplete.
Housing in Maricopa has a median value in the mid‑$300,000 range and typical rents near $1,800 a month, making it more affordable than much of the Phoenix metro area. The city’s employment base includes a major casino resort, automotive proving grounds, agricultural research facilities, and municipal government. Commuting times are long for many residents, as the area functions largely as a bedroom community.
Pima Butte is a traditional elementary school within a growing public district, with no charter or magnet status. It does not serve middle or high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. The academic results show an upward trajectory as students move through the grade levels, and the school’s overall standing among Pinal County peers is a clear strength. For a family seeking a regular public elementary in a rapidly developing suburban setting, this school offers above‑average tested performance for the county, but the gaps in reported student support data mean the full picture of resources and needs is not visible from public sources alone.
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