The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in Math. The lowest is 28% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Larkspur Elementary School
Larkspur Elementary School is a regular public school in the Paradise Valley Unified District, serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in a northern area of Phoenix. The school’s enrollment is small for its grade band, and its student body is diverse. More than half of the students are Hispanic, with a substantial share of White students making up the next largest group, followed by smaller populations of students who are Black, two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Asian. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners were not available in the source material. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these support programs.
On state assessments, Larkspur’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades falls below the midpoint when compared with other elementary schools in Maricopa County. In the data that was available, proficiency rates in both math and English language arts were in a range that indicates a majority of students are not yet meeting state standards. For the most recent testing year, fourth-grade math showed about one-third of students proficient, and third- and fifth-grade English language arts each showed about one-quarter to one-third proficient. The school’s trend data is very limited, with only a single year of reported results for both math and English language arts, so no meaningful trend direction can be established. Test results for some grade levels across both subjects and for fifth-grade science were suppressed, which may reflect small group sizes. A parent should look into what academic interventions and supports are in place.
The school’s location in Phoenix places it within a large, sprawling urban center. Phoenix is a major financial, transportation, and communications hub for the Mountain West, with an economy rooted in services, technology, manufacturing, and tourism. It is among the fastest-growing large cities in the country. The built environment is car-oriented, with wide roadways on a precise grid. The area around the school, in the census-designated area of Paradise Valley, is a developed suburban corridor. Housing values in the school’s ZIP code are above the national median, and rents are similarly elevated, reflecting the broader Phoenix market where affordability is a challenge; the estimated cost of renting is notably lower than the cost of a monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home. A parent looking at the neighborhood should expect a competitive housing market.
Larkspur is a regular, non-charter public school that is part of a district serving a large area of northern Phoenix and the town of Paradise Valley. The district’s research sources did not produce information on recent changes, such as boundary adjustments, program launches, or leadership turnover, that would be relevant to a parent. A parent should reach out to the district office to ask about any current initiatives or strategic priorities that might affect the school.
Because this is an elementary school with no high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Similarly, data on chronic absenteeism was not available. The school’s programs and course access offerings were not included in the provided data, so this narrative cannot describe what extracurriculars, arts, or specialized academic tracks are available. A parent visiting the school or checking its website would want to confirm what is offered beyond the core curriculum.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a small, diverse elementary school within a large district, where state testing results are below the county average across the board. The neighborhood is in an expensive and growing metropolitan area. A parent would likely want to have a direct conversation with the principal about how the school addresses student needs in core subjects, what academic supports exist, and what the school’s specific priorities are for the coming years.
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