The reported proficiency rate for English language arts is 18%.
Original Research by School Decision on Whittier Elementary School
Whittier Elementary School serves students from preschool through eighth grade as part of the Phoenix Elementary District, located in central Phoenix. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. Its student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a racial and ethnic composition that reflects the surrounding neighborhood. The enrollment is small for a school spanning elementary and middle grades.
State testing data for the school is limited. For the most recent school year, proficiency results in English language arts were available for two grade levels and showed rates that were low. Results for math, science, and all other tested grades were suppressed by the state, meaning the data is not reported. A proficiency index that averages results across all tested subjects and grades places the school in the bottom quarter relative to districts across Maricopa County. A parent may want to ask the school directly about its academic performance and how it supports student progress, as the public data does not provide a full picture.
The school serves all grades from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, so there is no graduation rate to report. Information on special education identification, English learner status, chronic absenteeism, and free or reduced-price meal eligibility was not available in the data provided. Similarly, no data on discipline, course access, or staffing was present.
The surrounding housing market in the school's zip code has seen home values and rents decline somewhat over the most recent year tracked, a pattern that differs from the national trend of slight price increases. Home values are near the statewide benchmark. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a typical home, assuming a standard down payment and the prevailing interest rate, is roughly comparable to what a family might pay in rent, suggesting no clear financial advantage to renting versus buying at current prices. National economic indicators show that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has drifted modestly higher in recent weeks, and the unemployment rate has held steady.
Phoenix itself is a large, fast-growing urban city with a broad economic base that includes technology, manufacturing, tourism, and services. It is a major transportation and financial hub for the region. The city's grid layout and wide, car-oriented streets mean that getting to school likely requires a vehicle or bus. Public information about specific recent changes or initiatives within the Phoenix Elementary District that would be of lasting interest to parents was not found.
In sum, Whittier Elementary School is a neighborhood school serving a predominantly Hispanic student body in central Phoenix. Its publicly available academic data is sparse, and where results are reported they are low. The school operates within a large urban district and a major metropolitan area experiencing steady growth. Families considering this school should seek out the school's own information on curriculum, student support, and school culture to fill in the gaps left by the public record.
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