The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Fuller Elementary School
Fuller Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the Tempe School District, located in a residential part of south Tempe. It is not a charter school, and its magnet and Title I status were not reported. The school’s student body is diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by a substantial Hispanic population, and smaller but noticeable groups of students who are Black, of two or more races, Native American, and Asian. The overall enrollment is moderate for an elementary school. Data on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price meals was not available, nor were counts for students with disabilities or English learners. A family should check with the school to fill in those details.
On state assessments given in the 2024-25 school year, Fuller’s results show a mixed picture. In English language arts, proficiency was above the midpoint in each tested grade, with a slight rise from third to fourth grade and then a small dip in fifth. In math, the school’s proficiency rates were lower than in reading, sitting at a level that was notably below the English results. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed a rate similar to the English results. A broader look at Fuller’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint among the many districts in Maricopa County. This suggests that the school’s academic performance is competitive relative to its regional peers, though the math scores are a clear soft spot that a parent may want to ask the school about. The state testing data reported covers only a single year, so there is no trend information to indicate whether performance is improving or declining.
Tempe itself is an inner suburb of Phoenix that blends a college-town energy with suburban residential areas. The northern part of the city, anchored by Arizona State University’s main campus and the Mill Avenue district, is dense and walkable, with high-rise development along Tempe Town Lake and Valley Metro light rail connections. Southern Tempe, where Fuller Elementary is located, is more auto-oriented, with single-family homes and strip malls. Major employers include the university, State Farm, JPMorgan Chase, and Honeywell, and the city is headquarters for companies like GoDaddy and DriveTime. Housing in the area is priced at a level that is slightly above the state average, though recent data shows a modest dip in values, and rents have eased very slightly. The mortgage and rent costs are a significant share of a typical household income, reflecting the broader affordability challenge in the Phoenix metro area. The district brief search turned up no recent significant policy, curriculum, or tax changes at the district level, so a parent considering a move here would need to look into current district initiatives directly.
Fuller Elementary serves a neighborhood in south Tempe within a district that is part of a large, competitive county. The school’s English and science scores are a relative bright spot, while math proficiency is an area where families will want to pay attention. The absence of data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education, and English learner populations leaves meaningful gaps in the picture of who the school serves and what support systems are in place. The overall community context is a stable suburban environment in a growing region, with the full resources of a major university city nearby.
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