The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in English language arts. The lowest is 23% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Holdeman Elementary School
Holdeman Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Tempe School District. It is one of the larger elementary schools by enrollment for its grade band. The student body is notably diverse, with Hispanic students making up the largest share, followed by Black students, then Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, White, American Indian or Alaska Native, two or more races, and Asian students. Data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education, and English learner status were not available from the school, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support services and programs in place for students with different needs.
On state assessments for the most recent school year, Holdeman’s proficiency rates were well below the midpoint among districts in Maricopa County. In reading, the share of students meeting state standards was about a quarter of third graders, a third of fourth graders, and just over a quarter of fifth graders. In math, third graders posted a similar figure, while results for grades four and five were suppressed, which often happens when the number of students in a subgroup is very small, so a meaningful rate cannot be reported publicly. Science results for fifth grade were also suppressed. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts countywide. The data covers only one school year, so no trend is available. A parent considering this school should talk with the principal or instructional staff about what academic supports, intervention programs, and enrichment opportunities are available.
Holdeman’s broader community context is Tempe, an inner suburb of Phoenix that is home to Arizona State University’s main campus. The northern part of the city, where the university and the Mill Avenue entertainment and shopping district sit along Tempe Town Lake, is fairly dense and urban, with high-rise buildings and a pedestrian-oriented street life supported by the Valley Metro light rail line. The southern part of Tempe, where Holdeman Elementary is located, has a less dense pattern of single-family homes, strip malls, and lower-density office parks. Major employers include the university, State Farm, JPMorgan Chase, and several corporate headquarters such as GoDaddy and Circle K. The city has seen steady growth over recent decades, and housing values in the area surrounding the school are moderate for the region, with rents also in a similar range.
The district itself operates the full range of elementary and middle schools in Tempe. A search for recent policy changes, curriculum updates, or bond measures in the Tempe School District turned up little of note that would directly alter a family’s experience at Holdeman, so no specific district-level changes are available to report here.
Holdeman Elementary serves a diverse population in a mid-sized suburban city with a strong university presence. The school’s academic results are a clear area of concern, ranking low among Maricopa County districts, and the lack of publicly available data on student support programs and discipline makes it harder for a parent to fully assess the school without a direct visit.
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