Joseph P. Spracale Elementary School, Tempe AZ

Original Research by School Decision on Joseph P. Spracale Elementary School

Joseph P. Spracale Elementary School is a regular public elementary school in Tempe, Arizona, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Tempe School District. The school is located in the southern part of the city, an area characterized by single-family homes, strip malls, and lower-density development, distinct from the denser, pedestrian-oriented northern neighborhoods near Arizona State University and Tempe Town Lake.

The student body is moderately sized for an elementary school and reflects broad diversity. Hispanic students make up a substantial share of enrollment, while White students represent the next largest group, followed by Black, Asian, Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as counts of students with disabilities and English learners, were not available in the provided information. A family interested in understanding the full socioeconomic and support profile of the student population may want to inquire directly with the school.

State assessment results are available for grades three through five in math and English language arts, and for grade five in science. Across these tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency rate falls below the midpoint when compared with other districts within Maricopa County. Within the school, performance varies by grade and subject; for instance, fourth graders showed a higher share meeting the proficiency standard in English language arts than third or fifth graders did, while fifth-grade math and science showed a lower share reaching that level. Because only a single year of testing data is available, there is no basis for evaluating trends over time. As an elementary school, no graduation rate is applicable.

The broader Tempe community shapes the context for the school. Tempe is an inner suburb of Phoenix with a mixed character: the northern half is dense and urbanized, anchored by Arizona State University’s main campus, the Mill Avenue entertainment district, Tempe Town Lake, and the Valley Metro light rail line, while the southern half transitions into more conventional suburban and auto-oriented neighborhoods. Major employers include the university, State Farm, and several corporate headquarters such as GoDaddy and First Solar. Home values in the Tempe area are somewhat above the statewide typical level, and rents are moderate relative to local incomes. The school district has not made any major publicly reported changes in policy, curriculum, or facilities in recent years.

Information on programs such as art, music, physical education, or after-school activities was not available in the data examined. Similarly, data on chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, teacher experience, and student discipline were not included. These are common gaps in publicly accessible profiles, and a parent seeking a full picture of the school’s day-to-day environment may find it helpful to visit or speak with staff.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 344%

School 44% · District 31% · ▲ 13 pts above district

even with state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 440%

School 40% · District 33% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 520%

School 20% · District 30% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 336%

School 36% · District 30% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 451%

School 51% · District 26% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 523%

School 23% · District 37% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Science

Grade 520%

School 20% · District 31% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

This schoolTempe School District (4258), same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.