The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cholla Middle School
Cholla Middle School is a regular public school in Phoenix, part of the Washington Elementary School District. It serves grades five through eight, though its enrollment is heavily concentrated in the upper grades. The seventh and eighth grades each contain a substantial number of students, while the fifth and sixth grades are very small by comparison, making this effectively a school where the experience is shaped by the older middle school years.
State testing results are available for seventh and eighth grade in math and English language arts, and for eighth grade in science. In math, the share of students meeting proficiency is at a level that many families would consider low. Reading results are somewhat higher but still represent a modest share of students. Science results in eighth grade are even lower. Scores for fifth and sixth grade were suppressed by the state, which often happens when the number of tested students is too small to report reliably. The school’s overall proficiency rate across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quarter of schools within Maricopa County, based on the comparison set available. A parent looking at Cholla will want to ask about the school’s academic support strategies and how they are working to raise achievement.
The student body is diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest group, followed by White students, with Black, Asian, American Indian, and multiracial students each present in smaller shares. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are learning English was not available in the records used here, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports. The school is not a charter and not designated as a magnet. No information on course offerings, extracurricular programs, or staffing was provided, so it is not possible to speak to the breadth of available pathways or the level of individual attention a student might receive.
Cholla Middle School sits in Phoenix, a sprawling urban center that grew rapidly through the late twentieth century and continues to expand. The city is car-oriented, with wide roads on a grid. Its economy is anchored in services, technology, manufacturing, and tourism, and it functions as a transportation and financial hub for the region. The housing market in the area directly around the school reflects typical patterns for a large Sun Belt city. Home values have seen a modest decline recently, while rents are modestly up. Compared to national averages, buying a home in this part of Phoenix costs more relative to renting, which may be relevant for families weighing whether to rent or own while their children attend the school.
The district was researched for recent changes such as bonds, overrides, or curriculum shifts, but no meaningful updates were found in the public materials reviewed. That does not mean nothing is happening; it means that the publicly available record did not surface any recent changes that would be directly relevant to a parent considering this school.
For a family exploring Cholla Middle School, the takeaway is that it serves a mostly seventh and eighth grade student body in a large, diverse city school district. Academic proficiency rates are below the typical level for the county, which is a starting point for deeper questions about intervention programs, classroom instruction, and how the school supports students who are not yet at grade level. The community context is broadly urban Phoenix, with a car-dependent layout and a housing market that still requires a significant commitment for homeownership. Without data on programs or student support populations, the decision rests heavily on a visit to the school and a conversation with staff about the specific academic environment and resources available.
See more original research from School Decision →