Ironwood Elementary School, Phoenix AZ

Original Research by School Decision on Ironwood Elementary School

Ironwood Elementary School is a regular public school in Phoenix serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, located in the Washington Elementary School District. The school sits within a large, sprawling urban center that functions as a major hub for the Mountain West region. Phoenix’s economy has shifted over time from agriculture to high-technology, manufacturing, tourism, and services, with Sky Harbor International Airport as a key transportation facility. The city remains one of the fastest-growing in the nation, and the area around the school reflects that broader urban context.

The student body is diverse. The largest group of students are Hispanic, with White students making up the next substantial share. Smaller populations of Black, two or more races, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native students are also present. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, who receive special education services, or who are English learners was not available in the data provided. A parent may want to ask the school directly for those details, as they shape the level of support a child might receive.

State assessment results are available for the most recent school year, but only for a single year, so trends are not yet established. In English language arts, the share of students meeting proficiency was below the midpoint compared to other schools across tested grades. Reading proficiency rates varied by grade, and across all tested grades the combined rate was in a range that a parent may want to look into further with the school. In math, overall proficiency was also below the midpoint among schools in Maricopa County. Performance across individual grades showed some variation, with fourth and fifth graders reaching proficiency at a higher rate than sixth graders, whose math proficiency was notably lower. In science, only fifth graders are tested, and their proficiency rate followed a similar pattern.

Because Ironwood serves only elementary and middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not offer high school programs, so pathways like Advanced Placement, career and technical education, or dual credit coursework do not apply here. There was no data available on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or staffing ratios. A parent may want to ask the school about class sizes and student support resources.

The Washington Elementary School District itself did not have publicly reported recent changes involving bonds, overrides, curriculum shifts, or budget adjustments that were captured in the search. Housing in the area around the school shows home values and rents that are roughly in line with broader national patterns, though affordability relative to income varies. The typical rent is modestly below the cost of a monthly mortgage payment, which is common in many markets.

Ironwood Elementary fits a family looking for an elementary and middle school within a large urban district in a fast-growing city. The academic picture shows room for growth, particularly in the upper elementary grades in math and across the board in reading. A parent considering this school will want to understand what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks and how the school works with families to address those gaps. The school serves a diverse community and sits in a part of Phoenix where the built environment is car-oriented, with wide roads and a grid layout.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 339%

School 39% · District 31% · ▲ 8 pts above district

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

Grade 455%

School 55% · District 32% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 555%

School 55% · District 27% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 629%

School 29% · District 26% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 327%

School 27% · District 23% · ▲ 4 pts above district

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

Grade 436%

School 36% · District 32% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 534%

School 34% · District 27% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 636%

School 36% · District 32% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Science

Grade 536%

School 36% · District 25% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

This schoolWashington Elementary School District (4260), 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.