The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in Math. The lowest is 29% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Tumbleweed Elementary School
Tumbleweed Elementary School serves students from preschool through sixth grade in the Washington Elementary School District, located in the sprawling urban expanse of Phoenix. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The student body is composed predominantly of Hispanic students, with White students making up the next largest group, and smaller shares of Black, Asian, multiracial, and American Indian students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners were not available in the current record; families seeking those details would need to check directly with the school or district.
On state assessments in the most recent testing year, the school’s proficiency rates in both math and English language arts were below what many families might hope for. In math, roughly two out of five students in third and fourth grade met the state benchmark, while results for fifth and sixth grades were suppressed and not reported in the available data. In English language arts, between about a quarter and two-fifths of students scored proficient, depending on grade level, with fourth grade showing the strongest result and fifth grade the weakest. Science testing in fifth grade was also suppressed. The overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places Tumbleweed below the midpoint when compared with other schools in Maricopa County, a wide region that includes hundreds of districts. The available multi-year trend data shows only two data points, both from the same testing period, so no meaningful year-over-year improvement or decline can be discerned.
Phoenix itself is a fast-growing city with a diversified economy that has moved from its agricultural roots into technology, manufacturing, aerospace, and services. The city is known for its flat grid layout and car-oriented streets. Home values in the immediate zip code area have declined slightly over the past year, while rents have held roughly steady. Nationally, mortgage rates have been in the mid-six percent range, and the monthly cost of owning a home in the area is estimated to be somewhat higher than renting, a common condition in many Sun Belt markets. The local unemployment rate is moderate.
No parent-relevant changes, such as recent bond measures, overrides, or curriculum shifts, were publicly reported for the Washington Elementary School District in the research conducted, so the narrative cannot speak to any recent district-level initiatives.
For a family considering Tumbleweed, the school offers a full elementary span from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in a large, established Phoenix neighborhood. The student population reflects considerable ethnic diversity, with a substantial Hispanic majority. Academic performance is an area of concern; proficiency rates are modest, and the school’s overall standing relative to other schools in the county is below average. A parent may want to look into this further with the school—inquiring about support programs, tutoring, or any interventions in place for students who need extra help, as well as the school’s own goals for improvement. Without data on special populations, chronic absenteeism, or discipline, it is difficult to get a full picture of the school environment. The absence of a graduation rate is expected, as the school does not serve high school grades. Overall, Tumbleweed Elementary is a straightforward neighborhood school in a large urban district, serving a diverse student body, and its academic results are a clear starting point for conversations with school staff about how student progress is tracked and supported.
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