The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Science. The lowest is 42% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Excelsior Academy
Excelsior Academy is a tuition-free public charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade, located on Erda Way in the rural, newly incorporated city of Erda, Utah. The school is its own district, and it draws almost entirely from this single community. The student body is large for a K-8 school, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across the grades. The majority of students are White, with a sizeable Hispanic cohort and smaller representations of other racial groups. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that reflects the area’s overall affluence—Erda is a bedroom community with high home values, large-lot housing, and a median household income well above the state average.
On Utah’s RISE state assessments, Excelsior Academy posts proficiency rates that place it at the top among the four districts in Tooele County. Its combined proficiency index across math, English language arts, and science is the highest in the county, a strong showing for a school serving a single, largely residential community. In math and ELA, roughly two out of five students score proficient or above; in science the figure is closer to half. These are solid results that exceed the county median, though a parent may want to look into how the school supports students who are not yet meeting the bar. No data on special education or English learner populations were available, and participation rates for testing were missing, so it is not possible to assess how inclusive those proficiency figures are.
Because the school serves only through eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. Excelsior Academy has filed an application with the state to expand into ninth grade, following a community survey in which families expressed strong interest in keeping their children through high school. As of the most recent school year, that expansion had not yet been implemented, meaning families who enroll here must plan for a transition to a different high school after eighth grade. The nearest high schools are in Stansbury Park and Tooele.
The community context shapes the school in obvious ways. Erda is a low-density, car-dependent place with no downtown or traditional main street. The city incorporated only a few years ago and is still building its civic infrastructure. Excelsior Academy, along with two LDS meetinghouses and the city offices, is one of the few non-residential anchors on Erda Way. There is little street life or walkability; students are driven or bussed. The area has seen rapid population growth and rising home values, attracting families who want larger lots and a quieter setting than the Salt Lake Valley offers. For parents looking at this school, the trade-off is straightforward: Excelsior Academy delivers strong academic outcomes relative to other county options, within a rural charter environment, at the cost of a longer commute to high school and a community with minimal amenities.
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