The top-rated elementary schools in Phoenix for 2026 are Milestones Charter School (9.5/10), Kyrene De Los Cerritos School (9.5/10), and Augustus H. Shaw Montessori (9.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 230 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Phoenix ranks 248 elementary schools, giving parents one of the larger candidate pools in the Southwest. Scores span a wide range, with an average composite of 6.1/10 — but strong options exist well above that midpoint. Sonoran Sky Elementary School leads the metro at 9.4/10, followed closely by Desert Cove Elementary and Sky Crossing Elementary, both at 9.2/10. That top tier is broader than it might seem: 75 schools, roughly 30% of the ranked pool, score 7 or higher. Whether you're weighing a neighborhood school or comparing options across districts, the table below lets you sort by overall score, school type, grade configuration, and more. Use the filters to narrow by ZIP code or performance range and focus on the schools most relevant to your family's situation.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Arizona education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in Arizona. Learn about our methodology.
Milestones Charter School (79207)
184 students · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 1% in Arizona · charter
Kyrene Elementary District (4267)
419 students · 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 1% in Arizona
Phoenix Elementary District (4256)
466 students · 20.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 1% in Arizona
Kyrene Elementary District (4267)
497 students · 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 1% in Arizona
Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
650 students · 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–7th
Top 2% in Arizona
Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
443 students · 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–6th
Top 2% in Arizona
Scottsdale Unified District (4240)
603 students · 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in Arizona
Phoenix International Academy (903484)
185 students · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 2% in Arizona · charter
Kyrene Elementary District (4267)
480 students · 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in Arizona
Kyrene Elementary District (4267)
494 students · 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in Arizona
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Milestones Charter School is the top-rated elementary school in Phoenix with a composite score of 9.5/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
Phoenix has 286 elementary schools, including 67 charter schools. Of these, 272 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
Among 272 Phoenix elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.4/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Arizona).
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Arizona, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Arizona, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Phoenix has 67 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
School choice
Treasury expects its rules for the new federal school choice tax credit by the end of September. Thirty states had elected in as of July 24 and, as of September 10, none had filed the list that makes the credit usable. A state line still decides whether it reaches your family at all.