Best Schools in Queen Creek, Arizona
30 schools · 14 Elementary · 4 Middle · 5 High · 7 Other
Choosing a school in Queen Creek?
Use this page to compare every school in Queen Creek by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Newell Barney College Preparatory School
Middle · Queen Creek Unified District (4245). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Willie & Coy Payne Jr. High
Middle · Chandler Unified District #80 (4242). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Cortina Elementary
Elementary · Higley Unified School District (4248). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Queen Creek for 2026 are Newell Barney College Preparatory School (9.2/10), Willie & Coy Payne Jr. High (8.6/10), and Cortina Elementary (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 26 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
30
28 public · 2 private
Avg Score
7.1
out of 10
Median Home
$466,550
home value · ACS
Districts
9
serving the city
Schools
30
28 public · 2 private
Avg Score
7.1
out of 10
Median Home
$466,550
home value · ACS
Districts
9
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +12.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Queen Creek schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Queen Creek
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 26 rated schools; 30 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newell Barney College Preparatory School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Willie & Coy Payne Jr. High | 8.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Cortina Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Dr. Gary and Annette Auxier Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Benjamin Franklin High School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Sossaman Middle School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Desert Mountain Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.1/10
- Median household income
- $111,952
- Median home value
- $466,550
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 34%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 86%
62% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Queen Creek compares
Arizona rank
#11 of 97
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.8
above Arizona avg (6.3)
Median household income
$112k
158% of Arizona median
Schools in this city
29
9 districts draw attendance lines through Queen Creek
Queen Creek is not one school system. 9 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 43% of the public campuses.
Queen Creek Unified District (4245) is the largest slice at 12 of 28 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Queen Creek address is choosing a district first.
Among 26 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.1 to 9.2 — the spread is inside Queen Creek, not a citywide average.
6 of the 28 public schools are charters (21%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Queen Creek Unified District (4245)12 public · 43%
- Chandler Unified District #80 (4242)3 public · 11%
- Higley Unified School District (4248)3 public · 11%
- American Leadership Academy Inc. (4348)2 public · 7%
- Benjamin Franklin Charter School - Queen Creek (4355)2 public · 7%
About Schools in Queen Creek, Arizona
Queen Creek, Arizona offers parents a notably strong public school landscape for a city its size. The district counts 26 ranked public schools with an average score of 6.6 out of 10 — and nearly half the schools, 12 of 26, clear the 7-out-of-10 mark. That 46% rate of high-performing schools puts Queen Creek well above the typical suburban baseline parents encounter when comparing fast-growing Arizona communities.
Elementary education is where Queen Creek concentrates its strongest outcomes. Dr. Gary and Annette Auxier Elementary School leads the city with an 8.1 rating, the highest score among all ranked public schools here. Close behind are Benjamin Franklin Charter School - Crismon and Sue Sossaman Early Childhood Development Center, both at 7.9, followed by Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary at 7.8 and Schnepf Elementary at 7.6. Five schools in or near the top tier all serving early grades signals that Queen Creek invests heavily in foundational instruction — a meaningful data point for families with children in K-6.
The charter presence adds a real choice dimension. Benjamin Franklin Charter School - Crismon competes directly with district neighborhood schools at the top of the rankings, which means parents are not forced to trade convenience for performance. Families who want an alternative instructional model can access one without sacrificing academic outcomes.
For parents doing side-by-side comparisons, the city-wide 6.6 average and the 46% above-7 rate are the numbers worth anchoring to. When you evaluate an individual school, check whether its score clears that 7.0 threshold — that separates the top half from the bottom half of what Queen Creek offers. Families relocating to newer subdivisions in the city's expanding eastern sections should cross-check school boundary maps carefully, since Queen Creek's rapid growth means attendance zones shift more frequently than in established metro neighborhoods. Use those boundary tools alongside the ratings before committing to a specific address.
Elementary Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 664 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.4 |
| 2 | 582 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 819 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 740 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 611 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.6 |
| 6 | 381 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.4 |
| 7 | 735 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.4 |
| 8 | 1,739 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.2 |
| 9 | 1,163 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.2 |
| 10 | 823 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.1 |
Show all 14 elementary schools in Queen Creek
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 186 students · 5th–8th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 1,127 students · 7th–8th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 1,024 students · 7th–8th | 7.7 |
| 4 | 562 students · 5th–8th | 6.4 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,276 students · 7th–12th | 7.7 |
| 2 | 2,971 students · 7th–12th | 7.1 |
| 3 | 804 students · 7th–12th | 6.8 |
| 4 | 2,132 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 5 | 2 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 65 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 1,646 students · 7th–11th | 7.2 | ||
| 3 | 2,405 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 4 | 50 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 5 | 239 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.1 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Canyon State AcademyPrivate 153 students · 2nd–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Jewell SchoolPrivate 72 students · Kindergarten–10th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Queen Creek
Queen Creek, Arizona · 30 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$111,952
Median Home Value
$466,550
Median Rent
$1,988/mo
Population
138,279
College Educated
34%
Homeownership
86%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Community Profile
Queen Creek has a median household income of $111,952. It is an area where 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $466,550, with a median rent of $1,988/month. The local poverty rate of 6.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Arizona
- Elementary
- 14
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 5
- Other
- 7
Resources
School Districts (9)
Benjamin Franklin Charter School - Queen Creek (4355)
4 schools · 3,299 students
American Leadership Academy Inc. (4348)
12 schools · 13,876 students
Eduprize Schools LLC (89412)
3 schools · 3,160 students
Chandler Unified District #80 (4242)
44 schools · 42,832 students
Higley Unified School District (4248)
16 schools · 12,887 students
Florence Unified School District (4437)
14 schools · 8,952 students
J O Combs Unified School District (4445)
10 schools · 4,052 students
Queen Creek Unified District (4245)
15 schools · 14,503 students
East Valley Institute of Technology (4516)
50 schools · 306 students
Other Major Cities in Arizona
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Queen Creek, Arizona
How many schools are in Queen Creek, Arizona?
Queen Creek has 30 schools, including 28 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Queen Creek, Arizona?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Queen Creek is 7.1 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Queen Creek, Arizona?
The top-ranked school in Queen Creek on MySchoolScout is Newell Barney College Preparatory School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Queen Creek, Arizona?
The top-ranked elementary school in Queen Creek on MySchoolScout is Cortina Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Queen Creek, Arizona?
The top-ranked middle school in Queen Creek on MySchoolScout is Newell Barney College Preparatory School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best high school in Queen Creek, Arizona?
The top-ranked high school in Queen Creek on MySchoolScout is Benjamin Franklin High School with a composite score of 7.7/10.
How many school districts serve Queen Creek, Arizona?
Queen Creek is served by 9 school districts: Benjamin Franklin Charter School - Queen Creek (4355), American Leadership Academy Inc. (4348), Eduprize Schools Llc (89412), Chandler Unified District #80 (4242), Higley Unified School District (4248), Florence Unified School District (4437), J O Combs Unified School District (4445), Queen Creek Unified District (4245), East Valley Institute of Technology (4516).
What is the education level in Queen Creek, Arizona?
According to Census data, 34% of adults in Queen Creek have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Queen Creek, Arizona?
The median household income in Queen Creek is approximately $111,952 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Queen Creek, Arizona?
Yes, Queen Creek has 2 private schools alongside 28 public schools. The top-rated private school is Canyon State Academy with a score of 8.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Queen Creek, Arizona?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Queen Creek is 16.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Queen Creek, Arizona?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Arizona Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.