Best Schools in Scottsdale, Arizona
71 schools · 43 Elementary · 6 Middle · 14 High · 8 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.0/10
- Median household income
- $115,265
- Median home value
- $785,073
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 57%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 74%
49% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Scottsdale compares
Arizona rank
#14 of 95
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.7
above Arizona avg (6.3)
Median household income
$115k
162% of Arizona median
Schools in this city
63
About Schools in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale's public school system spans 46 ranked schools, and the numbers lean heavily in parents' favor. The city average sits at 7.3 out of 10 — a strong baseline — and 30 of those 46 schools, 65% of the total, score 7 or higher. For most families moving to Scottsdale, a solid public school is likely within their attendance zone.
The elementary tier anchors the city's high performance. Four of the five top-rated schools are elementary campuses, and Desert Shadows Elementary leads all 46 ranked schools with a 9.2 out of 10 — the highest score in the city. Redfield Elementary (9.0) and Salt River Elementary (8.9) follow closely. Cheyenne Traditional School rounds out the elementary standouts at 8.8, joined at that mark by Desert Mountain High School, the top-rated high school in the ranked set.
For parents focused on the upper grades, Desert Mountain's 8.8 is a meaningful signal. The gap between the elementary ceiling — 9.2 at Desert Shadows — and the top high school score of 8.8 is narrow. That consistency suggests the district sustains quality across grade levels rather than concentrating resources in the early years and letting performance erode later.
Practically speaking, Scottsdale is a high-floor city for school searches. With 65% of schools scoring 7 or above, the odds of landing in a significantly underperforming school are low. Parents targeting the strongest campuses should prioritize Desert Shadows, Redfield, or Salt River for elementary and Desert Mountain for high school. Those with more geographic flexibility will find a wide band of strong mid-tier options that give them genuine choices without having to compete for one of a handful of elite addresses.
Elementary Schools
43 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 479 students · Pre-K–6th | 9.1 |
| 2 | 438 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.9 |
| 3 | 173 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.8 |
| 4 | 380 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.7 |
| 5 | 408 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.5 |
| 6 | 895 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.3 |
| 7 | 470 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 8 | 246 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.1 |
| 9 | 144 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.0 |
| 10 | 343 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.0 |
| 11 | 565 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 12 | 344 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.0 |
| 13 | 422 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.9 |
| 14 | 525 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
| 15 | 642 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 |
| 16 | 420 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 |
| 17 | 418 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.5 |
| 18 | 588 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.4 |
| 19 | 459 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.2 |
| 20 | 407 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.9 |
| 21 | 257 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.8 |
| 22 | 465 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.5 |
| 23 | 131 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.0 |
| 24 | 464 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.8 |
| 25 | 363 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.6 |
Show 18 more elementary schools
| 26 | 387 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.5 | ||
| 27 | 125 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.0 | ||
| 28 | 424 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.9 | ||
| 29 | 401 students · Kindergarten–8th | 3.4 | ||
| 30 | 683 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.4 | ||
| Private Schools 13 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 154 students · Pre-K–TK | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | PARDES JEWISH DAY SCHOOL
Private
297 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 272 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF ARIZONA
Private
229 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | 80 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | 584 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | DESERT SKY MONTESSORI
Private
5 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 8 | 25 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
| 9 | 18 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 10 | 3 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 11 | CAMELBACK DESERT SCHOOL
Private
15 students · Pre-K–1st | Not Rated | ||
| 12 | 12 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 13 | 9 students · TK–TK | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 387 students · 7th–8th | 8.4 |
| 2 | 734 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 851 students · 6th–8th | 7.8 |
| 4 | 798 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 428 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
| 6 | 545 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
High Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,940 students · 9th–12th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | 1,423 students · 9th–12th | 8.7 | ||
| 3 | 1,863 students · 7th–12th | 8.5 | ||
| 4 | 1,909 students · 9th–12th | 8.3 | ||
| 5 | 42 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 6 | 730 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 7 | 64 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 | ||
| 8 | 331 students · 5th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 9 | 6 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | THUNDERBIRD ADVENTIST ACADEMY
Private
126 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | BRIGHTMONT ACADEMY
Private
51 students · 5th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | FUSION SCOTTSDALE
Private
95 students · 5th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 79 students · 7th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | NOTRE DAME PREPARATORY
Private
863 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 981 students · 4th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 170 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.3 | ||
| Private Schools 6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 549 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | THE UNITED SCHOOL OF AUTISM
Private
71 students · 1st–11th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | IGNITE LEARNING ACADEMY
Private
236 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | SIERRA ACADEMY OF SCOTTSDALE
Private
41 students · 2nd–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | VILLE DE MARIE ACADEMY
Private
222 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | 35 students · UG–UG | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona · 71 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 11 ZIP codes
Median Income
$115,265
Median Home Value
$785,073
Median Rent
$1,903/mo
Population
296,728
College Educated
57%
Homeownership
74%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Community Profile
Scottsdale has a median household income of $115,265. It is a well-educated community where 57% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $785,073, with a median rent of $1,903/month. The local poverty rate of 8.8% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Quick Facts
- State
- Arizona
- Total Schools
- 71
- Elementary
- 43
- Middle
- 6
- High
- 14
- Districts
- 17
- Avg Rating
- 7.0/10
Resources
School Districts (17)
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community Schools (4320)
1 school · 64 students
Fit Kids Inc. dba Champion Schools (78783)
3 schools · 1,352 students
Little Lamb Community School (79050)
1 school · 125 students
BASIS Charter Schools Inc. (81078)
1 school · 981 students
West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center (80923)
59 schools · 423 students
Scottsdale Country Day School (91110)
1 school · 131 students
Hirsch Academy A Challenge Foundation (91275)
1 school · 173 students
Noah Webster Schools-Pima (92374)
1 school · 257 students
BASIS Charter Schools Inc. (92863)
1 school · 525 students
BASIS Charter Schools Inc. (92734)
1 school · 331 students
BASIS Charter Schools Inc. (92736)
1 school · 683 students
BASIS Charter Schools Inc. (783027)
1 school · 465 students
Candeo Schools Inc. (1001161)
1 school · 144 students
Online School of Arizona (1001719)
1 school · 42 students
Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
45 schools · 27,034 students
Scottsdale Unified District (4240)
30 schools · 20,940 students
Salt River Elementary School
1 school · 246 students
Nearby Cities
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Scottsdale, Arizona
How many schools are in Scottsdale, Arizona?
Scottsdale has 71 schools, including 47 public and 24 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Scottsdale, Arizona?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Scottsdale is 7.0 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Scottsdale, Arizona?
The top-ranked school in Scottsdale on MySchoolScout is Desert Shadows Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Scottsdale, Arizona?
The top-ranked elementary school in Scottsdale on MySchoolScout is Desert Shadows Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Scottsdale, Arizona?
The top-ranked middle school in Scottsdale on MySchoolScout is Sunrise Middle School with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best high school in Scottsdale, Arizona?
The top-ranked high school in Scottsdale on MySchoolScout is Desert Mountain High School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
How many school districts serve Scottsdale, Arizona?
Scottsdale is served by 17 school districts: Salt River Pima-maricopa Community Schools (4320), Fit Kids Inc. Dba Champion Schools (78783), Little Lamb Community School (79050), Basis Charter Schools Inc. (81078), West-mec - Western Maricopa Education Center (80923), Scottsdale Country Day School (91110), Hirsch Academy a Challenge Foundation (91275), Noah Webster Schools-pima (92374), Basis Charter Schools Inc. (92863), Basis Charter Schools Inc. (92734), Basis Charter Schools Inc. (92736), Basis Charter Schools Inc. (783027), Candeo Schools Inc. (1001161), Online School of Arizona (1001719), Paradise Valley Unified District (4241), Scottsdale Unified District (4240), Salt River Elementary School.
What is the education level in Scottsdale, Arizona?
According to Census data, 57% of adults in Scottsdale have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Scottsdale, Arizona?
The median household income in Scottsdale is approximately $115,265 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Scottsdale, Arizona?
Yes, Scottsdale has 24 private schools alongside 47 public schools. The top-rated private school is Scottsdale Child Care and Learning Center with a score of 9.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Scottsdale, Arizona?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Scottsdale is 12.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Scottsdale, 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
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.