Best Schools in Surprise, Arizona
30 schools · 18 Elementary · 10 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Surprise?
Use this page to compare every school in Surprise 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.
Freedom Traditional Academy
Elementary · Dysart Unified District (4243). Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Highland Prep
High · Highland Prep (92982). Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Imagine Rosefield
Elementary · Rosefield Charter Elementary School Inc. (87399). Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Surprise for 2026 are Freedom Traditional Academy (9.3/10), Highland Prep (8.7/10), and Imagine Rosefield (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 25 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
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$375,660
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Schools
30
28 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$375,660
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Surprise
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (25 of 30). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freedom Traditional Academy | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Highland Prep | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Imagine Rosefield | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Asante Preparatory Academy | 8.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Legacy Traditional School - Surprise | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Paradise Honors High School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Willow Canyon High School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Canyon Ridge School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Paradise Honors Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Shadow Ridge High School | 7.2 / 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
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $89,399
- Median home value
- $375,660
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 78%
44% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Surprise compares
Arizona rank
#28 of 95
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Arizona avg (6.3)
Median household income
$89k
126% of Arizona median
Schools in this city
25
About Schools in Surprise, Arizona
Surprise has 23 ranked public schools averaging 6.8 out of 10. That average masks real spread. Ten schools — 43 percent of the ranked set — clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold, giving parents willing to compare options meaningful choices at both the elementary and high school levels.
The top performers set a high ceiling. Freedom Traditional Academy leads the city with a 9.2 score, the strongest result in Surprise and a clear standout for families considering elementary options. Highland Prep follows at 9.1, giving high school families a comparable top-end choice. Asante Preparatory Academy scores 8.6 at the elementary level, while Willow Canyon High School and Paradise Honors Elementary round out the top five at 8.3 and 8.1. That cluster of five schools above 8.0 — spanning both elementary and high school grades — gives Surprise real depth at the top of its range.
Below that tier, performance is more variable. With the city average at 6.8 and more than half the ranked schools falling below 7.0, address matters. The distance from the city average to the top-rated school spans 2.4 points — a gap that translates into meaningfully different academic environments. Families zoned for mid-range schools should weigh that carefully before assuming neighborhood proximity equals a good fit.
For parents researching Surprise, the practical move is to compare individual school scores rather than lean on the city average. The 6.8 mean tells an incomplete story — ten schools score well above it. Check the specific school tied to your address and identify which higher-scoring schools fall within your reach. With 43 percent of schools rated 7 or above and two schools clearing 9.0, Surprise has genuine quality at the top — but finding it requires going deeper than the average before you commit to an address.
Elementary Schools
18 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 470 students · Pre-K–8th | 9.3 |
| 2 | 524 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 |
| 3 | 1,134 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.4 |
| 4 | 1,868 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.1 |
| 5 | 985 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.9 |
| 6 | 1,919 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.5 |
| 7 | 569 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.0 |
| 8 | 1,097 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.4 |
| 9 | 798 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.1 |
| 10 | 572 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.1 |
Show all 18 elementary schools in Surprise
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 501 students · 9th–12th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 985 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 |
| 3 | 1,819 students · 7th–12th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 2,339 students · 7th–12th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 2,443 students · 7th–12th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 14 students · 9th–12th | — |
| 7 | 22 students · 9th–12th | — |
| 8 | 10 students · 9th–12th | — |
| 9 | 12 students · 10th–12th | — |
| 10 | 1 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 997 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.9 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Fourteensix Christian Academy
Private
75 students · Kindergarten–11th | 6.6 | ||
Schools in Surprise
Surprise, Arizona · 30 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$89,399
Median Home Value
$375,660
Median Rent
$1,942/mo
Population
154,234
College Educated
29%
Homeownership
78%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
10.0%
Community Profile
Surprise has a median household income of $89,399. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $375,660, with a median rent of $1,942/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.0%. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Arizona
- Elementary
- 18
- High
- 10
- Other
- 2
Resources
School Districts (8)
Paragon Management Inc. (5180)
2 schools · 2,904 students
Calibre Academy (79055)
1 school · 530 students
Success School (79453)
1 school · 997 students
Rosefield Charter Elementary School Inc. (87399)
1 school · 524 students
West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center (80923)
59 schools · 423 students
Legacy Traditional School - Surprise (92879)
2 schools · 2,195 students
Highland Prep (92982)
1 school · 501 students
Dysart Unified District (4243)
25 schools · 23,118 students
Nearby Cities
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 Surprise, Arizona
How many schools are in Surprise, Arizona?
Surprise has 30 schools, including 28 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Surprise, Arizona?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Surprise is 6.7 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 Surprise, Arizona?
The top-ranked school in Surprise on MySchoolScout is Freedom Traditional Academy with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Surprise, Arizona?
The top-ranked elementary school in Surprise on MySchoolScout is Freedom Traditional Academy with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best high school in Surprise, Arizona?
The top-ranked high school in Surprise on MySchoolScout is Highland Prep with a composite score of 8.7/10.
How many school districts serve Surprise, Arizona?
Surprise is served by 8 school districts: Paragon Management Inc. (5180), Calibre Academy (79055), Success School (79453), Rosefield Charter Elementary School Inc. (87399), West-mec - Western Maricopa Education Center (80923), Legacy Traditional School - Surprise (92879), Highland Prep (92982), Dysart Unified District (4243).
What is the education level in Surprise, Arizona?
According to Census data, 29% of adults in Surprise have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Surprise, Arizona?
The median household income in Surprise is approximately $89,399 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Surprise, Arizona?
Yes, Surprise has 2 private schools alongside 28 public schools. The top-rated private school is Fourteensix Christian Academy with a score of 6.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Surprise, Arizona?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Surprise is 18.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Surprise, 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.