Cherokee Elementary School vs Kiva Elementary School
Cherokee Elementary School and Kiva Elementary School are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.2 out of 10. In math proficiency, Cherokee Elementary School leads at 93.0%.
Cherokee Elementary School
Paradise Valley, AZ
673 students
Kiva Elementary School
Paradise Valley, AZ
562 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Cherokee Elementary School | Kiva Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.2 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.8 | 9.5 |
| Growth Score | 9.3 | 9.0 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Environment Score | 8.1 | 9.3 |
| State Rank | #48 of 2,006 | #50 of 2,006 |
| State Percentile | 98th | 98th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Cherokee Elementary School | Kiva Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 93.0% | 75.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 97.0% | 89.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Cherokee Elementary School | Kiva Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 5th | Pre-K – 6th |
| Enrollment | 673 | 562 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 18.7:1 | 14.8:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | — | — |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 19.6% | 21.2% |
| District | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| City | Paradise Valley | Paradise Valley |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Paradise Valley (85253) | Paradise Valley (85253) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $182,150 | $182,150 |
| Median Home Value | $2,000,001 | $2,000,001 |
| Median Rent | $1,935 | $1,935 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 70.7% | 70.7% |
| Poverty Rate | 5.7% | 5.7% |
| Avg Commute | 21 min | 21 min |
The data story: Cherokee Elementary School vs Kiva Elementary School
Kiva Elementary School edges Cherokee Elementary School in overall rating by 0.2 points — 9.5 versus 9.3 out of 10 — but the more meaningful separation shows up in Arizona state rankings. Kiva Elementary School sits at #10 of 2002 schools statewide, while Cherokee Elementary School ranks #19 of 2002. Both numbers place these schools in the top 1% in Arizona, so the gap is narrow in absolute terms but real when parents are choosing between two schools just 3.3 miles apart.
The academic scores tell a different story than the overall ratings. Cherokee Elementary School scores 9.8/10 on academics versus Kiva Elementary School's 9.5/10 — a three-tenths advantage that suggests Cherokee's tested proficiency performance is marginally stronger. Growth scores are nearly identical: Kiva Elementary School at 9.4/10 versus Cherokee Elementary School at 9.3/10, a difference too small to drive a decision on its own. Parents prioritizing current proficiency levels will find Cherokee's academic score the sharpest differentiator between the two campuses.
Cherokee Elementary School enrolls 673 students compared to Kiva Elementary School's 562, a difference of 111 students. The student-teacher ratio gap is more consequential: Kiva Elementary School runs at 14.8 students per teacher versus Cherokee Elementary School's 18.7:1 — nearly four fewer students per classroom on average. For families who weight smaller class sizes and greater individual attention, that delta is the most concrete structural difference between these two schools.
On grade span, the two schools diverge slightly. Cherokee Elementary School serves grades PK through 5, while Kiva Elementary School extends through grade 6, meaning Kiva students spend one additional year before transitioning to middle school. Families with a sixth-grader — or those who prefer delaying the middle school environment — will find Kiva the only option of the two. For PK through fifth-grade families, both campuses are fully eligible.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Cherokee Elementary School
Cherokee Elementary School fits families who prioritize raw academic performance above other factors — its 9.8/10 academic score is the highest between the two campuses. It also suits larger-community families comfortable with a 673-student school and an 18.7:1 student-teacher ratio, and those whose children will exit after fifth grade regardless of school.
Kiva Elementary School
Kiva Elementary School is the stronger fit for families who want smaller class sizes — 14.8 students per teacher versus 18.7 at Cherokee — and a marginally higher overall state rank (#10 vs. #19 in Arizona). It is the only choice for families with a sixth-grader, and it edges Cherokee on growth score for parents focused on academic trajectory over static proficiency.