Fireside Elementary School vs New River Elementary School

Fireside Elementary School edges out New River Elementary School by 0.4 points overall — 9.2/10 versus 8.8/10 — but that gap understates a meaningful academic divide. Fireside ranks #31 of 2002 Arizona elementary schools while New River sits at #95 of 2002, a 64-position difference that places both schools in the top 5% statewide, yet puts Fireside in a tier few schools reach.

On academics, the delta is stark: Fireside Elementary School scores 9.9/10 versus New River Elementary School's 8.0/10 — a 1.9-point gap that reflects consistently higher proficiency across tested grades. New River turns the tables on growth, however, posting a 9.4/10 versus Fireside's 8.9/10. That 0.5-point growth advantage means students at New River are gaining ground at a faster rate year-over-year, even if their starting proficiency floor is lower.

The schools serve the same PK–06 grade span but differ sharply in size and classroom density. Fireside Elementary School enrolls 689 students against New River Elementary School's 172 — four times the enrollment. The student-teacher ratio follows: 16.0:1 at Fireside versus 10.8:1 at New River, a difference of more than five students per teacher. For parents who weigh individualized attention and smaller community feel, that ratio gap carries practical weight every school day.

Both schools sit 18.7 miles apart within the Phoenix metro, making a direct comparison meaningful for families choosing between north-central and outer-corridor neighborhoods. Fireside's profile — large enrollment, near-perfect academic score, top-31 state rank — points to a high-performing traditional campus with demonstrated proficiency outcomes. New River's profile — small cohort, elite growth score, single-digit ratio — points to a school where instruction is highly personalized and student progress is its clearest strength.