Cave Creek Unified District (4244) School District
School District · Cave Creek, Arizona
Avg Rating
8.1
out of 10
Schools
8
5 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,626
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
Avg Rating
8.1
out of 10
Schools
8
5 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,626
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
Evaluating Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Cave Creek Unified District (4244) as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
Cave Creek · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Lone Mountain Elementary School
Cave Creek · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Cactus Shadows High School
Cave Creek · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Arizona rank
#12 of 202
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.8
above Arizona avg
Per-pupil spending
$9,626
$1,550 vs Arizona median
District size
4,214 students
Much larger than Arizona median
The short answer
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) ranks #12 of 202 Arizona districts by overall school rating. Cave Creek Unified District (4244)'s schools with real test data average 8.1/10 across 7 schools. Its top-rated schools are Horseshoe Trails Elementary School (9.1/10), Lone Mountain Elementary School (8.8/10), and Cactus Shadows High School (8.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Top-Rated Schools in Cave Creek Unified District (4244)
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (7 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horseshoe Trails Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Lone Mountain Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Cactus Shadows High School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Black Mountain Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Desert Willow Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Sonoran Trails Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Desert Sun Academy | 6.8 / 10 |
See all 8 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Cave Creek Unified District (4244)
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) is a Cave Creek, Arizona school district serving 8 schools. The district educates 4,214 students with a student-teacher ratio of 17.6:1. The district invests $9,626 per student annually.
With an average rating of 8.1/10, Cave Creek Unified District (4244) is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Horseshoe Trails Elementary School, which has a composite score of 9.1/10.
In standardized testing, Cave Creek Unified District (4244) students show an average math proficiency of 69.0% and ELA proficiency of 73.8%.
The district includes 5 elementary schools , 1 middle school , and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Cave Creek Unified District (4244), colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Cave Creek Unified District (4244) with test data.
Schools in Cave Creek Unified District (4244)
8 schools Elementary Schools 5
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Arizona
- City
- Cave Creek
- Total Enrollment
- 4,214
- Teachers (FTE)
- 240
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.0%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) has 8 schools in total — 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
The average composite rating for Cave Creek Unified District (4244) is 8.1/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) spends $9,626 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
The average student-teacher ratio in Cave Creek Unified District (4244) is 17.6:1.
What is the top-rated school in Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Cave Creek Unified District (4244) with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What are the test scores in Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Across schools in Cave Creek Unified District (4244) with test data, the average math proficiency is 69.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 73.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Cave Creek Unified District (4244) compare to other districts in Arizona?
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) has an average school rating of 8.1/10 across 8 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Arizona by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 8.1/10
- Math Proficiency
- 69.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 73.8%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in AZ
Compare Cave Creek Unified District (4244) with neighboring districts in the state.
- Tucson Unified District (4403) (90)
- Mesa Unified District (4235) (78)
- West-mec - Western Maricopa Education Center (80923) (59)
- Pima County Jted (89380) (55)
- East Valley Institute of Technology (4516) (50)
- Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) (45)
- Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) (44)
- Peoria Unified School District (4237) (44)
- Deer Valley Unified District (4246) (41)
- Gilbert Unified District (4239) (38)
- Washington Elementary School District (4260) (33)
- Scottsdale Unified District (4240) (30)
- Kyrene Elementary District (4267) (26)
- Dysart Unified District (4243) (25)
- Cartwright Elementary District (4282) (23)
- Tempe School District (4258) (23)
- Vail Unified District (4413) (23)
- Amphitheater Unified District (4406) (22)
- Sunnyside Unified District (4407) (22)
- Marana Unified District (4404) (20)
- Phoenix Union High School District (4286) (20)
- Roosevelt Elementary District (4279) (20)
- Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technolog (78786) (19)
- Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (6393) (19)
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.
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