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Very Good

#326 of 2,000 schools in AZ

Top 16% in state

Children First Leadership Academy

Elementary School · Edkey Inc. - Sequoia Ranch School (81052)

1460 S HORNE, Mesa, AZ 85204

Charter

Enrollment

121

Score

7.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Mesa

#12 of 119

public schools

Arizona elementary schools

#246 of 1,216

School environment

9.9 / 10

Exceptional

About Children First Leadership Academy

Children First Leadership Academy is a charter school located in Mesa, Arizona, offering education from kindergarten through eighth grade. With an enrollment of 121 students, the school provides a small, nurturing environment where each child can receive individualized attention. While the student-teacher ratio is not reported, the school's focus is clearly on fostering leadership and academic development among its young students.

According to MySchoolScout, Children First Leadership Academy has a rating of 3.0 out of 10, placing it in the 7th percentile among Arizona schools. The academic score is 2.3 out of 10, with 17% of students proficient in ELA and 12% proficient in math. Despite these figures, the school remains committed to helping its students achieve their full potential.

The school is situated in a large city with a vibrant community. The neighborhood around Children First Leadership Academy has a median household income of $65,836 and a median home value of $277,100. About 19% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is 15.8%.

This setting provides a diverse and supportive backdrop for the students at Children First Leadership Academy.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 121 students, Children First Leadership Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

While current test scores at Children First Leadership Academy are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

Children First Leadership Academy is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.7Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+2.78 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendImproving
Academics3.0Fair30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency12%
Reading/ELA Proficiency17%
Overall Proficiency15%
Expected (poverty-adj.)38%
vs. Expected-23.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile11th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.9Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Per-Pupil Spending$31,750

Children First Leadership Academy — Students at Children First Leadership Academy score 14% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 5.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 9.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from AZ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
2.5%
ELA
7.5%
2021*
Math
2.5%
ELA
2.5%
2022
Math
12%
ELA
17%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.7/10.

How Children First Leadership Academy Compares

See how Children First Leadership Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
84th percentile in AZ
Academic
3.0/10
3.0/10
Growth
9.7/10
Above average
Environment
9.9/10
Above average

Location

1460 S HORNE, Mesa, AZ 85204

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Children First Leadership Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Augustus H. Shaw Montessori (rated 8.0/10, 1.2 miles away, in nearby Phoenix), with a very similar rating. Another option is Faith North Early Childhood Learning Center (rated 7.6/10, 1.4 miles away, in nearby Phoenix), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Garfield School (rated 7.3/10, 1.8 miles away, in nearby Phoenix), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Mesa, see our Mesa schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
KELLY Mesa 0.0 mi
Silvestre S Herrera School Phoenix 0.6 mi 7.2
ASU Preparatory Academy Pilgrim Rest STEM K-5 School Tempe 1.1 mi 5.6
Augustus H. Shaw Montessori Phoenix 1.2 mi 8.0
Faith North Early Childhood Learning Center Phoenix 1.4 mi 7.6
Friendly House Academia Del Pueblo Elem Phoenix 1.2 mi 5.9
Garfield School Phoenix 1.8 mi 7.3
Thomas A Edison School Phoenix 1.8 mi 7.2
ASU Preparatory Academy- Phoenix Elementary Phoenix 1.8 mi 3.8
ASU Preparatory Academy- Phoenix High School Phoenix 1.8 mi 6.0
ASU Preparatory Academy - Phoenix Middle School Phoenix 1.8 mi 2.9
ASU Preparatory Academy - South Phoenix High School Tempe 1.9 mi 5.5
Robert L. Duffy High School Phoenix 1.7 mi 6.7
Cesar E Chavez Community School Phoenix 1.8 mi 5.4
Lowell Elementary School Phoenix 1.6 mi 5.3
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE Phoenix 1.9 mi 7.5
Irene Lopez School Phoenix 2.0 mi 6.3
Phoenix Union Bioscience High School Phoenix 2.0 mi 6.3
Martin Luther King Early Childhood Center Phoenix 2.1 mi 5.7
Percy L Julian School Phoenix 2.2 mi 7.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85204 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$69,474

Median Home Value

$296,000

Median Rent

$1,426/mo

Population

65,018

College Educated

19.6%

Homeownership

57.9%

Avg Commute

24.7 min

Poverty Rate

14.7%

Median Age

33.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Children First Leadership Academy has a median household income of $69,474. It is a community where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $296,000, with a median rent of $1,426/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.7%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Aguila Elementary School Aguila, AZ 7.7
BAYER PRIVATE SCHOOL Glendale, AZ 7.7
Haven Montessori Charter School Flagstaff, AZ 7.7
New Horizon School for the Performing Arts Mesa, AZ 7.7
Pomerene Elementary School Pomerene, AZ 7.7
Sopori Elementary School Sahuarita, AZ 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Children First Leadership Academy

What grades does Children First Leadership Academy serve?

Children First Leadership Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Children First Leadership Academy?

Children First Leadership Academy has an enrollment of approximately 121 students.

How does Children First Leadership Academy rank in AZ?

Children First Leadership Academy is ranked #326 out of 2,000 schools in AZ.

What is Children First Leadership Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Children First Leadership Academy has a composite rating of 7.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Children First Leadership Academy?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Children First Leadership Academy has 5.7% math proficiency and 9.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Children First Leadership Academy a charter school?

Yes, Children First Leadership Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Children First Leadership Academy a Title I school?

No, Children First Leadership Academy is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
39 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
64 Good Transit
Bike Score
40 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,955/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Mesa). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
121
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Maricopa County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Edkey Inc. - Sequoia Ranch School (81052)
District Enrollment
121
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$25,520
District Rank
#1 of 1

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 methodology

Related reading

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