Excellent
#21 of 2,006 schools in AZ
Top 1% in state
Desert Canyon Elementary
Elementary School · Scottsdale Unified District (4240) · Scottsdale, AZ
A Scottsdale Unified District (4240) elementary school where students score 27 points above what's typical for similar communities.
10203 E MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN RANC, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
- Math 73% proficient (2022)
- Reading 77% proficient (2022)
- 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Desert Canyon Elementary score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AZ average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2019, to 75% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 82% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 84% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from AZ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Desert Canyon Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Phoenix map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 40Car-Dependent
- Transit 0Minimal Transit
- Bike 52Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,031/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Scottsdale), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$143,567
Median home value
$975,300
Median rent
$2,401/mo
College educated
67.8%
Homeownership
73.1%
Poverty rate
6.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 85255; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Covenant Lutheran Church Children's Ministry CPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 1.0 mi | 18 | Compare → |
| Cheyenne Traditional SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.1 | PK–8 | 1.2 mi | 895 | Compare → |
| Great Hearts Academies - Archway ScottsdaleCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.4 | K–12 | 1.2 mi | 1,072 | Compare → |
| Cherokee Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.2 | PK–5 | Not available | 673 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Scottsdale Unified District (4240)
- Schools in district
- 30
- Rank in district
- #4 of 30
- District spending per student
- $11,306NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 5.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Desert Canyon Elementary is listed in Scottsdale Unified District (4240); a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Desert Canyon Elementary
Desert Canyon Elementary is a public elementary school in Scottsdale, AZ, part of Scottsdale Unified District (4240), serving approximately 470 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10 and ranks #21 of 2,006 schools in AZ. State assessment records show 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Desert Canyon Elementary
What grades does Desert Canyon Elementary serve?
Desert Canyon Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Desert Canyon Elementary?
Desert Canyon Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 470 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Canyon Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Canyon Elementary is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Desert Canyon Elementary rank in AZ?
Desert Canyon Elementary ranks #21 of 2,006 schools in AZ.
What is Desert Canyon Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Desert Canyon Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Desert Canyon Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Canyon Elementary has 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Desert Canyon Elementary a charter school?
No, Desert Canyon Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Desert Canyon Elementary a Title I school?
No, Desert Canyon Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 470
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 37
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Maricopa County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 21.3%
- Phone
- (480) 484-1700
- Area population (ZIP 85255)
- 45,136
- Area average commute
- 23.4 min
- Area median age
- 51.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 85255; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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