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Excellent

#188 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Top 9% in state

Desert Mountain School

Elementary School · Deer Valley Unified District (4246)

35959 N 7TH AVE, Desert Hills, AZ 85086

Enrollment

425

Student-Teacher

15.2:1

Score

8.6

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arizona schools

#188 of 2,006

In district

#11 of 41

Deer Valley Unified District (4246)

Academic growth

8.6 / 10

Excellent

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Desert Mountain School

8.6/10

Elementary School in Desert Hills · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Stepping Stones Academy

8.5/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Diamond Canyon School

8.8/10

2.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Desert Mountain School

Desert Mountain School is a public elementary school in Desert Hills, AZ, part of Deer Valley Unified District (4246). Desert Mountain School serves approximately 425 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Desert Mountain School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #188 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

Structured state assessment records for Desert Mountain School show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.6 pts above district
  • This school 8.6 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.0
  • AZ avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

34% of students at Desert Mountain School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.01 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.6Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency55% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency57% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency56% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+10.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile79th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,940
Chronic Absenteeism34.1%

Desert Mountain School — Students at Desert Mountain School score 56% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 58.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 64.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from AZ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
69%
ELA
83%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
83%
2011
Math
68%
ELA
83%
2012
Math
69%
ELA
86%
2013
Math
67%
ELA
85%
2014
Math
39%
ELA
44%
2015
Math
54%
ELA
53%
2016
Math
51%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
59%
ELA
58%
2018
Math
57%
ELA
55%
2019
Math
57%
ELA
55%
2020*
Math
55%
ELA
53%
2021*
Math
55%
ELA
53%
2022
Math
55%
ELA
57%

* 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: 8.6/10.

How Desert Mountain School Compares

See how Desert Mountain School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.6/10
91th percentile in AZ
Academic
8.6/10
Excellent
Growth
8.6/10
Excellent
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
28 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
34.1%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

35959 N 7TH AVE, Desert Hills, AZ 85086

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Desert Mountain School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Sonoran Foothills School (rated 9.1/10, 2.8 miles away, in nearby Phoenix), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Diamond Canyon School (rated 8.8/10, 2.9 miles away, in nearby Anthem), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Canyon Springs STEM Academy (rated 8.8/10, 6.2 miles away, in nearby Anthem), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Desert Hills, see our Desert Hills schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Stepping Stones Academy Phoenix 0.7 mi 8.5
Diamond Canyon School Anthem 2.9 mi 8.8
Sonoran Foothills School Phoenix 2.8 mi 9.1
Ridgeline Academy Inc. Phoenix 2.8 mi 8.0
Sunset Ridge School Phoenix 3.0 mi 7.9
Gavilan Peak School Anthem 3.9 mi 8.6
Anthem School Anthem 4.4 mi 8.6
West-MEC - Boulder Creek High School Anthem 4.6 mi
Boulder Creek High School Anthem 4.6 mi 7.5
Norterra Canyon School Phoenix 5.7 mi 7.6
NORTH VALLEY CHRISTAIN ACADEMY Anthem 5.5 mi 4.8
AMCS at Anthem dba Caurus Academy Anthem 5.5 mi 7.4
Union Park School Phoenix 6.5 mi 7.8
Great Hearts Academies - Anthem Prep Phoenix 6.2 mi 8.9
Canyon Springs STEM Academy Anthem 6.2 mi 8.8
Desert Willow Elementary School Cave Creek 6.0 mi 8.1
Hope High School Online Glendale 7.1 mi 6.3
ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL Cave Creek 6.2 mi 5.8
CAREFREE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Cave Creek 6.1 mi 6.9
West-MEC - Sandra Day O'Connor High School Glendale 7.2 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85086 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$118,543

Median Home Value

$554,100

Median Rent

$2,177/mo

Population

43,369

College Educated

42.2%

Homeownership

84.8%

Avg Commute

29.3 min

Poverty Rate

4.4%

Median Age

44.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Adams Traditional Academy Phoenix, AZ 8.6
Anthem School Anthem, AZ 8.6
Challenger Basic School Gilbert, AZ 8.6
Coronado Elementary School Gilbert, AZ 8.6
Gavilan Peak School Anthem, AZ 8.6
Tsaile Elementary School Chinle, AZ 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Desert Mountain School

What grades does Desert Mountain School serve?

Desert Mountain School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Desert Mountain School?

Desert Mountain School has an enrollment of approximately 425 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Mountain School?

The student-teacher ratio at Desert Mountain School is 15.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Desert Mountain School rank in AZ?

Desert Mountain School ranks #188 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Desert Mountain School's MySchoolScout rating?

Desert Mountain School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 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 Mountain School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Mountain School has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Desert Mountain School a charter school?

No, Desert Mountain School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Desert Mountain School a Title I school?

No, Desert Mountain School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
425
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Maricopa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.1%

District

Deer Valley Unified District (4246)
District Enrollment
32,837
Schools in District
41
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,940
District Rank
#11 of 41

How we rate schools

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