Very Good
#580 of 2,006 schools in AZ
Top 29% in state
Desert Shadows Middle School
Middle School · Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) · Scottsdale, AZ
A Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) middle school where students score 14 points above what's typical for similar communities.
5858 E SWEETWATER AVE, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
- Math 53% proficient (2022)
- Reading 63% proficient (2022)
- 21:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Desert Shadows Middle School score 58% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AZ average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 30 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 58% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 72% (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 Shadows Middle School 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 8Car-Dependent
- Transit 0Minimal Transit
- Bike 54Bikeable
- 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
$120,885
Median home value
$701,900
Median rent
$1,954/mo
College educated
60.3%
Homeownership
72.9%
Poverty rate
5.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 85254; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ignite Learning AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.3private | PK–12 | 1.4 mi | 236 | Compare → |
| Sunrise Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | 7–8 | 1.4 mi | 387 | Compare → |
| Cocopah Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | 6–8 | 1.5 mi | 851 | Compare → |
| Rancho Solano Private School-greenway CampusPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | PK–12 | 1.5 mi | 549 | 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.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
- Schools in district
- 45
- Rank in district
- #23 of 44
- District spending per student
- $11,848NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Desert Shadows Middle School is listed in Paradise Valley Unified District (4241); a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Desert Shadows Middle School
Desert Shadows Middle School is a public middle school in Scottsdale, AZ, part of Paradise Valley Unified District (4241), serving approximately 734 students in grades 6th-8th with a 21:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #580 of 2,006 schools in AZ. State assessment records show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Desert Shadows Middle School
What grades does Desert Shadows Middle School serve?
Desert Shadows Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Desert Shadows Middle School?
Desert Shadows Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 734 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Middle School is 21:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Desert Shadows Middle School rank in AZ?
Desert Shadows Middle School ranks #580 of 2,006 schools in AZ.
What is Desert Shadows Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Desert Shadows Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 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 Shadows Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Shadows Middle School has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Desert Shadows Middle School a charter school?
No, Desert Shadows Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Desert Shadows Middle School a Title I school?
No, Desert Shadows Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 734
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Maricopa County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 32.0%
- Phone
- (602) 449-6800
- Area population (ZIP 85254)
- 46,655
- Area average commute
- 23.1 min
- Area median age
- 45.3
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 85254; 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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