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Excellent

#320 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Top 16% in state

Desert Sky Community School

Elementary School · Desert Sky Community School Inc. (88308)

1350 N ARCADIA AVE, Tucson, AZ 85712

Charter

Enrollment

44

Score

8.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arizona schools

#320 of 2,006

In Tucson

#30 of 257

public schools

Academic growth

9.3 / 10

Excellent

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Desert Sky Community School

8.1/10

Elementary School in Tucson · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Mary Meredith K-12 School

Nearby

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

Pcjted - Rincon High School

Nearby

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

About Desert Sky Community School

Desert Sky Community School is a public elementary school in Tucson, AZ, part of Desert Sky Community School Inc. (88308). Desert Sky Community School serves approximately 44 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th. Desert Sky Community School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #320 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

Structured state assessment records for Desert Sky Community School show 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares1.7 pts above AZ schools
  • This school 8.1 · Excellent
  • AZ avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

At 44 students, Desert Sky Community School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Desert Sky Community School is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.

61% of students at Desert Sky Community 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 Progress9.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.17 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.4Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency10% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency49.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency30% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)34% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-3.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile48th
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Per-Pupil Spending$24,436
Chronic Absenteeism61.4%

Desert Sky Community School — Students at Desert Sky Community School score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 24.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 44.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
30%
ELA
49.5%
2010
Math
30%
ELA
69.5%
2011
Math
30%
ELA
69.5%
2012
Math
24.5%
ELA
75%
2013
Math
24.5%
ELA
24.5%
2014
Math
10%
ELA
30%
2015
Math
10%
ELA
30%
2016
Math
49.5%
ELA
30%
2017
Math
10%
ELA
49.5%
2018
Math
30%
ELA
49.5%
2019
Math
30%
ELA
49.5%
2020*
Math
24.5%
ELA
24.5%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2022
Math
10%
ELA
49.5%

* 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: 9.3/10.

How Desert Sky Community School Compares

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

Overall Score
8.1/10
84th percentile in AZ
Academic
6.4/10
Average
Growth
9.3/10
Excellent
Environment
7.7/10
Very Good

Location

1350 N ARCADIA AVE, Tucson, AZ 85712

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Desert Sky Community School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. FAITH LUTHERAN SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 1.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Bonillas Elementary Basic Curriculum Magnet School (rated 7.2/10, 1.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, John B Wright Elementary School (rated 7.0/10, 0.8 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Tucson, see our Tucson schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Mary Meredith K-12 School Tucson 0.6 mi
PCJTED - Rincon High School Tucson 0.8 mi
University High School Tucson 0.8 mi 9.1
Rincon High School Tucson 0.8 mi 5.8
John B Wright Elementary School Tucson 0.8 mi 7.0
CARDEN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CENTRAL Tucson 1.3 mi 6.6
Adventure School Tucson 1.1 mi 3.9
W V Whitmore Elementary School Tucson 1.3 mi 4.5
Ida Flood Dodge Traditional Middle Magnet School Tucson 1.2 mi 6.2
Howell Peter Elementary Tucson 1.3 mi 6.1
FAITH LUTHERAN SCHOOL Tucson 1.4 mi 7.2
BASIS Tucson Primary Tucson 1.4 mi 6.8
W Arthur Sewel Elementary School Tucson 1.5 mi 6.9
Bonillas Elementary Basic Curriculum Magnet School Tucson 1.7 mi 7.2
ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL Tucson 1.6 mi
Catalina High School Tucson 1.6 mi 5.2
Leman Academy of Excellence - Central Tucson Tucson 1.6 mi 5.1
Tucson Unified Virtual Academy Tucson 1.6 mi 6.7
Alice Vail Middle School Tucson 1.9 mi 6.0
THE GREGORY SCHOOL Tucson 1.9 mi 7.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85712 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$48,185

Median Home Value

$250,400

Median Rent

$947/mo

Population

31,964

College Educated

37.2%

Homeownership

40.8%

Avg Commute

21.1 min

Poverty Rate

15.6%

Median Age

43.6

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Alpine Elementary School Alpine, AZ 8.1
K.U.S.D.#27 - A B C Preschool Kayenta, AZ 8.1
Nazlini Community School Ganado, AZ 8.1
Pinon Community School Pinon, AZ 8.1
Black Mesa Community School Pinon, AZ 8.2
PALM VALLEY MONTESSORI L L C Goodyear, AZ 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Desert Sky Community School

What grades does Desert Sky Community School serve?

Desert Sky Community School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Desert Sky Community School?

Desert Sky Community School has an enrollment of approximately 44 students.

How does Desert Sky Community School rank in AZ?

Desert Sky Community School ranks #320 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Desert Sky Community School's MySchoolScout rating?

Desert Sky Community School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Sky Community School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Sky Community School has 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Desert Sky Community School a charter school?

Yes, Desert Sky Community School is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Desert Sky Community School a Title I school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
78 Very Walkable
Transit Score
40 Some Transit
Bike Score
88 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
44
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Pima County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
61.4%

District

Desert Sky Community School Inc. (88308)
District Enrollment
44
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$24,436
District Rank
#1 of 1

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