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Very Good

#486 of 2,000 schools in AZ

Top 24% in state

Desert Star Community School

Elementary School · Desert Star Community School Inc. (88321)

1240 S RECYCLER RD, Cornville, AZ 86325

Charter

Enrollment

155

Score

7.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Cornville

#1 of 2

public schools

Arizona elementary schools

#353 of 1,216

Academic growth

9.5 / 10

Exceptional

About Desert Star Community School

Desert Star Community School is a charter elementary school located in the rural area of Cornville, Arizona. Serving kindergarten through eighth grade, the school has an enrollment of 155 students. While specific student-teacher ratio and teacher numbers are not reported, the school's setting offers a tight-knit community atmosphere.

Desert Star Community School is part of the Yavapai County district and has a MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10, ranking 45th percentile among Arizona schools. Academically, 37% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading, and 27% are proficient or above in Math. The surrounding neighborhood in ZIP code 86325 is characterized by a median household income of $70,812 and a median home value of $360,600.

About one-third of the population has a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is relatively low at 10.3%. Desert Star Community School is nestled in a picturesque rural setting, offering students a peaceful and supportive learning environment.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 155 students, Desert Star Community School 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.

Desert Star Community School 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.

Located in a rural area, Desert Star Community School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.5Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+1.09 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendImproving
Academics6.8Above Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency27%
Reading/ELA Proficiency37%
Overall Proficiency32%
Expected (poverty-adj.)32%
vs. Expected-0.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile54th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment2.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Per-Pupil Spending$8,788

Desert Star Community School — Students at Desert Star Community School score 32% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 27.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 38.7%
School
State
N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2022
Math
27%
ELA
37%

* 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: 9.5/10.

How Desert Star Community School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.3/10
76th percentile in AZ
Academic
6.8/10
6.8/10
Growth
9.5/10
Above average
Environment
2.8/10
Below average

Location

1240 S RECYCLER RD, Cornville, AZ 86325

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Desert Star Community School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Beaver Creek School (rated 7.3/10, 8.1 miles away, in nearby Rimrock), with a very similar rating. Another option is Oak Creek Elementary School (rated 7.1/10, 1.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Camp Verde Elementary School (rated 6.2/10, 9.1 miles away, in nearby Camp Verde), a more accessible option. For more schools in Cornville, see our Cornville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Oak Creek Elementary School Cornville 1.8 mi 7.1
VACTE - Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education Cottonwood 5.8 mi
Mountain View Preparatory School Cottonwood 6.1 mi 5.7
Mingus Union High School Cottonwood 6.6 mi 4.9
Mingus Online Academy Cottonwood 6.6 mi
American Heritage Academy - Cottonwood Cottonwood 6.7 mi 5.6
VERDE VALLEY SCHOOL Sedona 7.8 mi 9.1
Liberty Leadership Academy Cottonwood 7.0 mi 6.1
SEDONA SKY ACADEMY Rimrock 8.1 mi
Camp Verde High School Camp Verde 9.0 mi 6.9
Camp Verde Elementary School Camp Verde 9.1 mi 6.2
Camp Verde Middle School Camp Verde 9.1 mi 5.2
Beaver Creek School Rimrock 8.1 mi 7.3
Cottonwood Community School Cottonwood 7.9 mi 6.2
RISE RESOURCE CENTER Cottonwood 7.9 mi 4.0
Dr Daniel Bright Elementary School Cottonwood 8.0 mi 6.1
Cottonwood Education Services Cottonwood 8.1 mi 7.2
VACTE - Sedona-Oak Creek Joint Unified School District Sedona 9.5 mi
Sedona Red Rock Junior/Senior High School Sedona 9.5 mi 5.1
Red Rock Academy Sedona 9.5 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 86325 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$75,078

Median Home Value

$409,300

Median Rent

$1,540/mo

Population

5,195

College Educated

34.6%

Homeownership

80.1%

Poverty Rate

9.3%

Median Age

55.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Desert Star Community School has a median household income of $75,078. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $409,300, with a median rent of $1,540/month. The local poverty rate of 9.3% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
American Heritage Academy - Camp Verde Cottonwood, AZ 7.3
Discover U Youngtown, AZ 7.3
Discovery Plus Academy Pima, AZ 7.3
John F. Kennedy Day School Whiteriver, AZ 7.3
PHOENIX HEBREW ACADEMY Phoenix, AZ 7.3
CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL Mesa, AZ 7.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Desert Star Community School

What grades does Desert Star Community School serve?

Desert Star Community School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Desert Star Community School?

Desert Star Community School has an enrollment of approximately 155 students.

How does Desert Star Community School rank in AZ?

Desert Star Community School is ranked #486 out of 2,000 schools in AZ.

What is Desert Star Community School's MySchoolScout rating?

Desert Star Community School has a composite rating of 7.3 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 Desert Star Community School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Desert Star Community School has 27.0% math proficiency and 38.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Desert Star Community School a charter school?

Yes, Desert Star 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 Star Community School a Title I school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
10 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
24 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Average (276/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
155
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Yavapai County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Desert Star Community School Inc. (88321)
District Enrollment
155
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,381
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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