Average
#787 of 2,006 schools in AZ
Top 39% in state
Desert Sun Academy
Elementary School · Cave Creek Unified District (4244) · Cave Creek, AZ
A Cave Creek Unified District (4244) elementary school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
PO BOX 426, Cave Creek, AZ 85327
- Math 37% proficient (2022)
- Reading 52% proficient (2022)
- 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Desert Sun Academy score 44% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AZ average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 17 points since 2019, to 45% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 70% (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 Sun Academy 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 12Car-Dependent
- Transit 0Minimal Transit
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
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Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horseshoe Trails Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.1 | PK–6 | 1.3 mi | 416 | Compare → |
| Dynamite MontessoriPrivate · tuition | 8.5private | PK–4 | 1.4 mi | 39 | Compare → |
| Primrose School at TatumPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 2.0 mi | 27 | Compare → |
| Lone Mountain Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.8 | PK–6 | 2.2 mi | 445 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Cave Creek Unified District (4244)
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #7 of 7
- District spending per student
- $9,626NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 3.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Desert Sun Academy is listed in Cave Creek Unified District (4244); a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Desert Sun Academy
Desert Sun Academy is a public elementary school in Cave Creek, AZ, part of Cave Creek Unified District (4244), serving approximately 241 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #787 of 2,006 schools in AZ. State assessment records show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Desert Sun Academy
What grades does Desert Sun Academy serve?
Desert Sun Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Desert Sun Academy?
Desert Sun Academy has an enrollment of approximately 241 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Sun Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Sun Academy is 11.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Desert Sun Academy rank in AZ?
Desert Sun Academy ranks #787 of 2,006 schools in AZ.
What is Desert Sun Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Desert Sun Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 Sun Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Sun Academy has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Desert Sun Academy a charter school?
No, Desert Sun Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Desert Sun Academy a Title I school?
No, Desert Sun Academy is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 241
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Maricopa County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 39.0%
- Phone
- (480) 575-2900
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.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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