Very Good
#610 of 2,006 schools in AZ
Top 30% in state
Desert Thunder
Elementary School · Avondale Elementary District (4272) · Goodyear, AZ
An Avondale Elementary District (4272) elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
16750 W GARFIELD ST, Goodyear, AZ 85338
- Math 42% proficient (2022)
- Reading 46% proficient (2022)
- 22.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Desert Thunder score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AZ average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2019, to 44% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 55% (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 Thunder 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 5Car-Dependent
- Bike 54Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,654/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Goodyear), 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
$99,345
Median home value
$396,100
Median rent
$1,822/mo
College educated
32.2%
Homeownership
76.1%
Poverty rate
6.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 85338; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incito SchoolsCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.0 | K–8 | 0.6 mi | 184 | Compare → |
| Palm Valley Montessori L L CPrivate · tuition | 8.2private | PK–4 | 0.7 mi | 30 | Compare → |
| West Valley Christain SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.0private | K–8 | 0.7 mi | 246 | Compare → |
| Copper TrailsEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | PK–8 | 1.0 mi | 1,016 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
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.
Avondale Elementary District (4272)
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #2 of 9
- District spending per student
- $10,264NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Desert Thunder is listed in Avondale Elementary District (4272); a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Desert Thunder
Desert Thunder is a public elementary school in Goodyear, AZ, part of Avondale Elementary District (4272), serving approximately 946 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 22.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #610 of 2,006 schools in AZ. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Desert Thunder
What grades does Desert Thunder serve?
Desert Thunder serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Desert Thunder?
Desert Thunder has an enrollment of approximately 946 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Thunder?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Thunder is 22.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Desert Thunder rank in AZ?
Desert Thunder ranks #610 of 2,006 schools in AZ.
What is Desert Thunder's MySchoolScout rating?
Desert Thunder has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 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 Thunder?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Thunder has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Desert Thunder a charter school?
No, Desert Thunder is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Desert Thunder a Title I school?
No, Desert Thunder is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 946
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 42
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Maricopa County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.4%
- Phone
- (623) 772-4700
- Area population (ZIP 85338)
- 64,448
- Area average commute
- 31.1 min
- Area median age
- 37.9
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 85338; 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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