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Below Average

#1668 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Desert Vista Elementary School

Elementary School · Apache Junction Unified District (4443)

3701 E BROADWAY AVE, Apache Junction, AZ 85119

Enrollment

501

Student-Teacher

18.6:1

Score

4.5

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arizona schools

#1,668 of 2,006

In Apache Junction

#5 of 9

public schools

In district

#2 of 5

Apache Junction Unified District (4443)

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Desert Vista Elementary School

4.5/10

Elementary School in Apache Junction · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Four Peaks Elementary School

3.7/10

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

Avalon Elementary

6.9/10

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

About Desert Vista Elementary School

Desert Vista Elementary School is a public elementary school in Apache Junction, AZ, part of Apache Junction Unified District (4443). Desert Vista Elementary School serves approximately 501 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Desert Vista Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,668 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

Structured state assessment records for Desert Vista Elementary School show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.5 pts above district
  • This school 4.5 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.0
  • AZ avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Desert Vista Elementary School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

39% of students at Desert Vista Elementary 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 Progress3.4Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4.15 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics4.6Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency20% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency24% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency22% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)37% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-15.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile27th
Resources & Environment6.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,498
Chronic Absenteeism38.9%

Desert Vista Elementary School — Students at Desert Vista Elementary School score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 40.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 46.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
60%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
80%
2011
Math
62%
ELA
77%
2012
Math
63%
ELA
78%
2013
Math
51%
ELA
75%
2014
Math
30%
ELA
23%
2015
Math
36%
ELA
34%
2016
Math
39%
ELA
36%
2017
Math
39%
ELA
34%
2018
Math
34%
ELA
38%
2019
Math
34%
ELA
38%
2020*
Math
18%
ELA
23%
2021*
Math
18%
ELA
23%
2022
Math
20%
ELA
24%

* 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: 3.4/10.

How Desert Vista Elementary School Compares

See how Desert Vista Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.5/10
17th percentile in AZ
Academic
4.6/10
Below Average
Growth
3.4/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
6.9/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
27 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
38.9%

Location

3701 E BROADWAY AVE, Apache Junction, AZ 85119

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Desert Vista Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. American Leadership Academy Mesa K-6 (rated 9.0/10, 7.0 miles away, in nearby Chandler), which scores notably higher. Another option is Meridian (rated 8.6/10, 6.6 miles away, in nearby Mesa), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Patterson Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 5.7 miles away, in nearby Mesa), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Apache Junction, see our Apache Junction schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Four Peaks Elementary School Apache Junction 2.9 mi 3.7
Avalon Elementary Apache Junction 2.8 mi 6.9
Apache Trail High School Apache Junction 2.9 mi 4.0
Cactus Canyon Junior High Apache Junction 3.0 mi 3.2
ARCHES Academy Apache Jct 3.2 mi 5.9
Apache Junction High School Apache Junction 3.4 mi 4.8
EVIT East Apache Junction Mesa 3.4 mi
Imagine Prep Superstition Apache Junction 3.5 mi 6.0
Imagine Superstition Middle Apache Junction 3.5 mi 5.6
Brinton Elementary Mesa 4.5 mi 7.2
Sousa Elementary School Mesa 5.0 mi 4.6
Patterson Elementary Mesa 5.7 mi 7.7
Peralta Trail Elementary School Apache Junction 6.4 mi 3.9
Legacy Traditional School - East Mesa Chandler 6.3 mi 3.9
Meridian Mesa 6.6 mi 8.6
Skyline High School Mesa 6.2 mi 6.3
EVIT - Skyline High School Mesa 6.2 mi
Leading Edge Academy at East Mesa Gilbert 6.3 mi 4.9
Smith Junior High School Mesa 6.4 mi 4.3
American Leadership Academy Mesa K-6 Chandler 7.0 mi 9.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85119 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$69,949

Median Home Value

$259,100

Median Rent

$1,365/mo

Population

25,611

College Educated

22.6%

Homeownership

78.5%

Avg Commute

29.6 min

Poverty Rate

9.9%

Median Age

49.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
American Leadership Academy Gilbert South K-6 Chandler, AZ 4.5
Discovery School Glendale, AZ 4.5
Foothills Elementary School Glendale, AZ 4.5
Ira A Murphy Peoria, AZ 4.5
Legacy Traditional School - Goodyear Goodyear, AZ 4.5
W V Whitmore Elementary School Tucson, AZ 4.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Desert Vista Elementary School

What grades does Desert Vista Elementary School serve?

Desert Vista Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Desert Vista Elementary School?

Desert Vista Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 501 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Vista Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Desert Vista Elementary School is 18.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Desert Vista Elementary School rank in AZ?

Desert Vista Elementary School ranks #1,668 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Desert Vista Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Desert Vista Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 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 Vista Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Vista Elementary School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Desert Vista Elementary School a charter school?

No, Desert Vista Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Desert Vista Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Desert Vista Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
501
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
27
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Pinal County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
38.9%

District

Apache Junction Unified District (4443)
District Enrollment
2,710
Schools in District
6
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,498
District Rank
#2 of 5

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