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Excellent

#73 of 2,000 schools in AZ

Top 4% in state

Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School

Elementary School · Santa Cruz Valley Opportunities in Education Inc. (79066)

PO BOX 4706, Tubac, AZ 85646

Charter

Enrollment

72

Score

8.6

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

Arizona elementary schools

#64 of 1,216

Academic growth

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School

Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School is a public elementary school in Tubac, AZ, part of the Santa Cruz Valley Opportunities in Education Inc. (79066). The school serves approximately 72 students in grades Kindergarten – 8th. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6/10, placing it in the 96.4th percentile among AZ schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 18% proficiency in math and 48% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $85,321, where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a distant rural setting.

What's said publicly about Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Montessori de Santa Cruz Charter School is a public institution that provides free education to all enrolled students 1 . The school also operates a tuition-based preschool program designed for young children in the surrounding communities 1 . Its academic curriculum aligns with Arizona State Academic Standards while utilizing methods and materials specific to Montessori education 1 . The school's philosophy emphasizes whole-child development, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity, moving beyond memorization and standardized testing 1 . The school offers programs for various age groups, including a traditional Montessori primary class for ages 3-5 that includes Kindergarten 1 . Lower Elementary covers grades 1-3, and Upper Elementary serves students in grades 4-6 1 . A Middle School program for grades 7-8 was introduced as a new program for the 2022-2023 school year 1 . Additional offerings include a Gardening Program focused on organic, sustainable gardening and science enrichment, as well as a Music Program 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. www.montessoridesantacruz.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 72 students, Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter 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.

Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter 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, Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter 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 Progress9.8Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+2.97 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendImproving
Academics8.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency24.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency54.5%
Overall Proficiency40%
Expected (poverty-adj.)22%
vs. Expected+17.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile71th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment6.4Above Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Per-Pupil Spending$13,561

Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School — Students at Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 18.2%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 47.8%
School
State
N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
15%
ELA
44.5%
2021*
Math
15%
ELA
44.5%
2022
Math
24.5%
ELA
54.5%

* 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: 9.8/10.

How Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School Compares

See how Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.6/10
96th percentile in AZ
Academic
8.1/10
8.1/10
Growth
9.8/10
Above average
Environment
6.4/10
Above average

Location

PO BOX 4706, Tubac, AZ 85646

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Continental Elementary School (rated 8.5/10, 11.2 miles away, in nearby Green Valley), with a very similar rating. Another option is Sopori Elementary School (rated 7.7/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Sahuarita), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Anza Trail (rated 7.7/10, 18.9 miles away, in nearby Sahuarita), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Tubac, see our Tubac schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 19.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Sopori Elementary School Sahuarita 1.7 mi 7.7
GLOBAL SCHOOLS STARSEED AND URANTION CHILD & TEENS Rio Rico 9.3 mi
Continental Elementary School Green Valley 11.2 mi 8.5
Colearn Academy Arizona Green Valley 11.9 mi
Coatimundi Middle School Rio Rico 14.0 mi 5.4
Mountain View School Rio Rico 14.2 mi 6.1
Rio Rico High School Rio Rico 14.2 mi 7.0
Great Expectations Academy Sahuarita 15.9 mi 6.3
San Cayetano Elementary School Rio Rico 16.8 mi 4.0
Wrightson Ridge K-8 School Sahuarita 17.8 mi 6.3
Copper View Elementary School Sahuarita 17.9 mi 7.4
Sahuarita Primary School Sahuarita 18.1 mi 7.5
Sahuarita Digital Pathways Academy Sahuarita 18.1 mi 4.7
Sahuarita Intermediate School Sahuarita 18.1 mi 6.0
Sahuarita High School Sahuarita 18.2 mi 6.0
PCJTED - Sahuarita High School Tucson 18.2 mi
Sahuarita Middle School Sahuarita 18.3 mi 7.5
Anza Trail Sahuarita 18.9 mi 7.7
Calabasas School Rio Rico 19.4 mi 6.0
PCJTED - Walden Grove High School Tucson 19.8 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85646 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$85,321

Median Home Value

$473,400

Population

1,280

College Educated

53.2%

Homeownership

90.9%

Poverty Rate

6.2%

Median Age

69.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School has a median household income of $85,321. It is a well-educated community where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $473,400. The local poverty rate of 6.2% 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
Wenden Elementary School Wenden, AZ 8.6
Carden of Tucson Tucson, AZ 8.5
Arizona Language Preparatory Phoenix, AZ 8.4
Tonto Basin Elementary Tonto Basin, AZ 8.4
HEARTWOOD MONTESSORI Mesa, AZ 8.3
Black Mesa Community School Pinon, AZ 8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School

What grades does Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School serve?

Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School?

Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School has an enrollment of approximately 72 students.

How does Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School rank in AZ?

Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School is ranked #73 out of 2,000 schools in AZ.

What is Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School's MySchoolScout rating?

Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School has a composite rating of 8.6 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 Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School has 18.2% math proficiency and 47.8% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School a charter school?

Yes, Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School a Title I school?

No, Montessori De Santa Cruz Charter School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
10 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
22 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
72
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Santa Cruz County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Santa Cruz Valley Opportunities in Education Inc. (79066)
District Enrollment
72
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,058
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

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