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Very Good

#509 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Top 25% in state

New River Elementary School

Elementary School · Deer Valley Unified District (4246)

48827 N BLACK CANYON HWY, Phoenix, AZ 85087

Enrollment

172

Student-Teacher

10.8:1

Score

7.6

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arizona schools

#509 of 2,006

In Phoenix

#94 of 422

public schools

In district

#22 of 41

Deer Valley Unified District (4246)

School environment

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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New River Elementary School

7.6/10

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

Fireside Elementary School

9.5/10

Phoenix, AZ. Compare side by side with New River Elementary School before ruling this option in or out.

Great Hearts Academies - Anthem Prep

8.9/10

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

About New River Elementary School

New River Elementary School is a public elementary school in Phoenix, AZ, part of Deer Valley Unified District (4246). New River Elementary School serves approximately 172 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 10.8:1 student-teacher ratio. New River Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #509 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

Structured state assessment records for New River Elementary School show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

What's said publicly about New River Elementary School

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026. Reviewed for accuracy.

New River Elementary School is part of the DVUSD district in Arizona 1 . It holds historical significance as the first school in the district, having opened in 1934 1 . The school offers open enrollment for families residing outside its home school boundaries 1 . For the 2026-27 school year, the school is accepting kindergarten registrations 1 . Students participate in monthly STEAM challenges focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to develop problem-solving skills 1 . The school community includes a PTSA organization 1 . Recent district events include 90-minute early release days for professional learning communities and high school graduations held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale 1 . The district celebrated its 90th anniversary, coinciding with the school's long-standing history 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. newriver.dvusd.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares0.4 pts below district
  • This school 7.6 · Very Good
  • District avg 8.0
  • AZ avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

At 172 students, New River Elementary School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

New River 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.

44% of students at New River 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 Progress6.7Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.02 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency47% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency52% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency50% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+3.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile71th
Resources & Environment8.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,940
Chronic Absenteeism44.2%

New River Elementary School — Students at New River Elementary School score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 52.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 59.1% (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
72%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
82%
2013
Math
67%
ELA
82%
2014
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
47%
ELA
52%

* 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: 6.7/10.

How New River Elementary School Compares

See how New River Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.6/10
75th percentile in AZ
Academic
8.1/10
Excellent
Growth
6.7/10
Average
Environment
8.9/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
16 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
44.2%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

48827 N BLACK CANYON HWY, Phoenix, AZ 85087

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering New River Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Sonoran Foothills School (rated 9.1/10, 10.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Stetson Hills School (rated 8.9/10, 14.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Canyon Springs STEM Academy (rated 8.8/10, 3.7 miles away, in nearby Anthem), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Phoenix, see our Phoenix schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 14.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Great Hearts Academies - Anthem Prep Phoenix 3.0 mi 8.9
Canyon Springs STEM Academy Anthem 3.7 mi 8.8
NORTH VALLEY CHRISTAIN ACADEMY Anthem 4.2 mi 4.8
AMCS at Anthem dba Caurus Academy Anthem 4.3 mi 7.4
Anthem School Anthem 4.8 mi 8.6
West-MEC - Boulder Creek High School Anthem 5.1 mi
Boulder Creek High School Anthem 5.1 mi 7.5
Gavilan Peak School Anthem 5.0 mi 8.6
Diamond Canyon School Anthem 5.9 mi 8.8
Sunset Ridge School Phoenix 8.1 mi 7.9
Desert Mountain School Desert Hills 8.8 mi 8.6
Canon School Black Canyon City 9.4 mi 5.8
Ridgeline Academy Inc. Phoenix 9.5 mi 8.0
Stepping Stones Academy Phoenix 9.1 mi 8.5
Sonoran Foothills School Phoenix 10.6 mi 9.1
Norterra Canyon School Phoenix 13.7 mi 7.6
Inspiration Mountain School Phoenix 13.7 mi 7.2
West-MEC - Sandra Day O'Connor High School Glendale 14.4 mi
Sandra Day O'Connor High School Glendale 14.4 mi 7.6
Stetson Hills School Phoenix 14.4 mi 8.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85087 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$120,688

Median Home Value

$510,800

Median Rent

$1,809/mo

Population

9,835

College Educated

29.5%

Homeownership

94.2%

Avg Commute

31.5 min

Poverty Rate

4.7%

Median Age

49.3

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
BAYER PRIVATE SCHOOL Glendale, AZ 7.6
Leman Virtual Academy Tucson, AZ 7.6
Seligman Elementary School Seligman, AZ 7.6
Arizona Autism Charter School West Valley Campus Phoenix, AZ 7.5
Civano Community K-8 School Tucson, AZ 7.5
Pine Forest School Flagstaff, AZ 7.5

Compare New River Elementary School with similar schools nearby

Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about New River Elementary School

What grades does New River Elementary School serve?

New River Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend New River Elementary School?

New River Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 172 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at New River Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at New River Elementary School is 10.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does New River Elementary School rank in AZ?

New River Elementary School ranks #509 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is New River Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

New River Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 New River Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, New River Elementary School has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is New River Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is New River Elementary School a Title I school?

No, New River Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
14 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
21 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Compare This School

How does New River Elementary School stack up?

Fireside Elementary School
9.5

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
172
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
16
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Maricopa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
44.2%

District

Deer Valley Unified District (4246)
District Enrollment
32,837
Schools in District
41
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,940
District Rank
#22 of 41

How we rate schools

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