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Very Good

#529 of 2,000 schools in AZ

Top 26% in state

Pathfinder Academy

Elementary School · Edkey Inc. - Pathfinder Academy (81045)

2906 N BOULDER CANYON, Mesa, AZ 85207

Charter

Enrollment

606

Score

7.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Mesa

#28 of 119

public schools

Arizona elementary schools

#378 of 1,216

In district

#2 of 3

Edkey Inc. - Pathfinder Academy (81045)

Academic performance

9.6 / 10

Exceptional

About Pathfinder Academy

Pathfinder Academy serves 606 students from kindergarten through eighth grade in Mesa, Arizona, operating as a charter elementary school that has earned strong recognition for its academic performance. The school holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #291 out of 2,029 Arizona schools, placing it in the 86th percentile statewide with an impressive academic score of 9.4 out of 10. Students at Pathfinder Academy demonstrate solid academic achievement, with 67% scoring proficient or above in English Language Arts and reading, while 68% meet or exceed proficiency standards in mathematics.

These results reflect the school's commitment to helping students build strong foundational skills across core subject areas during their elementary and middle school years. The school is located on North Boulder Canyon in the 85207 ZIP code area, a well-established community where the median household income reaches $94,913 and median home values are $411,500. The neighborhood shows educational commitment, with 36% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, and maintains a relatively low poverty rate of 8.6%.

Pathfinder Academy operates within Mesa's large city environment while serving families in this economically stable community that values educational achievement.

What Parents Should Know

Pathfinder Academy 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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-1.67 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.6Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency68%
Reading/ELA Proficiency67%
Overall Proficiency68%
Expected (poverty-adj.)38%
vs. Expected+29.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment2.0Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Per-Pupil Spending$7,736

Pathfinder Academy — Students at Pathfinder Academy score 68% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 73.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 69.3%
School
State
N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
75%
ELA
71%
2021*
Math
76%
ELA
70%
2022
Math
68%
ELA
67%

* 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: 7.8/10.

How Pathfinder Academy Compares

See how Pathfinder Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.2/10
74th percentile in AZ
Academic
9.6/10
9.6/10
Growth
7.8/10
Above average
Environment
2.0/10
Below average

Location

2906 N BOULDER CANYON, Mesa, AZ 85207

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Pathfinder Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Bush Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 3.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Zaharis Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 3.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Jefferson Elementary School (rated 6.8/10, 3.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Mesa, see our Mesa schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Las Sendas Elementary School Mesa 0.3 mi 6.3
Red Mountain Ranch Elementary Mesa 1.1 mi 5.5
Falcon Hill Elementary School Mesa 1.5 mi 5.5
Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies Mesa 2.2 mi 7.6
Salk Elementary School Mesa 2.2 mi 5.9
Red Mountain High School Mesa 2.3 mi 6.6
EVIT - Red Mountain High School Mesa 2.3 mi
Fremont Junior High School Mesa 2.5 mi 6.2
Mendoza Elementary School Mesa 2.3 mi 6.1
Shepherd Junior High School Mesa 2.5 mi 6.0
DESERT SHADOWS MONTESSORI Mesa 3.2 mi 4.0
Zaharis Elementary Mesa 3.0 mi 7.6
Bush Elementary Mesa 3.1 mi 7.9
East Valley High School Mesa 3.5 mi 5.1
Jefferson Elementary School Mesa 3.9 mi 6.8
MESA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Mesa 3.9 mi 6.8
Cambridge Academy East Mesa 3.6 mi 5.9
O'Connor Elementary School Mesa 3.8 mi 4.2
Self Development Charter School Mesa 3.6 mi 6.5
Self Development Online Academy Mesa 3.6 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85207 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$99,439

Median Home Value

$460,800

Median Rent

$1,595/mo

Population

50,135

College Educated

36.2%

Homeownership

82.3%

Avg Commute

26.1 min

Poverty Rate

8.6%

Median Age

46.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Pathfinder Academy has a median household income of $99,439. It is an area where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $460,800, with a median rent of $1,595/month. The local poverty rate of 8.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Abraham Lincoln Traditional School Phoenix, AZ 7.2
BASIS Chandler Primary - North Campus Chandler, AZ 7.2
BASIS Oro Valley Primary Oro Valley, AZ 7.2
Excelencia School Phoenix, AZ 7.2
Fuller Elementary School Tempe, AZ 7.2
GILBERT CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS - GREENFIELD CAMPUS Gilbert, AZ 7.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pathfinder Academy

What grades does Pathfinder Academy serve?

Pathfinder Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Pathfinder Academy?

Pathfinder Academy has an enrollment of approximately 606 students.

How does Pathfinder Academy rank in AZ?

Pathfinder Academy is ranked #529 out of 2,000 schools in AZ.

What is Pathfinder Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Pathfinder Academy has a composite rating of 7.2 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 Pathfinder Academy?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Pathfinder Academy has 73.0% math proficiency and 69.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Pathfinder Academy a charter school?

Yes, Pathfinder Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Pathfinder Academy a Title I school?

No, Pathfinder Academy is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
10 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
26 Some Transit
Bike Score
77 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,955/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Mesa). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
606
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Maricopa County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Edkey Inc. - Pathfinder Academy (81045)
District Enrollment
1,052
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,394
District Rank
#2 of 3

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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