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Very Good

#409 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Top 20% in state

Shadow Mountain High School

High School · Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)

2902 E SHEA BLVD, Phoenix, AZ 85028

Enrollment

1,148

Student-Teacher

16.4:1

Score

7.9

Grades

8th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arizona schools

#409 of 2,006

In Phoenix

#78 of 422

public schools

In district

#17 of 44

Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)

Academic performance

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Shadow Mountain High School

7.9/10

High School in Phoenix · grades 8th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

West-mec - Shadow Mountain High School

Nearby

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

Shea Middle School

5.1/10

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

About Shadow Mountain High School

Shadow Mountain High School is a public high school in Phoenix, AZ, part of Paradise Valley Unified District (4241). Shadow Mountain High School serves approximately 1,148 students, and covers grades 8th-12th, and has a 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Shadow Mountain High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #409 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

Structured state assessment records for Shadow Mountain High School show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

What's said publicly about Shadow Mountain High School

Sources: School's website Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Shadow Mountain High School is a public high school located in the north valley of Phoenix, Arizona, and is part of the Paradise Valley Unified School District 2 . The school opened in 1974 2 . Its athletic teams are known as the Matadors, and the school colors are navy blue and gold 2 . The district provides a variety of opportunities for students, including innovative STEAM experiences, fine arts programs, and athletics 1 .
Sources (2)
  1. www.pvschools.net
  2. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares0.6 pts above district
  • This school 7.9 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.3
  • AZ avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

40% of students at Shadow Mountain High 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 · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.9Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.93 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.8Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency57% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency57% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)44% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+12.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile81th
College Readiness8.0Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation23.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.8Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,848
Chronic Absenteeism40.4%

Shadow Mountain High School — Students at Shadow Mountain High School score 56% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 48.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 58.0% (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
68%
ELA
84%
2010
Math
64%
ELA
88%
2011
Math
65%
ELA
85%
2012
Math
66%
ELA
91%
2013
Math
63%
ELA
90%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
27%
2015
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
33%
ELA
38%
2017
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
35%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
35%
2022
Math
57%
ELA
56%

* 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: 6.9/10.

How Shadow Mountain High School Compares

See how Shadow Mountain High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.9/10
80th percentile in AZ
Academic
8.8/10
Excellent
Growth
6.9/10
Average
Environment
7.8/10
Very Good
AP Courses
3
State avg: 2.8
Sports
6
3 boys' · 3 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
70 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
40.4%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
23.8% participation·State avg: 2.8 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics6sports offered
3 boys'·3 girls'·19 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
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

2902 E SHEA BLVD, Phoenix, AZ 85028

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Shadow Mountain High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Great Hearts Academies - North Phoenix Prep (rated 9.0/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is BASIS Phoenix (rated 8.9/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, GATEWAY ACADEMY (rated 7.6/10, 1.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Phoenix, see our Phoenix schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.7 mi
School Distance Rating
West-MEC - Shadow Mountain High School Phoenix 0.1 mi
Shea Middle School Phoenix 0.2 mi 5.1
Desert Cove Elementary School Phoenix 0.3 mi 7.6
BASIS Phoenix Phoenix 0.7 mi 8.9
BASIS Phoenix Primary Phoenix 0.7 mi 8.6
Mercury Mine Elementary School Phoenix 0.7 mi 8.8
DESERT VOICES ORAL LEARNING CENTER Phoenix 0.7 mi
PARADISE VALLEY CHRISTIAN PREPARATORY Phoenix 1.0 mi 7.1
COMMUNITY MONTESSORI SCHOOL Phoenix 1.1 mi
Larkspur Elementary School Phoenix 1.3 mi 5.1
GATEWAY ACADEMY Phoenix 1.3 mi 7.6
Accelerated Learning Center Phoenix 1.6 mi 4.3
Great Hearts Academies - North Phoenix Prep Phoenix 2.2 mi 9.0
Great Hearts Academies - Archway North Phoenix Phoenix 2.2 mi 7.1
Indian Bend Elementary School Phoenix 2.2 mi 7.1
Hidden Hills Elementary School Phoenix 2.3 mi 6.2
Montessori Day Public Schools Chartered - Mountainside Phoenix 2.1 mi 8.5
Sweetwater Community School Phoenix 2.3 mi 6.5
Greenway Middle School Phoenix 2.7 mi 3.7
pvONLINE Phoenix 2.7 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85028 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$119,436

Median Home Value

$583,000

Median Rent

$1,832/mo

Population

18,952

College Educated

56.2%

Homeownership

84.6%

Avg Commute

25.2 min

Poverty Rate

4.4%

Median Age

48.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Snowflake High School Snowflake, AZ 7.9
Paradise Honors High School Surprise, AZ 8.0
Saguaro High School Scottsdale, AZ 8.0
Empire High School Tucson, AZ 8.2
Thunderbird High School Phoenix, AZ 7.6
BASIS Peoria Peoria, AZ 8.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Shadow Mountain High School

What grades does Shadow Mountain High School serve?

Shadow Mountain High School serves students in grades 8th through 12th.

How many students attend Shadow Mountain High School?

Shadow Mountain High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,148 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Shadow Mountain High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Shadow Mountain High School is 16.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Shadow Mountain High School rank in AZ?

Shadow Mountain High School ranks #409 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Shadow Mountain High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Shadow Mountain High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 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 Shadow Mountain High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Shadow Mountain High School has 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Shadow Mountain High School a charter school?

No, Shadow Mountain High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Shadow Mountain High School a Title I school?

No, Shadow Mountain High School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
67 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
40 Some Transit
Bike Score
74 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
8th – 12th
Enrollment
1,148
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
70
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Maricopa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
40.4%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%

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