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Average

#139 of 225 private schools in AZ

Thunderbird Christian Elementary School

Elementary School

7440 E SUTTON DR, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on AZ statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

80

Student-Teacher

16:1

Score

6.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Scottsdale

#14 of 17

public schools

Arizona elementary schools

#61 of 118

About Thunderbird Christian Elementary School

Thunderbird Christian Elementary School serves 80 students from kindergarten through eighth grade in Scottsdale, Arizona. This small school maintains a 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio with 5 full-time equivalent teachers, creating an intimate learning environment where students can receive individual attention. MySchoolScout rates the school 7.5 out of 10, though it ranks #189 out of 225 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 16th percentile among Arizona schools.

The school operates as a regular public school with room for academic growth as it works to serve its student community. The school is situated in Scottsdale's 85260 ZIP code, an affluent area where the median household income reaches $101,112 and median home values are $593,600. The surrounding community is highly educated, with 60% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, and maintains a low poverty rate of just 5.3%.

This prosperous neighborhood of nearly 39,000 residents provides a stable foundation for the school community. Thunderbird Christian Elementary School offers families in this mid-size city setting a small-school environment where students can develop close relationships with teachers and peers throughout their elementary and middle school years.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 80 students, Thunderbird Christian Elementary 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.

As a private school, Thunderbird Christian Elementary School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Thunderbird Christian Elementary School compares to 40 public schools serving similar grades in Scottsdale, AZ

Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
This School
vs
14.9:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
80
This School
vs
489
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.0
This School
vs
7.2
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 43.8% vs 0%
Hispanic 37.5% vs 0%
Asian 7.5% vs 0%
Black 6.2% vs 0%
Thunderbird Christian Elementary School Scottsdale Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Thunderbird Christian Elementary School (this school) 6.0
BASIS Scottsdale Primary - West Campus 6.5
Cocopah Middle School 7.8
Sequoya Elementary School 8.0
Desert Shadows Elementary School 9.1
Desert Shadows Middle School 7.9
Redfield Elementary School 8.9
Horizon High School 8.5
Cochise Elementary School 7.6
Scottsdale Country Day School 6.0
Liberty Elementary School 8.0
Cheyenne Traditional School 8.3
Sunrise Middle School 8.4
Desert Canyon Middle School 7.2
Desert Canyon Elementary 8.3
Copper Canyon Elementary School 7.9
Laguna Elementary School 5.6
Grayhawk Elementary School 8.7
Copper Ridge School 7.4
Pueblo Elementary School 7.5
Anasazi Elementary 7.6

Showing 20 of 40 schools. View all schools in Scottsdale

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in AZ.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
C+ 3.6 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 16:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B+ 7.2 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,260
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 66%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 5.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 80
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in AZ

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 43.8%
Hispanic 37.5%
Asian 7.5%
Black 6.2%
Pacific Islander 5.0%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

7440 E SUTTON DR, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Thunderbird Christian Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Sonoran Sky Elementary School (rated 9.4/10, 0.3 miles away, in nearby Phoenix), which scores notably higher. Another option is Desert Shadows Elementary School (rated 9.1/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Sandpiper Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby Phoenix), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Scottsdale, see our Scottsdale schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
THUNDERBIRD ADVENTIST ACADEMY Scottsdale 0.1 mi 7.8
Sonoran Sky Elementary School Phoenix 0.3 mi 9.4
PARDES JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Scottsdale 0.4 mi 6.6
DESERT SKY MONTESSORI Scottsdale 0.5 mi
Sandpiper Elementary School Phoenix 1.0 mi 9.0
BASIS Scottsdale Primary - West Campus Scottsdale 1.5 mi 6.5
RAINBOW MONTESSORI SCHOOL - CACTUS Scottsdale 1.4 mi
Cocopah Middle School Scottsdale 1.7 mi 7.8
BRIGHTMONT ACADEMY Scottsdale 1.9 mi 6.6
Sequoya Elementary School Scottsdale 1.7 mi 8.0
BLESSED SACRAMENT PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN Scottsdale 1.9 mi
Chaparral High School Scottsdale 2.2 mi 8.3
Desert Shadows Elementary School Scottsdale 1.9 mi 9.1
CHAPARRAL CHRISTIA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Scottsdale 2.2 mi
Desert Shadows Middle School Scottsdale 2.0 mi 7.9
Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School Phoenix 2.0 mi 8.6
Redfield Elementary School Scottsdale 2.1 mi 8.9
North Ranch Elementary School Phoenix 2.6 mi 8.6
ST JOHN XXIII CATHOLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY Scottsdale 2.6 mi 4.3
Horizon High School Scottsdale 2.5 mi 8.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85260 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$103,854

Median Home Value

$637,000

Median Rent

$1,969/mo

Population

39,842

College Educated

58.6%

Homeownership

60%

Avg Commute

19.9 min

Poverty Rate

5%

Median Age

44.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Thunderbird Christian Elementary School has a median household income of $103,854. It is a well-educated community where 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $637,000, with a median rent of $1,969/month. The local poverty rate of 5.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 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
Liberty Leadership Academy Cottonwood, AZ 6.1
OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Lake Havasu City, AZ 5.9
QUALITY INTERACTIVE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Cave Creek, AZ 5.9
AWAKENING SEED SCHOOL Phoenix, AZ 5.8
EAST FORK LUTHERAN SCHOOL Whiteriver, AZ 5.8
GRACE FELLOWSHIP ACADEMY Buckeye, AZ 5.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Thunderbird Christian Elementary School

What grades does Thunderbird Christian Elementary School serve?

Thunderbird Christian Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Thunderbird Christian Elementary School?

Thunderbird Christian Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 80 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Thunderbird Christian Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Thunderbird Christian Elementary School is 16:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Thunderbird Christian Elementary School rank in AZ?

Thunderbird Christian Elementary School is ranked #139 out of 225 private schools in AZ.

What is Thunderbird Christian Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Thunderbird Christian Elementary School has a composite rating of 6.0 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.

Is Thunderbird Christian Elementary School a private school?

Yes, Thunderbird Christian Elementary School is a private coeducational school with a Seventh-day Adventist affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Thunderbird Christian Elementary School a religious school?

Thunderbird Christian Elementary School has a Seventh-day Adventist religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (2,031/100K)

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
80
Gender Split
49% M / 51% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
Teachers (FTE)
5
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Seventh-day Adventist
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Midsize City
County
MARICOPA
Data Year
2022–2023

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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