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Average

#1402 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Vulture Peak Middle School

Middle School · Wickenburg Unified District (4236)

920 South Vulture Mine Rd., Wickenburg, AZ 85390

Enrollment

130

Student-Teacher

11.8:1

Score

5.3

Grades

4th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arizona schools

#1,402 of 2,006

In Wickenburg

#4 of 4

public schools

In district

#5 of 5

Wickenburg Unified District (4236)

School environment

7.1 / 10

Very Good

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Vulture Peak Middle School

5.3/10

Middle School in Wickenburg · grades 4th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

West-mec - Wickenburg High School

Nearby

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

Wickenburg High School

6.4/10

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

About Vulture Peak Middle School

Vulture Peak Middle School is a public middle school in Wickenburg, AZ, part of Wickenburg Unified District (4236). Vulture Peak Middle School serves approximately 130 students, and covers grades 4th-8th, and has a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Vulture Peak Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,402 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

Structured state assessment records for Vulture Peak Middle School show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.3 pts below AZ schools
  • This school 5.3 · Average
  • AZ avg 5.6

What Parents Should Know

At 130 students, Vulture Peak Middle 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.

Vulture Peak Middle 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.

77% of students at Vulture Peak Middle 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 Progress3.8Needs Improvement40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics5.8Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency27% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency32% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency30% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)41% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-11.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile41th
Resources & Environment7.1Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,366
Chronic Absenteeism76.9%

Vulture Peak Middle School — Students at Vulture Peak Middle School score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 36.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 45.6% (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
54%
ELA
84%
2010
Math
56%
ELA
80%
2011
Math
58%
ELA
76%
2012
Math
64%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
53%
ELA
74%
2014
Math
21%
ELA
23%
2015
Math
19%
ELA
23%
2016
Math
20%
ELA
23%
2017
Math
28%
ELA
30%
2018
Math
30%
ELA
26%
2019
Math
30%
ELA
26%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
27%
ELA
32%

* 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: 3.8/10.

How Vulture Peak Middle School Compares

See how Vulture Peak Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.3/10
30th percentile in AZ
Academic
5.8/10
Average
Growth
3.8/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
7.1/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
11 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
76.9%

Location

920 South Vulture Mine Rd., Wickenburg, AZ 85390

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Vulture Peak Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Asante Preparatory Academy (rated 8.4/10, 27.2 miles away, in nearby Surprise), which scores notably higher. Another option is Morristown Elementary School (rated 8.0/10, 11.2 miles away, in nearby Morristown), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Willow Canyon High School (rated 8.0/10, 29.2 miles away, in nearby Surprise), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Wickenburg, see our Wickenburg schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 29.3 mi
School Distance Rating
West-MEC - Wickenburg High School Wickenburg 0.2 mi
Wickenburg High School Wickenburg 0.2 mi 6.4
Wickenburg Virtual Academy Wickenburg 0.2 mi 5.8
GOSPEL OUTREACH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Wickenburg 2.3 mi
WICKENBURG CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Wickenburg 2.4 mi 6.7
Hassayampa Elementary School Wickenburg 2.8 mi 6.0
Morristown Elementary School Morristown 11.2 mi 8.0
Congress Elementary School Congress 15.7 mi 6.1
Nadaburg Online Virtual Academy Wittmann 18.7 mi
Mountainside High School Wittmann 18.7 mi 4.7
Nadaburg Elementary School Wittmann 18.8 mi 5.5
Yarnell Elementary School Peeples Valley 22.1 mi 6.3
Festival Foothills Elementary School Buckeye 22.0 mi 5.6
Aguila Elementary School Aguila 22.9 mi 7.1
Aguila Pre-School Aguila 22.9 mi
Desert Oasis Elementary School Wittmann 25.2 mi 6.5
Asante Preparatory Academy Surprise 27.2 mi 8.4
Willow Canyon High School Surprise 29.2 mi 8.0
West-MEC - Willow Canyon High School Surprise 29.2 mi
Western Peaks Elementary Surprise 29.3 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85390 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$65,985

Median Home Value

$465,800

Median Rent

$1,234/mo

Population

9,881

College Educated

34.5%

Homeownership

79.1%

Poverty Rate

14.5%

Median Age

64.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Lowell School Bisbee, AZ 5.3
South Pointe Junior High School Phoenix, AZ 5.3
Imagine Superstition Middle Apache Junction, AZ 5.6
Altar Valley Middle School Tucson, AZ 5.8
Sanders Middle School Sanders, AZ 4.7
Baboquivari Middle School Sells, AZ 5.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Vulture Peak Middle School

What grades does Vulture Peak Middle School serve?

Vulture Peak Middle School serves students in grades 4th through 8th.

How many students attend Vulture Peak Middle School?

Vulture Peak Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 130 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Vulture Peak Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Vulture Peak Middle School is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Vulture Peak Middle School rank in AZ?

Vulture Peak Middle School ranks #1,402 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Vulture Peak Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Vulture Peak Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 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 Vulture Peak Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Vulture Peak Middle School has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Vulture Peak Middle School a charter school?

No, Vulture Peak Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Vulture Peak Middle School a Title I school?

No, Vulture Peak Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
20 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
34 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
4th – 8th
Enrollment
130
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
11
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Maricopa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
76.9%

District

Wickenburg Unified District (4236)
District Enrollment
1,250
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,366
District Rank
#5 of 5

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