5 Phoenix Schools Among 20 Best For Grades K-8: U.S. News

PHOENIX, AZ — Several elementary and middle schools in Phoenix have been ranked among the best in Arizona, according to a brand-new ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

For the inaugural list, U.S. News published rankings and data on more than 80,000 public elementary and middle schools across the United States.

Schools are ranked at the state and district levels. The best charter schools and best magnet schools ranked as stand-alone categories.

U.S. News ranked Kyrene De La Sierra School as the highest in the state among elementary schools in Phoenix, according to the new list. Kyrene De La Sierra School was ranked at No. 7.

Here’s a look at how other elementary schools in Phoenix ranked compared with others in the state:

• 11: Madison Traditional Academy, Madison Elementary District
• 14: Adams Traditional Academy, Choice Academies Inc.
• 16: Alhambra Traditional School, Alhambra Elementary District
• 18: Fireside Elementary School, Paradise Valley Unified District

U.S. News ranked Alhambra Traditional School as the highest in the state among middle schools in Phoenix, according to the new list. Alhambra Traditional School was ranked at No. 6.

Here’s a look at how other middle schools in Phoenix ranked compared with others in the state:

• 7: Madison Traditional Academy, Madison Elementary District
• 9: Desert Trails Elementary School, Paradise Valley Unified District
• 18: Adams Traditional Academy, Choice Academies Inc.
• 19: Sonoran Foothills School, Deer Valley Unified District

To determine the rankings, U.S. News used data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze two areas at each school:

• Math and reading proficiency — or how well students perform on state assessments.
• Math and reading performance — or how well they perform compared with expectations.

The state assessment data used in the rankings is from the 2018-19 school year and, therefore, predates any effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on test-taking.

Nationally, California has 5,534 ranked elementary schools — the most of any state — followed by Texas at 4,446; New York at 2,211; Florida at 2,128; and Illinois at 2,038 schools.

California also has the most ranked middle schools with 2,319, followed by Texas at 1,942; Illinois at 1,243; New York at 1,219; and Florida at 997.

See the complete list of 2021’s Best K-8 Schools.