Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Cave Creek

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Cave Creek-Welcome to Cave Creek MarkerPhoto: Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0
A−
Schools in Cave Creek · Cave Creek Unified District, Deer Valley Unified District

Cave Creek’s public schools outscore 81% of Arizona districts

In Cave Creek, 53% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Arizona average (35%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Cave Creek, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arizona, not nationally.

#6of 139 Arizona townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arizona state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
57%
▲ 16 pts vs AZ 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
53%
▲ 18 pts vs AZ 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95%
▲ 17 pts vs AZ 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.4K
▼ 7% vs AZ $12.3K
FY2024 · Deer Valley Unified District
Students per teacher
16.9
AZ 17.2
Schools in town
0
35,779 students on the public path
In brief

Cave Creek’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 67 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Cave Creek’s, its schools beat 90%, higher than their 81% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 57% and math 53% across both districts in spring 2022, against 40% and 35% statewide; 95% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Cave Creek Unified District spends $10,334 per student and Deer Valley Unified District $11,444, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Cave Creek’s grade

A− Test scoresA− Graduation

A−: better than 81% of Arizona school districts, #6 of 139 Arizona towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Arizona average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Arizona school districts we grade (577)Better than 81%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arizona towns with similar household incomes (67)Better than 90%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 19,763 test results and a graduating class of 2,575 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Cave Creek’s students in the tested grades sat them (19,827 in math, 19,698 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Cave Creek, with each school’s own grade.

36 schools teach K in Cave Creek’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from B− to A+, so check the specific school.
Highland Lakes School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Glendale
A
1,091 students16:1Rate it →
West Wing School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Peoria
A
963 students18:1Rate it →
Terramar Academy of the Arts
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Peoria
A
934 students17:1Rate it →
Sierra Verde STEAM Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Glendale
A+
932 students19:1Rate it →
Sonoran Foothills School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
A+
921 students18:1Rate it →
Stetson Hills School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
A+
887 students18:1Rate it →
Union Park School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
A
873 students17:1Rate it →
Canyon Springs STEM Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Anthem
A
805 students17:1Rate it →
Inspiration Mountain School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
789 students19:1Rate it →
Diamond Canyon School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Anthem
A
740 students17:1Rate it →
Paseo Hills School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
B
689 students16:1Rate it →
Copper Creek Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A
688 students18:1Rate it →
Legend Springs Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A
685 students18:1Rate it →
Norterra Canyon School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
A−
601 students16:1Rate it →
Desert Sage Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A
594 students14:1Rate it →
Sunset Ridge School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
A
563 students16:1Rate it →
Constitution Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
B
545 students15:1Rate it →
Arrowhead Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A−
515 students14:1Rate it →
Black Mountain Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Scottsdale
A
496 students16:1Rate it →
Park Meadows Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A−
495 students13:1Rate it →
Las Brisas Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A
480 students14:1Rate it →
Gavilan Peak School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Anthem
A
473 students13:1Rate it →
Mirage Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
B
454 students14:1Rate it →
Greenbrier Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A−
452 students15:1Rate it →
Esperanza Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
B
443 students13:1Rate it →
Village Meadows Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
B+
441 students17:1Rate it →
Desert Mountain School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Desert Hills
A−
438 students16:1Rate it →
Sunrise Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
B−
426 students15:1Rate it →
Mountain Shadows Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A−
426 students14:1Rate it →
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
A+
424 students18:1Rate it →
Anthem School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Anthem
A
400 students15:1Rate it →
Lone Mountain Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
A
376 students15:1Rate it →
Desert Willow Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
A
338 students15:1Rate it →
Traditional Academy at Bellair
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A
241 students14:1Rate it →
Desert Sun Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Scottsdale
A−
191 students13:1Rate it →
New River Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
B+
162 students13:1Rate it →
The path, start to finish
PK–636 schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A+
7–825 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A+
9–126 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A−

Cave Creek runs its own schools through grade 12 (Cave Creek Unified District). From grade PK, students attend the Deer Valley Unified District, shared with Glendale, Peoria and Phoenix. Its school is in Glendale. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Cave Creek

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Cave Creek Unified DistrictGrades PK–12 · 8 schools · 3,821 students, down 21% since 2020–21 · 17.7 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$10,334AZ $12,318 · FY2024
A−
Deer Valley Unified DistrictGrades PK–12 · 41 schools · 32,265 students · 16.8 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$11,444AZ $12,318 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Cave Creek Unified District62%
State average 40.4% · 2466 students tested
Math · PK–12, Cave Creek Unified District58%
State average 34.8% · 2501 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Deer Valley Unified District56%
State average 40.4% · 17232 students tested
Math · PK–12, Deer Valley Unified District52%
State average 34.8% · 17326 students tested

Cave Creek vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Cave Creek’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Cave CreekA−Cave Creek Unified District PK–12 · Deer Valley Unified District PK–12
CarefreeA−Cave Creek Unified District
PhoenixB+Deer Valley Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12
ScottsdaleB+Cave Creek Unified District PK–12 · Scottsdale Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12

2 of the 3 neighbors share Cave Creek Unified District with Cave Creek for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Cave Creek

46 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Arizona’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Cave Creekin other towns
Highland Lakes School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Glendale
A
1,091 students16:1Rate it →
West Wing School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Peoria
A
963 students18:1Rate it →
Terramar Academy of the Arts
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Peoria
A
934 students17:1Rate it →
Sierra Verde STEAM Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Glendale
A+
932 students19:1Rate it →
Sonoran Foothills School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
A+
921 students18:1Rate it →
Stetson Hills School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
A+
887 students18:1Rate it →
Union Park School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
A
873 students17:1Rate it →
Canyon Springs STEM Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Anthem
A
805 students17:1Rate it →
Inspiration Mountain School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
789 students19:1Rate it →
Diamond Canyon School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Anthem
A
740 students17:1Rate it →
Paseo Hills School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
B
689 students16:1Rate it →
Copper Creek Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A
688 students18:1Rate it →
Legend Springs Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A
685 students18:1Rate it →
Norterra Canyon School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
A−
601 students16:1Rate it →
Desert Sage Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A
594 students14:1Rate it →
Sunset Ridge School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Phoenix
A
563 students16:1Rate it →
Constitution Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
B
545 students15:1Rate it →
Arrowhead Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A−
515 students14:1Rate it →
Black Mountain Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Scottsdale
A
496 students16:1Rate it →
Park Meadows Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A−
495 students13:1Rate it →
Las Brisas Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A
480 students14:1Rate it →
Gavilan Peak School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Anthem
A
473 students13:1Rate it →
Mirage Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
B
454 students14:1Rate it →
Greenbrier Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A−
452 students15:1Rate it →
Esperanza Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
B
443 students13:1Rate it →
Village Meadows Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
B+
441 students17:1Rate it →
Desert Mountain School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Desert Hills
A−
438 students16:1Rate it →
Sunrise Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
B−
426 students15:1Rate it →
Mountain Shadows Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A−
426 students14:1Rate it →
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
A+
424 students18:1Rate it →
Anthem School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Anthem
A
400 students15:1Rate it →
Lone Mountain Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
A
376 students15:1Rate it →
Desert Willow Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
A
338 students15:1Rate it →
Traditional Academy at Bellair
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Glendale
A
241 students14:1Rate it →
Desert Sun Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Scottsdale
A−
191 students13:1Rate it →
New River Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Phoenix
B+
162 students13:1Rate it →
Sonoran Trails Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Phoenix
A−
615 students19:1Rate it →
Mountain Ridge High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Glendale
A−
2,823 students24:1Rate it →
Sandra Day O'Connor High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Glendale
B+
2,658 students24:1Rate it →
Boulder Creek High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Anthem
B+
2,221 students23:1Rate it →
Deer Valley High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Glendale
B+
1,707 students9:1Rate it →
Barry Goldwater High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Phoenix
B−
1,602 students18:1Rate it →
Hillcrest Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Glendale
A−
732 students20:1Rate it →
Desert Sky Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Glendale
B
640 students23:1Rate it →
Deer Valley Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Phoenix
B−
448 students17:1Rate it →
Cactus Shadows High School
High · Grades 8–12 · Scottsdale
A−
1,362 students21:1Rate it →

Questions about Cave Creek’s schools

Are Cave Creek’s schools good?

By Arizona’s own tests, yes: the public schools Cave Creek children attend outscore 81% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #6 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 90%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cave Creek in?

Two districts: Cave Creek Unified District runs grades PK–12, and Deer Valley Unified District runs grades PK–12, shared with Glendale, Peoria and Phoenix.

Where do Cave Creek kids go to high school?

One of 6 high schools, depending on your address: Mountain Ridge High School, Sandra Day O'Connor High School, Boulder Creek High School, Deer Valley High School, Barry Goldwater High School and Cactus Shadows High School.

What is Cave Creek’s graduation rate?

95% of the class of 2023 in Deer Valley Unified District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.

How much does Cave Creek spend per student?

$10,334 in Cave Creek Unified District and $11,444 in Deer Valley Unified District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Cave Creek families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cave Creek → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Arizona. Stars are from neighbors.