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Stewart Mountain DamStewart Mountain Dam · Photo: US Bureau of Reclamation · Public domain
B+
Schools in Fountain Hills · Fountain Hills Unified District

Fountain Hills’s public schools outscore 69% of Arizona districts

In Fountain Hills, 48% of tested students read at a proficient level, above the Arizona average (40%). The grade covers the public school district serving Fountain Hills, 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.

#32of 139 Arizona townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arizona state tests taken in spring 2022, when 94% 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
48%
▲ 8 pts vs AZ 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
36%
▲ 1 pts vs AZ 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▲ 7–11 pts vs AZ 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.8K
▲ 20% vs AZ $12.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.1
AZ 17.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
5
1,017 students on the public path
In brief

Fountain Hills’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 48% and math 36% in spring 2022, against 40% and 35% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,798 per student, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Fountain Hills Middle School, then Fountain Hills High School. Enrollment is down 17% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

The Inspiration Academy (private) is in town. Fountain Hills Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

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 Fountain Hills’s grade

B+ Test scoresB Graduation

B+: better than 69% of Arizona school districts, #32 of 139 Arizona towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Arizona average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Arizona school districts we grade (577)Better than 69%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arizona towns with similar household incomes (59)Better than 68%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 586 test results and a graduating class of 136 could put Fountain Hills anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 94% of Fountain Hills’s students in the tested grades sat them (589 in math, 583 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5McDowell Mountain Elementary SchoolFountain Hills Unified DistrictA−
6–8Fountain Hills Middle SchoolFountain Hills Unified DistrictB+
9–12Fountain Hills High SchoolFountain Hills Unified DistrictB+

Fountain Hills’s public schools are run by Fountain Hills Unified District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Fountain Hills Unified DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 1,072 students, down 17% since 2020–21 · 13.1 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$14,798AZ $12,318 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading48%
State average 40.4% · 583 students tested
Math36%
State average 34.8% · 589 students tested

Fountain Hills vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Fountain Hills’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Fountain HillsB+Fountain Hills Unified District
ScottsdaleB+Cave Creek Unified District PK–12 · Scottsdale Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12

Every school in Fountain Hills

6 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).

District schools in Fountain Hillsby address
McDowell Mountain Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fountain Hls
A−
382 students11:1Rate it →
Little Falcons Preschool
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Fountain Hls
38 studentsRate it →
Fountain Hills Middle School
Middle · Grades 4–8 · Fountain Hls
B+
250 students14:1Rate it →
Fountain Hills High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
347 students15:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Fountain Hillsnot counted as local schools
Fountain Hills Virtual Academy
Grades K–12
Online
55 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
The Inspiration Academy
Grades K–10
Private · Nonsectarian
52 students9:1Rate it →

Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Fountain Hills Charter School, EVIT - Fountain Hills Vocational Center and EVIT North Fountain Hills). 1 duplicate private-school records merged.

Questions about Fountain Hills’s schools

Are Fountain Hills’s schools good?

By Arizona’s own tests, yes: the public schools Fountain Hills children attend outscore 69% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #32 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 68%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Fountain Hills in?

Fountain Hills Unified District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,072 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Fountain Hills kids go to high school?

Fountain Hills High School, with 347 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Fountain Hills’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Fountain Hills Unified District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.

How much does Fountain Hills spend per student?

$14,798 in Fountain Hills Unified District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Fountain Hills?

Yes: The Inspiration Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–10, 52 students).

Parents talk

What Fountain Hills families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fountain Hills → 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.