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Gold Canyon DinosaurPhoto: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Gold Canyon · Apache Junction Unified District

Gold Canyon’s public schools score below 56% of Arizona districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 18% of Gold Canyon’s students scored proficient, below the Arizona average (35%). The grade covers the public school district serving Gold Canyon, 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.

#101of 139 Arizona townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arizona state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
23%
▼ 17 pts vs AZ 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
18%
▼ 17 pts vs AZ 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
83%
▲ 5 pts vs AZ 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.9K
▼ 4% vs AZ $12.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.8
AZ 17.2
Schools in town
1
1,605 students on the public path
In brief

Gold Canyon’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 90 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Gold Canyon’s, its schools beat 24%, lower than their 44% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 23% of tested students were proficient in reading and 18% in math, against 40% and 35% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

83% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,851 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 7 the district’s path is Cactus Canyon Junior High, then Apache Junction High School. See the path ↓

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 Gold Canyon’s grade

C Test scoresB− Graduation

C+: better than 44% of Arizona school districts, #101 of 139 Arizona towns. Graduation is above the Arizona average; test scores are below it.

Arizona school districts we grade (577)Better than 44%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arizona towns with similar household incomes (90)Better than 24%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,620 test results and a graduating class of 238 could put Gold Canyon anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Gold Canyon’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,633 in math, 1,607 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–6Peralta Trail Elementary SchoolApache Junction Unified DistrictC+
7–8Cactus Canyon Junior Highin Apache JunctionC
9–12Apache Junction High Schoolin Apache JunctionC−

Gold Canyon’s public schools are run by Apache Junction Unified District, which also serves Apache Junction. 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.

Apache Junction Unified DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 2,440 students · 16.8 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$11,851AZ $12,318 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading23%
State average 40.4% · 1607 students tested
Math18%
State average 34.8% · 1633 students tested

Gold Canyon vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Gold Canyon’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Gold CanyonC+Apache Junction Unified District
Apache JunctionC+Apache Junction Unified District

Every school in Gold Canyon

3 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 Gold Canyonby address
Peralta Trail Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–6 · Apache Junction
C+
282 students18:1Rate it →
Also serving Gold Canyonin other towns
Cactus Canyon Junior High
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Apache Junction
C
527 students19:1Rate it →
Apache Junction High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Apache Junction
C−
796 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Gold Canyon’s schools

Are Gold Canyon’s schools good?

On Arizona’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Gold Canyon children attend score below 56% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #101 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 24%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Gold Canyon in?

Apache Junction Unified District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,440 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Gold Canyon kids go to high school?

Apache Junction High School in Apache Junction, with 796 students; its own test results earn a C−.

What is Gold Canyon’s graduation rate?

83% of the class of 2023 in Apache Junction Unified District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.

How much does Gold Canyon spend per student?

$11,851 in Apache Junction Unified District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Gold Canyon families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Gold Canyon → 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.