Louise Lincoln Kerr House and Studio · Photo: Tony the Marine · CC BY-SA 3.0Paradise Valley’s public schools outscore 72% of Arizona districts
Math proficiency in Paradise Valley’s districts is 44%, above the Arizona average (35%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Paradise Valley, 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.
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.
Paradise Valley’s schools, in brief
Above the state on tests
Reading proficiency is 46% and math 44% across both districts in spring 2022, against 40% and 35% statewide; 75% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Phoenix Union High spends $14,043 per student and Scottsdale Unified District $12,000, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
Montessori Academy, Phoenix Country Day School (private), Christ Church School (private), The Jones-Gordon School (private) and Desert View Learning Center (private) are in town. 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.
What’s behind Paradise Valley’s grade
B+: better than 72% of Arizona school districts, #30 of 139 Arizona towns. Test scores are above the Arizona average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Paradise Valley, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Paradise Valley · depends on your address
Cherokee Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 690 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Kiva Elementary School
Grades PK–6 · 609 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in Paradise Valley · depends on your address
Cherokee Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 690 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Kiva Elementary School
Grades PK–6 · 609 students · 15:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Paradise Valley · depends on your address
Cherokee Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 690 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Kiva Elementary School
Grades PK–6 · 609 students · 15:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Paradise Valley · depends on your address
Cherokee Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 690 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Kiva Elementary School
Grades PK–6 · 609 students · 15:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Paradise Valley · depends on your address
Cherokee Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 690 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Kiva Elementary School
Grades PK–6 · 609 students · 15:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Paradise Valley · depends on your address
Cherokee Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 690 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Kiva Elementary School
Grades PK–6 · 609 students · 15:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Paradise Valley · depends on your address
Cherokee Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 690 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Kiva Elementary School
Grades PK–6 · 609 students · 15:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Paradise Valley
Kiva Elementary School
Grades PK–6 · 609 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Paradise Valley runs its own schools through grade 12 (Scottsdale Unified District). From grade 9, students attend the Phoenix Union High School District, shared with Phoenix and Scottsdale. Its middle school is in Scottsdale. Parts of Paradise Valley (8% of its land) are served by Creighton Elementary District instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Paradise Valley
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Paradise Valley vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Paradise Valley’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Paradise Valley | B+ | Scottsdale Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12 |
| Phoenix | B+ | Deer Valley Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12 |
| Scottsdale | B+ | Cave Creek Unified District PK–12 · Scottsdale Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12 |
All 2 neighbors share Phoenix Union High with Paradise Valley for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Paradise Valley
37 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).
Questions about Paradise Valley’s schools
Are Paradise Valley’s schools good?
By Arizona’s own tests, yes: the public schools Paradise Valley children attend outscore 72% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #30 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they place at the bottom. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Paradise Valley in?
Two districts: Scottsdale Unified District runs grades PK–12, and Phoenix Union High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Where do Paradise Valley kids go to high school?
One of 21 high schools, depending on your address: Trevor Browne High School, Cesar Chavez High School, Maryvale High School, South Mountain High School, Alhambra High School, Camelback High School, Carl Hayden High School, Betty Fairfax High School, Desert Mountain High School, North High School, Metro Tech High School, Chaparral High School, Central High School, Arcadia High School, Saguaro High School, Coronado High School, Phoenix Union Bioscience High School, Franklin Police and Fire High School, Phoenix Coding Academy, Phoenix Union-Wilson College Preparatory and PXU City.
What is Paradise Valley’s graduation rate?
75% of the class of 2023 in Phoenix Union High School District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.
How much does Paradise Valley spend per student?
$14,043 in Phoenix Union High School District and $12,000 in Scottsdale Unified District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Paradise Valley?
Yes: Phoenix Country Day School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 760 students), Christ Church School (religious, grades PK–3, 184 students), The Jones-Gordon School (special education, grades 1–12, 166 students) and Desert View Learning Center (nonsectarian, grades K–4, 98 students). Paradise Valley also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Paradise Valley families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Paradise Valley → 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.