Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Scottsdale’s public schools outscore 74% of Arizona districts
Math proficiency in Scottsdale’s districts is 46%, above the Arizona average (35%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Scottsdale, 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.
Scottsdale’s schools, in brief
Above the state on tests
Reading proficiency is 48% and math 46% across its 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 Cave Creek Unified District $10,334, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
16 elementary schools, then seven middle and five high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Mission Montessori Academy, BASIS Scottsdale, Great Hearts Academies - Scottsdale Prep, Great Hearts Academies - Archway Scottsdale, Hirsch Academy A Challenge Foundation, Mission Montessori Academy's Middle Years Program, BASIS Scottsdale Primary - East Campus, BASIS Scottsdale Primary - West Campus, Candeo North Scottsdale, Notre Dame Preparatory (private), International School of Arizona (private), Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (private), Pardes Jewish Day School (private), Ville de Marie Academy (private), Camelback Desert School (private), Thunderbird Adventist Academy (private), New Covenant Lutheran School (private), Thunderbird Christian Elementary School (private), Brightmont Academy (private), Desert Foothills Lutheran Preschool (private), Chrysalis Academy School for Children With Autism (private) and Chaparral Christia Community Schools (private) are in town. Scottsdale Online Learning, 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.
What’s behind Scottsdale’s grade
B+: better than 74% of Arizona school districts, #18 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 Scottsdale, with each school’s own grade.
Parts of Scottsdale (10% and 6% of its land) are served by Paradise Valley Unified District and Tempe Union High instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Scottsdale
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
Scottsdale vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Scottsdale’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale | B+ | Cave Creek Unified District PK–12 · Scottsdale Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12 |
| Phoenix | B+ | Deer Valley Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12 |
| Carefree | A− | Cave Creek Unified District |
| Fountain Hills | B+ | Fountain Hills Unified District |
| Paradise Valley | B+ | Scottsdale Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12 |
| Tempe | B | Tempe PK–8 · Kyrene Elementary District PK–8 · Tempe Union High 9–12 |
| Cave Creek | A− | Cave Creek Unified District PK–12 · Deer Valley Unified District PK–12 |
2 of the 6 neighbors share Phoenix Union High with Scottsdale for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Scottsdale
51 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).
Left off: 12 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Desert Arroyo Middle School, Cave Creek Academy of Excellence, Aztec Elementary School, Copper Ridge Middle School, Copper Ridge Math and Science Academy, EVIT - Scottsdale Vocational Center, EVIT - Coronado High School, EVIT - Saguaro High School, EVIT - Chaparral High School, EVIT - Desert Mountain High School, EVIT Cactus Shadows High School and Albert Einstein Academy). 1 duplicate private-school records merged.
Questions about Scottsdale’s schools
Are Scottsdale’s schools good?
By Arizona’s own tests, yes: the public schools Scottsdale children attend outscore 74% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #18 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 75%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Scottsdale in?
Phoenix Union High School District, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 25,800 students in 20 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Scottsdale are served by Paradise Valley Unified District and Tempe Union High.
Where do Scottsdale kids go to high school?
One of 5 high schools, depending on your address: Desert Mountain High School, Chaparral High School, Cactus Shadows High School, Saguaro High School and Coronado High School.
What is Scottsdale’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 Scottsdale spend per student?
$14,043 in Phoenix Union High School District, $10,334 in Cave Creek Unified 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 Scottsdale?
Yes: Notre Dame Preparatory (Catholic, grades 9–12, 975 students), International School of Arizona (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 337 students), Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 319 students), Pardes Jewish Day School (religious, grades K–8, 293 students), Ville de Marie Academy (Catholic, grades K–12, 229 students), Camelback Desert School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 200 students), Thunderbird Adventist Academy (religious, grades 9–12, 131 students), New Covenant Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–K, 127 students), Thunderbird Christian Elementary School (religious, grades K–8, 96 students), Brightmont Academy (nonsectarian, grades 1–12, 82 students), Desert Foothills Lutheran Preschool (religious, grades PK–K, 74 students), Chrysalis Academy School for Children With Autism (special education, grades 1–12, 41 students) and Chaparral Christia Community Schools (religious, grades K–6, 39 students). Scottsdale also has 9 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Scottsdale families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Scottsdale → 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.