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Cactus Shadows High School

Q: Is Cactus Shadows High School a good school?

Cactus Shadows High School ranks 55 th of 271 Arizona high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 8-12

55^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 271 Arizona High Schools

Better than 80% of Arizona high schools

Summary

Cactus Shadows High School is a public high school located in Scottsdale, Arizona, serving grades 8-12 with a total enrollment of 1,566 students. The school is part of the Cave Creek Unified District, which is ranked 77 out of 289 districts in Arizona and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Cactus Shadows High School consistently performs well academically, ranking in the top 20% of Arizona high schools in recent years. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school had 68% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts, 58% in Mathematics, and 29% in Science, all of which are significantly higher than the state averages. The school has also maintained strong graduation rates, with a 4-year graduation rate of 95.7% in the 2023-2024 school year, well above the state average. When compared to nearby schools, such as Paradise Valley High School and North Canyon High School, Cactus Shadows High School stands out as a high-performing institution.

While Cactus Shadows High School's spending per student has fluctuated over the years, ranging from $2,314 to $7,724 per student, the school has maintained a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 20.8 to 25.9 students per teacher in recent years. Additionally, the school has a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 2.82% to 5.92% in recent years, suggesting that the school serves a relatively affluent student population.

1,362

Students ?

20.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$2,314

Per pupil spending ?

5.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5802 E. Dove Valley Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85266

(480) 575-2400

District: Cave Creek Unified District

Feeder schools for Cactus Shadows High School:

Elementary:	Black Mountain Elementary School
	Desert Sun Academy
	Desert Willow Elementary School
	Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
	More...
	Lone Mountain Elementary School
Middle:	Sonoran Trails Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.0%

Hispanic:

12.3%

Two or more races:

3.5%

See top rated Arizona high schools

Compare Cactus Shadows High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 79th percentile in 2015 → 80th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arizona average (52% vs 30% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 20% of Arizona high schools

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Arizona average (80%)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school52%

District avg52%

Arizona avg30%

55^th of 271

Arizona public high schools ?

Top 20%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Arizona High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

77^th of 289Cave Creek Unified District among Arizona districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	75.4	55 of 271	79.7%	★★★★☆
2024	68.6	67 of 270	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	86.3	55 of 469	88.3%	★★★★☆
2022	86.5	47 of 464	89.9%	★★★★★
2021	85.5	64 of 509	87.4%	★★★★☆
2019	67.2	60 of 285	78.9%	★★★★☆
2018	75.8	60 of 420	85.7%	★★★★☆
2017	73.7	64 of 416	84.6%	★★★★☆
2016	77.4	54 of 406	86.7%	★★★★☆
2015	67.2	55 of 261	78.9%	★★★★☆
2014	77.9	89 of 394	77.4%	★★★★☆
2013	88.4	39 of 491	92.1%	★★★★★
2012	85.6	58 of 471	87.7%	★★★★☆
2011	84.6	60 of 397	84.9%	★★★★☆
2010	90.8	35 of 403	91.3%	★★★★★
2009	86.5	59 of 395	85.1%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	60.1	64 of 201	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.8	151 of 301	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	24.0	202 of 306	34.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	55.8	66 of 146	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.9	142 of 238	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.8	126 of 231	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	75.3	10 of 44	77.3%	★★★★☆
2018	58.6	28 of 83	66.3%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	41.7	53 of 258	79.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.6	29 of 312	90.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	78.6	36 of 207	82.6%	★★★★☆
2024	66.9	58 of 200	71.0%	★★★★☆
2023	92.8	20 of 406	95.1%	★★★★★
2022	90.7	30 of 456	93.4%	★★★★★
2021	89.7	44 of 492	91.1%	★★★★★
2019	71.5	50 of 247	79.8%	★★★★☆
2018	79.3	45 of 354	87.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	76.7	39 of 176	77.8%	★★★★☆
2024	77.5	35 of 170	79.4%	★★★★☆
2023	72.9	67 of 379	82.3%	★★★★☆
2022	81.9	53 of 441	88.0%	★★★★☆
2021	71.5	83 of 479	82.7%	★★★★☆
2019	59.6	55 of 183	69.9%	★★★★☆
2018	77.2	35 of 311	88.7%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	79.3	11 of 60	81.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	84.2	19 of 180	89.4%	★★★★☆
2018	71.4	36 of 253	85.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	69.4	59 of 223	73.5%	★★★★☆
2024	64.8	72 of 219	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	83.7	61 of 429	85.8%	★★★★☆
2022	80.2	68 of 455	85.1%	★★★★☆
2021	78.2	83 of 492	83.1%	★★★★☆
2019	63.7	63 of 238	73.5%	★★★★☆
2018	71.5	71 of 370	80.8%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	59.4	28 of 74	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	10.5	104 of 125	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.8	64 of 102	37.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	70.1	36 of 199	81.9%	★★★★☆
2022	47.0	142 of 282	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.5	113 of 374	69.8%	★★★★☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	57.1	36 of 129	72.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	97.7	1 of 94	98.9%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	45.1	66 of 172	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	84.8	16 of 380	95.8%	★★★★★
2021	74.0	38 of 422	91.0%	★★★★★
2018	62.5	33 of 155	78.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	63.0	60 of 178	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.8	86 of 184	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.1	62 of 371	83.3%	★★★★☆
2022	75.2	71 of 409	82.6%	★★★★☆
2021	77.8	81 of 448	81.9%	★★★★☆
2019	56.0	75 of 217	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.2	81 of 291	72.2%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)89th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)83rd percentile+3 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)82nd percentile-6 vs school

Homeless (2023)82nd percentile-7 vs school

English Language Learner (2022)79th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)78th percentile~ school

Male (2025)74th percentile-6 vs school

Pacific Islander (2022)72nd percentile-18 vs school

African American (2023)68th percentile-20 vs school

White (2025)66th percentile-13 vs school

Military Connected (2023)62nd percentile-26 vs school

Special Education (2023)62nd percentile-27 vs school

Asian (2023)55th percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts68%+28 vs state

Mathematics58%+28 vs state

Science29%+10 vs state

1.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★0

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2★0

1★2

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Friday, September 19, 2014

The staff at this school are extremely rude and unaccommodating. The curriculum is basic and does not prepare students for college. I am so happy my child will not be attending this school next year. One year is enough!! Close Quote

Schools Near Cactus Shadows High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				AASA English Language Arts (2025)	AASA Mathematics (2025)	AzSCI Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	AASA English Language Arts 11th Grade	AASA Mathematics 11th Grade	AzSCI Science 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Cactus Shadows High School	Public	8-12	5802 E. Dove Valley Rd.	Scottsdale	85266	Maricopa County	Cave Creek Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 575-2400	1,362	65	20.8		1,090 (80.0%)	13 (1.0%)	167 (12.3%)	33 (2.4%)	7 (0.5%)	4 (0.3%)	48 (3.5%)	75.4	55^th of 271 public high schools	79.7%		68.6	67^th of 270 public high schools	75.2%	12	68.0	58.0	29.0	$2,314	$60	$114	$234	$1,669	$471	$2,140
EVIT Cactus Shadows High School	Public	10-12	5802 E Dove Road	Cave Creek	85331	Maricopa County	East Valley Institute of Technology	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 575-2400	7				2 (28.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (14.3%)	2 (28.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (28.6%)								(n/a)					$00			$00
West-MEC - Pinnacle High School	Public	9-12	3535 E Mayo Blvd	Phoenix	85050	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-4000	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)					$00			$00
Pinnacle High School	Public	7-12	3535 E Mayo Blvd	Phoenix	85050	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-4000	2,430	102	23.8		1,706 (70.2%)	47 (1.9%)	397 (16.3%)	122 (5.0%)	9 (0.4%)	7 (0.3%)	142 (5.8%)	86.6	36^th of 271 public high schools	86.7%		76.8	52^nd of 270 public high schools	80.7%	16	69.0	70.0	42.0	$5,381	$176	$125	$478	$4,467	$613	$5,080
AAEC - Paradise Valley	Public, Charter	9-12	3775 E Union Hills Dr	Phoenix	85050	Maricopa County	Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(602) 243-8004	269	13	20.6		209 (77.7%)	9 (3.3%)	30 (11.2%)	7 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.2%)	90	23^rd of 271 public high schools	91.5%		86.9	34^th of 270 public high schools	87.4%	11	85.0	61.0	47.0		$00			$00
West-MEC Paradise Valley Community College	Public	10-12	18401 N 32nd St	Phoenix	85032	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(602) 787-7352	1				1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
West-MEC - Paradise Valley High School	Public	9-12	3950 E Bell Rd	Phoenix	85032	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-7000	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)					$00			$00
Paradise Valley High School	Public	7-12	3950 E Bell Rd	Phoenix	85032	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-7000	1,900	99	19.2		664 (34.9%)	65 (3.4%)	802 (42.2%)	246 (12.9%)	38 (2.0%)	1 (0.1%)	84 (4.4%)	61	87^th of 271 public high schools	67.9%		63.5	82^nd of 270 public high schools	69.6%	5	52.0	48.0	26.0	$7,360	$318	$179	$815	$6,141	$721	$6,863
West-MEC - North Canyon High School	Public	9-12	1700 E Union Hls Dr	Phoenix	85024	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-5000	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)					$00			$00
North Canyon High School	Public	7-12	1700 E Union Hls Dr	Phoenix	85024	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(602) 449-5000	1,560	81	19.1		305 (19.6%)	125 (8.0%)	997 (63.9%)	24 (1.5%)	35 (2.2%)	1 (0.1%)	73 (4.7%)	21.5	209^th of 271 public high schools	22.9%		20.2	217^th of 270 public high schools	19.6%	8	32.0	19.0	8.0	$6,368	$393	$199	$986	$5,124	$652	$5,775

Frequently Asked Questions about Cactus Shadows High School

What schools feed into Cactus Shadows High School?

Cactus Shadows High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Black Mountain Elementary School
Elementary : Desert Sun Academy
Elementary : Desert Willow Elementary School
Elementary : Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
Elementary : Lone Mountain Elementary School
Middle : Sonoran Trails Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Cactus Shadows High School?

Students at Cactus Shadows High School are 80% White, 12% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Cactus Shadows High School in?

Cave Creek Unified District

Is Cactus Shadows High School a good school?

Cactus Shadows High School ranks 55^th of 271 Arizona high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Cactus Shadows High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,362 students attended Cactus Shadows High School.

Rate Cactus Shadows High School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arizona Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.