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Surprise Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-8
587th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 909 Arizona Elementary Schools
Better than 35% of Arizona elementary schools
Summary

Surprise Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in the Dysart Unified District in El Mirage, Arizona. The school has 831 students and has been rated 2-3 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger over the past several years, indicating average to below-average performance compared to other Arizona elementary schools.

Surprise Elementary consistently underperforms the Dysart Unified District and the state of Arizona in standardized test scores across grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025 projected scores, Surprise Elementary had 27-50% proficiency in English Language Arts compared to 41-54% for the district and 36-46% for the state. In math, Surprise Elementary had 20-43% proficiency compared to 27-50% for the district and 27-42% for the state. The school also has relatively high dropout rates, ranging from 2.6% to 6.1%, which are higher than the state average. Additionally, Surprise Elementary has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 36.24% to 71.98% in recent years, indicating a high proportion of students from low-income families.

Surprise Elementary's performance is generally lower than that of other nearby schools in the Dysart Unified District, such as Freedom Traditional Academy, Marley Park Elementary, and West Point Elementary. These schools tend to have higher test scores, lower dropout rates, and serve a lower proportion of students from low-income families. Surprise Elementary's ranking and star rating from SchoolDigger have also declined over the past several years, suggesting that the school's performance is not improving relative to other Arizona elementary schools.

782
Students ?
17.5
Student/teacher ratio ?
$11,021
Per pupil spending ?
72%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 12907 W Greenway Rd
       El Mirage, AZ  85335-9759

(623) 876-7400

District: Dysart Unified District


Students who attend Surprise Elementary School usually attend:

High:    Valley Vista High School
Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
65.3%
White:
16.6%
African American:
10.1%
more
 See top rated Arizona elementary schools

 Compare Surprise Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 57th percentile in 2023 → 35th in 2025
Worth a look
!Ranking has slipped from its 57th-percentile peak (2023) to 35th (2025)
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
!Near the bottom of Dysart Unified District's ranking
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school32%
District avg43%
Arizona avg36%
Elementary school
587th of 909
Arizona public elementary schools ?
Bottom 35%▲ up 8 pts since 2015
From bottom 28% (2015) to bottom 35% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Arizona Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
302nd of 552
Arizona public middle schools ?
Bottom 45%▲ up 14 pts since 2015
From bottom 32% (2015) to bottom 45% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Arizona Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
15th of 19Elementary Schools in the Dysart Unified District
132nd of 289Dysart 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)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202527.6587 of 90935.4%★★☆☆☆
202426.1623 of 91231.7%★★☆☆☆
202350.6541 of 124556.5%★★★☆☆
202237.1573 of 100042.7%★★☆☆☆
202143.3617 of 122649.7%★★☆☆☆
201935.2619 of 103940.4%★★☆☆☆
201834.3692 of 110937.6%★★☆☆☆
201736.7664 of 110640.0%★★☆☆☆
201629.6734 of 107932.0%★★☆☆☆
201525.0691 of 95527.6%★☆☆☆☆
201445.5591 of 107945.2%★★☆☆☆
201343.8684 of 115840.9%★★☆☆☆
201243.7686 of 114139.9%★★☆☆☆
201150.5518 of 107551.8%★★★☆☆
201039.6665 of 109039.0%★★☆☆☆
200939.5666 of 106237.3%★★☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202337.5394 of 60735.1%★★☆☆☆
202215.9276 of 2894.5%☆☆☆☆☆
202129.9704 of 89521.3%★☆☆☆☆
201846.146 of 10054.0%★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202326.5309 of 45131.5%★★☆☆☆
202143.7377 of 97561.3%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202521.2473 of 58919.7%★☆☆☆☆
202414.6528 of 60212.3%★☆☆☆☆
202341.7643 of 121947.3%★★☆☆☆
202230.5602 of 82426.9%★☆☆☆☆
202146.3583 of 121952.2%★★★☆☆
201927.9593 of 86231.2%★★☆☆☆
201832.6672 of 102334.3%★★☆☆☆

Foster Care

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202348.020 of 3847.4%★★★☆☆
202256.52 of 2592.0%★★★★★
202166.619 of 30693.8%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202531.5315 of 49636.5%★★☆☆☆
202431.0313 of 48635.6%★★☆☆☆
202354.4452 of 117061.4%★★★☆☆
202244.3402 of 71643.9%★★☆☆☆
202149.4516 of 119856.9%★★★☆☆
201942.3382 of 70946.1%★★☆☆☆
201845.1457 of 91149.8%★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202527.7393 of 54928.4%★☆☆☆☆
202429.6385 of 55630.8%★★☆☆☆
202357.2392 of 111664.9%★★★☆☆
202239.8389 of 61837.1%★★☆☆☆
201842.3457 of 82044.3%★★☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202531.1412 of 62634.2%★★☆☆☆
202422.5487 of 62822.5%★☆☆☆☆
202355.5476 of 121660.9%★★★☆☆
202232.6556 of 83033.0%★★☆☆☆
202141.1652 of 122046.6%★★☆☆☆
201934.6507 of 85040.4%★★☆☆☆
201834.9630 of 103239.0%★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202152.4115 of 23951.9%★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202345.3356 of 61742.3%★★☆☆☆
202143.7557 of 102745.8%★★☆☆☆

Native American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202140.0353 of 65446.0%★★☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202249.69 of 2462.5%★★★★☆
202122.3140 of 17118.1%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202343.2406 of 82050.5%★★★☆☆
202139.0660 of 120145.0%★★☆☆☆
201818.8393 of 4175.8%☆☆☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202352.6465 of 102454.6%★★★☆☆
202149.8566 of 116151.2%★★★☆☆
201813.9658 of 7208.6%☆☆☆☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202534.5302 of 55245.3%★★☆☆☆
202424.8376 of 55031.6%★★☆☆☆
202360.8266 of 85468.9%★★★☆☆
202243.3302 of 60550.1%★★★☆☆
202161.2249 of 83270.1%★★★★☆
201931.2381 of 60537.0%★★☆☆☆
201833.2445 of 71137.4%★★☆☆☆
201737.5390 of 69543.9%★★☆☆☆
201637.2389 of 67742.5%★★☆☆☆
201527.8356 of 52131.7%★★☆☆☆
201447.7346 of 69049.9%★★☆☆☆
201338.9505 of 78735.8%★★☆☆☆
201244.7440 of 77243.0%★★☆☆☆
201148.3351 of 68548.8%★★☆☆☆
201048.1348 of 69249.7%★★☆☆☆
200945.6355 of 66346.5%★★☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202348.1177 of 40055.8%★★★☆☆
202141.1289 of 57349.6%★★☆☆☆
201841.956 of 12555.2%★★★☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202188.18 of 40498.0%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202141.7298 of 60650.8%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202532.4249 of 39537.0%★★☆☆☆
202428.5249 of 38635.5%★★☆☆☆
202362.5237 of 80670.6%★★★★☆
202245.3257 of 49448.0%★★☆☆☆
202161.9244 of 82070.2%★★★★☆
201926.8329 of 46629.4%★☆☆☆☆
201830.9409 of 62434.5%★★☆☆☆

Foster Care

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202350.823 of 3737.8%★★☆☆☆
202166.98 of 16695.2%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202547.9146 of 34557.7%★★★☆☆
202438.8169 of 32948.6%★★☆☆☆
202368.2171 of 76077.5%★★★★☆
202248.1185 of 39252.8%★★★☆☆
202169.2150 of 80281.3%★★★★☆
201942.8197 of 38749.1%★★☆☆☆
201844.1265 of 54351.2%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202532.3208 of 34439.5%★★☆☆☆
202437.1173 of 32045.9%★★☆☆☆
202371.4128 of 71782.1%★★★★☆
201844.5245 of 50351.3%★★★☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202532.7234 of 37938.3%★★☆☆☆
202419.4293 of 37020.8%★☆☆☆☆
202355.9292 of 81064.0%★★★☆☆
202160.0254 of 81868.9%★★★☆☆
201921.8331 of 43523.9%★☆☆☆☆
201838.8336 of 61745.5%★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202134.4107 of 14325.2%★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202354.5157 of 38459.1%★★★☆☆
202284.713 of 21193.8%★★★★★
202152.0264 of 65059.4%★★★☆☆

Native American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202141.5185 of 39052.6%★★★☆☆

Pacific Islander

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202123.396 of 10811.1%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202357.0106 of 36370.8%★★★★☆
202139.7438 of 78944.5%★★☆☆☆
201836.198 of 17844.9%★★☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202356.8259 of 67561.6%★★★☆☆
202156.9286 of 78063.3%★★★☆☆
201823.9350 of 43619.7%★☆☆☆☆
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)
Elementary school
Pacific Islander (2022)62nd percentile+20 vs school
White (2023)55th percentile~ school
Military Connected (2021)52nd percentile~ school
Special Education (2023)50th percentile-6 vs school
Foster Care (2023)47th percentile-9 vs school
Native American (2021)46th percentile-4 vs school
Multi-racial (2023)42nd percentile-14 vs school
Hispanic (2025)36th percentile~ school
African American (2023)35th percentile-21 vs school
Male (2025)34th percentile~ school
English Language Learner (2023)31st percentile-25 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)28th percentile-7 vs school
Female (2025)20th percentile-16 vs school
Middle school
Asian (2021)98th percentile+28 vs school
Special Education (2023)71st percentile~ school
White (2023)62nd percentile-7 vs school
Multi-racial (2023)59th percentile-10 vs school
Hispanic (2025)58th percentile+12 vs school
African American (2023)56th percentile-13 vs school
Native American (2021)53rd percentile-18 vs school
English Language Learner (2021)51st percentile-19 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)40th percentile-6 vs school
Male (2025)38th percentile-7 vs school
Foster Care (2023)38th percentile-31 vs school
Female (2025)37th percentile-8 vs school
Military Connected (2021)25th percentile-45 vs school
Pacific Islander (2021)11th percentile-59 vs school
By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?
English Language Arts36%-5 vs state
Science30%~ state avg
Mathematics30%-4 vs state

1.0
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What people are saying
by a parent
Sunday, August 13, 2017

Open Quote The principal Ms. Burns is rude tried to talk to her about a a problem we were having with my daughter and a teacher and she kept reading the email to my husband until my husband lost his patience and told her I know how to read I have an education I have a degree I graduated college too. I brought the email with me so we can figure out what we are going to do with this situation not for you to read it to me, needless to say she was no help to the problem or solution!! Seems all they do is give referral after referral and suspend kids, the kids are spending more time at home than at school. Close Quote





Schools Near Surprise Elementary School

Ranking: Map legend
E = Elementary, M = Middle, H = High, A = Alternative, P = Private






Frequently Asked Questions about Surprise Elementary School

In the 2024-25 school year, 782 students attended Surprise Elementary School.

Students who attend Surprise Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Valley Vista High School

Surprise Elementary School ranks 587th of 909 Arizona elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Surprise Elementary School are 65% Hispanic, 17% White, 10% African American, 5% Two or more races, 2% Pacific Islander.


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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.





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