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Willow Canyon High School

Q: Is Willow Canyon High School a good school?

Willow Canyon High School ranks 116 th of 271 Arizona high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-12

116^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 271 Arizona High Schools

Better than 57% of Arizona high schools

Summary

Willow Canyon High School is a public high school located in Surprise, Arizona, serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 1,819 students. The school is part of the Dysart Unified District, which is ranked 132 out of 289 districts in Arizona and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Willow Canyon High School has consistently ranked in the top half of Arizona high schools, ranging from 96th to 195th out of 261-509 schools over the past 10 years. The school's academic performance, as measured by proficiency rates on state assessments, is generally above the state and district averages in English Language Arts and Mathematics. However, the school's science proficiency rates have been lower, ranging from 19% to 28% proficient or better, compared to the state and district averages. Willow Canyon High School's ability to maintain strong performance across diverse student subgroups, such as Asian, African American, Hispanic, and Native American students, is a notable strength.

Willow Canyon High School's performance is generally on par with the nearby Valley Vista High School, which is also part of the Dysart Unified District. However, the school's performance is stronger than the nearby Imagine Prep Surprise, a public charter school, across various metrics. This suggests Willow Canyon High School is providing a solid educational experience for its students compared to some of the nearby options.

1,901

Students ?

24.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,902

Per pupil spending ?

31.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

17901 W Lundberg St
Surprise, AZ 85388-0281

(623) 523-8000

District: Dysart Unified District

Feeder schools for Willow Canyon High School:

Elementary:	Asante Preparatory Academy
	Canyon Ridge School
	Cimarron Springs Middle School
	Kingswood Elementary School
	More...
	Western Peaks Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

46.6%

Hispanic:

34.2%

African American:

8.2%

See top rated Arizona high schools

Compare Willow Canyon High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 81st percentile in 2021 → 57th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arizona average (36% vs 30% meeting standards)

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the Arizona average (80%)

✓Above the Arizona median (57th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 81st-percentile peak (2021) to 57th (2025)

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

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg37%

Arizona avg30%

116^th of 271

Arizona public high schools ?

Top 43%▲ up 32 pts since 2015

From bottom 25% (2015) to top 43% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arizona High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 4High Schools in the Dysart Unified District

132^nd 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)

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	49.3	116 of 271	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.4	119 of 270	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.7	154 of 469	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.1	102 of 464	78.0%	★★★★☆
2021	77.1	96 of 509	81.1%	★★★★☆
2019	37.4	156 of 285	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.2	182 of 420	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.2	130 of 416	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	48.5	158 of 406	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	25.7	195 of 261	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	63.9	164 of 394	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	69.9	154 of 491	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	68.6	149 of 471	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	72.5	113 of 397	71.5%	★★★★☆
2010	73.2	116 of 403	71.2%	★★★★☆
2009	78.2	94 of 395	76.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	47.5	90 of 201	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.5	56 of 301	81.4%	★★★★☆
2021	62.7	81 of 306	73.5%	★★★★☆
2019	62.7	12 of 33	63.6%	★★★★☆
2018	41.4	66 of 122	45.9%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	43.4	89 of 146	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.8	97 of 238	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.0	85 of 231	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.8	55 of 83	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

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	52.2	91 of 207	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.3	97 of 200	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.5	129 of 406	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.0	75 of 456	83.6%	★★★★☆
2021	81.2	80 of 492	83.7%	★★★★☆
2019	38.1	137 of 247	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.8	153 of 354	56.8%	★★★☆☆

Foster Care

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	30.5	48 of 116	58.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.6	38 of 130	70.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	47.5	77 of 176	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.1	63 of 170	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.7	132 of 379	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.8	88 of 441	80.0%	★★★★☆
2021	70.6	88 of 479	81.6%	★★★★☆
2019	40.8	89 of 183	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.2	138 of 311	55.6%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	31.1	69 of 168	58.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	57.6	64 of 180	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.3	61 of 172	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.7	126 of 347	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.6	34 of 168	79.8%	★★★★☆
2018	44.5	116 of 253	54.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	39.4	122 of 223	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.7	119 of 219	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.8	168 of 429	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.4	116 of 455	74.5%	★★★★☆
2021	69.3	111 of 492	77.4%	★★★★☆
2019	33.4	140 of 238	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.9	178 of 370	51.9%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	45.5	44 of 74	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.1	94 of 125	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	75.2	21 of 102	79.4%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2024	52.4	17 of 37	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.5	80 of 199	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.3	103 of 282	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.3	98 of 374	73.8%	★★★★☆
2019	21.9	21 of 25	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.9	49 of 76	35.5%	★★☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	49.8	50 of 128	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.9	46 of 255	82.0%	★★★★☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	61.2	11 of 41	73.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	38.4	169 of 380	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.2	150 of 422	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.8	86 of 155	44.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	38.1	109 of 178	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.3	121 of 184	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.9	184 of 371	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.9	134 of 409	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.1	119 of 448	73.4%	★★★★☆
2019	26.5	167 of 217	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.0	192 of 291	34.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Middle school

White (2023)100th percentile~ school

Female (2023)98th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2023)79th percentile-19 vs school

High school

English Language Learner (2022)79th percentile~ school

Pacific Islander (2023)73rd percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)64th percentile+7 vs school

Native American (2023)61st percentile-6 vs school

Homeless (2021)59th percentile-22 vs school

Foster Care (2022)59th percentile-19 vs school

Hispanic (2025)56th percentile~ school

Female (2025)56th percentile~ school

Special Education (2022)56th percentile-22 vs school

African American (2023)55th percentile-12 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)54th percentile~ school

Male (2025)45th percentile-12 vs school

Military Connected (2023)41st percentile-27 vs school

Asian (2023)39th percentile-28 vs school

White (2025)39th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts47%+7 vs state

Mathematics35%+5 vs state

Science25%+6 vs state

2.0

4 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★3

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, April 8, 2019

Teachers don't care at this school, I can name a few, they can leave a message only, they will not return your call when you call them back to discuss your student, they will not respond to your emails either, getting ready to contact the district, will see how will they handle the situation??? Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, September 19, 2016

Very pleased with the education my son is receiving! He is in the IB programme and is surrounded by teachers that care about their students. I could not be happier. Close Quote

Schools Near Willow Canyon 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
Willow Canyon High School	Public	7-12	17901 W Lundberg St	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	Dysart Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 523-8000	1,901	78	24.3		886 (46.6%)	155 (8.2%)	651 (34.2%)	48 (2.5%)	25 (1.3%)	18 (0.9%)	118 (6.2%)	49.3	116^th of 271 public high schools	57.2%		49.4	119^th of 270 public high schools	55.9%	3	47.0	35.0	25.0	$9,902	$234	$875	$1,344	$7,392	$1,401	$8,793
West-MEC - Willow Canyon High School	Public	9-12	17901 W Lundberg St	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 523-8000	1				0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					$00			$00
ThrivePoint High School at Surprise	Public, Charter	9-12	16578 W Greenway Rd Ste 204 Bl	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	ThrivePoint High School Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 870-2000	323	2	184.5		147 (45.5%)	21 (6.5%)	138 (42.7%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	12 (3.7%)								(n/a)				$2,579	$00			$1,355	$1,224	$2,579
Paradise Honors High School	Public, Charter	9-12	12775 N 175th Ave	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	Paragon Management Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 455-7400	1,028	59	17.4		637 (62.0%)	54 (5.3%)	232 (22.6%)	25 (2.4%)	6 (0.6%)	6 (0.6%)	68 (6.6%)	68.1	73^rd of 271 public high schools	73.1%		66.5	75^th of 270 public high schools	72.2%	2	65.0	43.0	31.0	$9,204	$305	$639	$1,250	$6,442	$1,818	$8,259
West-MEC Paradise Honors	Public	9-12	12775 N 175th Ave	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(623) 738-0012	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Imagine Prep Surprise	Public, Charter	9-12	14850 N 156th Ave	Surprise	85379	Maricopa County	Imagine Prep Surprise Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 344-1770	251	15	16.7		107 (42.6%)	21 (8.4%)	94 (37.5%)	9 (3.6%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.2%)	29.1	178^th of 271 public high schools	34.3%		34.2	165^th of 270 public high schools	38.9%	13	36.0	22.0			$00			$00
Highland Prep	Public, Charter	9-12	15600 W Hearn Rd	Surprise	85379	Maricopa County	Highland Prep	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 300-8385	505	22	22.9		235 (46.5%)	48 (9.5%)	177 (35.0%)	17 (3.4%)	8 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.8%)	59	96^th of 271 public high schools	64.6%		71.4	61^st of 270 public high schools	77.4%	35	44.0	43.0	35.0		$00			$00
West-MEC - Valley Vista High School	Public	9-12	15550 N Parkview Pl	Surprise	85374	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 523-8800	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)					$00			$00
Valley Vista High School	Public	7-12	15550 N Parkview Pl	Surprise	85374	Maricopa County	Dysart Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 523-8800	2,334	98	23.9		752 (32.2%)	228 (9.8%)	1,128 (48.3%)	28 (1.2%)	17 (0.7%)	9 (0.4%)	172 (7.4%)	47.4	121^st of 271 public high schools	55.4%		41.8	141^st of 270 public high schools	47.8%	20	44.0	37.0	23.0	$8,069	$243	$877	$1,362	$5,849	$1,100	$6,949
West-MEC - Shadow Ridge High School	Public	9-12	10909 N Perryville Rd	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 523-5100	2				1 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					$00			$00

Frequently Asked Questions about Willow Canyon High School

Is Willow Canyon High School a good school?

Willow Canyon High School ranks 116^th of 271 Arizona high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Willow Canyon High School?

Students at Willow Canyon High School are 47% White, 34% Hispanic, 8% African American, 6% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 1% American Indian.

What schools feed into Willow Canyon High School?

Willow Canyon High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Asante Preparatory Academy
Elementary : Canyon Ridge School
Elementary : Cimarron Springs Middle School
Elementary : Kingswood Elementary School
Elementary : Western Peaks Elementary

How many students attend Willow Canyon High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,901 students attended Willow Canyon High School.

What district is Willow Canyon High School in?

Dysart Unified District

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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.