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Challenger Middle School

Q: Is Challenger Middle School a good school?

Challenger Middle School ranks 646 th of 909 Arizona elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

646^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 909 Arizona Elementary Schools

Better than 29% of Arizona elementary schools

Summary

Challenger Middle School is a public elementary school located in Glendale, Arizona, serving grades K-8 with a total enrollment of 880 students. The school is part of the Glendale Elementary District, which is ranked 237 out of 289 districts in Arizona and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Challenger Middle School consistently ranks in the bottom 30% of Arizona elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are significantly lower than the state and district averages across all grade levels. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's 8th-grade proficiency rates are 38% in ELA and 26% in Math, compared to the state averages of 40% and 27%, respectively. The school also has a higher dropout rate compared to the state average, ranging from 4.4% to 6.1% over the past few years.

Interestingly, some nearby charter schools, such as Academy of Math and Science Camelback and Camelback Academy, tend to perform better academically, with higher proficiency rates and lower dropout rates, despite serving similar student populations. The school's per-student spending has fluctuated over the years, and the student-teacher ratio is relatively high, ranging from 18.4 to 21.2 students per teacher in recent years.

839

Students ?

20.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,687

Per pupil spending ?

93.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6905 W Maryland Ave
Glendale, AZ 85303-3600

(623) 237-4011

District: Glendale Elementary District

Students who attend Challenger Middle School usually attend:

High:

Independence High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

66.0%

African American:

13.9%

White:

9.1%

See top rated Arizona elementary schools

Compare Challenger Middle School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 3rd percentile in 2015 → 29th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 26 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Arizona average (27% vs 37% meeting standards)

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

!Science scores 16 pts below the Arizona average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school27%

District avg23%

Arizona avg37%

Elementary school

646^th of 909

Arizona public elementary schools ?

Bottom 29%▲ up 26 pts since 2015

From bottom 3% (2015) to bottom 29% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arizona Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

414^th of 552

Arizona public middle schools ?

Bottom 25%▲ up 16 pts since 2015

From bottom 9% (2015) to bottom 25% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arizona Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 10Elementary Schools in the Glendale Elementary District

237^th of 289Glendale Elementary 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

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	23.6	646 of 909	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.8	700 of 912	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.5	933 of 1245	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.5	932 of 1000	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.0	1063 of 1226	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.4	886 of 1039	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.3	903 of 1109	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	20.1	907 of 1106	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	20.2	881 of 1079	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	9.9	925 of 955	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	13.8	993 of 1079	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	21.7	1012 of 1158	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	17.9	1052 of 1141	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	14.4	981 of 1075	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	23.9	903 of 1090	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	32.8	755 of 1062	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	17.8	555 of 607	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	29.9	703 of 895	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	12.3	7 of 7	0.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.4	69 of 100	31.0%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	46.5	160 of 316	49.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.9	152 of 270	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.1	242 of 620	61.0%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	24.4	339 of 451	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	41.8	432 of 975	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	24.0	142 of 155	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	20.3	477 of 589	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.8	517 of 602	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.6	970 of 1219	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	9.3	792 of 824	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.8	1041 of 1219	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	14.9	748 of 862	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.5	771 of 1023	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	21.9	391 of 496	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.8	359 of 486	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.4	887 of 1170	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.8	637 of 716	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.5	1012 of 1198	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.9	637 of 709	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.4	661 of 911	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	39.8	218 of 423	48.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	32.2	359 of 549	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.4	399 of 556	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.0	774 of 1116	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	13.2	593 of 618	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	30.5	594 of 820	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	19.1	506 of 626	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.9	526 of 628	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.1	927 of 1216	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	6.6	813 of 830	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.3	1083 of 1220	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	7.3	831 of 850	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	19.1	871 of 1032	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	22.4	892 of 1027	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	63.8	95 of 654	85.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	35.7	741 of 1201	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.6	300 of 417	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	9.4	985 of 1024	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.6	1107 of 1161	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.7	697 of 720	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	20.2	414 of 552	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.6	494 of 550	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.0	774 of 854	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.3	554 of 605	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.3	639 of 832	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.8	522 of 605	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.7	527 of 711	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	22.9	539 of 695	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	27.5	482 of 677	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	14.6	474 of 521	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	15.1	616 of 690	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	28.7	622 of 787	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	25.6	639 of 772	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	22.0	574 of 685	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	18.5	613 of 692	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	31.5	483 of 663	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	17.0	356 of 400	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.1	391 of 573	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.7	89 of 125	28.8%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	7.5	242 of 247	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	43.8	250 of 404	38.1%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	41.7	298 of 606	50.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.2	23 of 31	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	28.2	265 of 395	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	13.0	761 of 806	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	25.6	612 of 820	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.3	427 of 466	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	26.6	443 of 624	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Foster Care

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	31.2	129 of 166	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	24.5	253 of 345	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.6	694 of 760	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	30.4	554 of 802	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.6	310 of 387	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.2	360 of 543	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	31.9	231 of 257	10.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	31.2	213 of 344	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	18.5	275 of 320	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.5	622 of 717	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.9	334 of 369	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	32.7	335 of 503	33.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	16.1	724 of 810	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	9.6	449 of 476	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	22.9	649 of 818	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.3	389 of 435	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.4	472 of 617	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	56.9	217 of 650	66.6%	★★★☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	28.3	309 of 390	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	28.1	644 of 789	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	10.0	651 of 675	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.6	682 of 780	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	10.3	412 of 436	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

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

Native American (2021)85th percentile+72 vs school

Asian (2023)49th percentile+24 vs school

Homeless (2021)48th percentile+35 vs school

Special Education (2021)38th percentile+25 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)35th percentile+6 vs school

English Language Learner (2023)25th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)21st percentile-8 vs school

Male (2025)19th percentile-10 vs school

Female (2025)19th percentile-10 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)13th percentile~ school

African American (2023)9th percentile-16 vs school

White (2023)4th percentile-21 vs school

Middle school

Multi-racial (2021)67th percentile+43 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)51st percentile+28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)38th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2025)33rd percentile+8 vs school

Hispanic (2025)27th percentile~ school

Foster Care (2021)22nd percentile~ school

Native American (2021)21st percentile~ school

Special Education (2021)18th percentile-5 vs school

African American (2023)11th percentile~ school

Male (2023)11th percentile~ school

Homeless (2021)10th percentile-13 vs school

White (2023)4th percentile-6 vs school

Asian (2023)2nd percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics28%-5 vs state

English Language Arts27%-13 vs state

Science14%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Challenger Middle 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 3rd Grade	AASA English Language Arts 4th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 5th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 6th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 7th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 8th Grade	AASA Mathematics 3rd Grade	AASA Mathematics 4th Grade	AASA Mathematics 5th Grade	AASA Mathematics 6th Grade	AASA Mathematics 7th Grade	AASA Mathematics 8th Grade	AzSCI Science 5th Grade	AzSCI Science 8th 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
Challenger Middle School	Public	K-8	6905 W Maryland Ave	Glendale	85303	Maricopa County	Glendale Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 237-4011	839	41	20.7		76 (9.1%)	117 (13.9%)	554 (66.0%)	51 (6.1%)	17 (2.0%)	7 (0.8%)	17 (2.0%)	23.6	646^th of 909 public elementary schools	28.9%		19.8	700^th of 912 public elementary schools	23.2%	54	18.0	41.0	21.0	20.0	25.0	38.0	40.0	41.0	28.0	21.0	13.0	26.0		14.0	$9,687	$1,832	$492	$4,157	$5,832	$1,530	$7,362
Desert Garden Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	7020 W Ocotillo Rd	Glendale	85303	Maricopa County	Glendale Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 237-4014	205	11	18.6		14 (6.8%)	17 (8.3%)	156 (76.1%)	9 (4.4%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.9%)								(n/a)															$11,538	$1,841	$366	$4,048	$7,563	$1,768	$9,331
Harold W Smith School	Public	K-8	6534 N 63rd Ave	Glendale	85301	Maricopa County	Glendale Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 237-4003	719	33	21.7		31 (4.3%)	56 (7.8%)	597 (83.0%)	19 (2.6%)	8 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.1%)	14.3	798^th of 909 public elementary schools	12.2%		14.9	784^th of 912 public elementary schools	14.0%	14		20.0	20.0	19.0	23.0	16.0	27.0	30.0	29.0				19.0		$9,442	$1,587	$521	$3,695	$5,714	$1,620	$7,334
Don Mensendick School	Public	K-8	5535 N 67th Ave	Glendale	85301	Maricopa County	Glendale Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 237-4006	558	28	20.2		22 (3.9%)	65 (11.6%)	443 (79.4%)	12 (2.2%)	4 (0.7%)	4 (0.7%)	8 (1.4%)								(n/a)						21.0									$9,032	$1,594	$524	$3,712	$5,336	$1,578	$6,914
William C Jack School	Public	PK, KG-8	6600 W Missouri Ave	Glendale	85301	Maricopa County	Glendale Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 237-4005	811	41	20.0		37 (4.6%)	61 (7.5%)	692 (85.3%)	8 (1.0%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (0.9%)	17.7	735^th of 909 public elementary schools	19.1%		11.5	848^th of 912 public elementary schools	7.0%	113	17.0	28.0	29.0	29.0	29.0	31.0	34.0	25.0	24.0		17.0		22.0		$11,477	$1,999	$460	$4,458	$7,123	$1,895	$9,018
Desert Spirit	Public	PK, KG-8	7355 W Orangewood Ave	Glendale	85303	Maricopa County	Glendale Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 237-4016	682	36	19.2		43 (6.3%)	60 (8.8%)	523 (76.7%)	25 (3.7%)	10 (1.5%)	1 (0.1%)	20 (2.9%)	14.5	794^th of 909 public elementary schools	12.7%					(n/a)		25.0	22.0			28.0	27.0	27.0				17.0		19.0	$10,410	$1,721	$441	$3,883	$6,582	$1,667	$8,248
Discovery School	Public	K-8	7910 W Maryland Ave	Glendale	85303	Maricopa County	Glendale Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 237-4013	601	30	20.0		36 (6.0%)	32 (5.3%)	480 (79.9%)	28 (4.7%)	9 (1.5%)	2 (0.3%)	14 (2.3%)	38.7	477^th of 909 public elementary schools	47.5%		33.1	542^nd of 912 public elementary schools	40.6%	65	24.0	50.0	27.0	51.0	44.0	54.0	30.0	41.0	39.0	52.0	21.0	62.0	20.0	35.0	$9,660	$1,714	$453	$3,880	$5,883	$1,610	$7,493
Bicentennial South School	Public	PK, KG-8	7240 W Colter St	Glendale	85303	Maricopa County	Glendale Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 237-4012	729	30	24.7		30 (4.1%)	35 (4.8%)	645 (88.5%)	6 (0.8%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.1%)	11.8	845^th of 909 public elementary schools	7.0%		15.9	766^th of 912 public elementary schools	16.0%	79	18.0	20.0	29.0	22.0	22.0	19.0	18.0	22.0	17.0				21.0	17.0	$12,022	$2,112	$447	$4,671	$7,595	$1,868	$9,463
Sunset Vista	Public	PK, KG-8	7775 W Orangewood Ave	Glendale	85303	Maricopa County	Glendale Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 237-5701	676	37	18.2		77 (11.4%)	70 (10.4%)	469 (69.4%)	32 (4.7%)	7 (1.0%)	3 (0.4%)	18 (2.7%)	16.1	765^th of 909 public elementary schools	15.8%		8.8	884^th of 912 public elementary schools	3.1%	119	27.0	29.0	16.0	22.0	23.0	37.0	40.0	26.0	16.0	12.0	18.0	32.0		20.0	$13,266	$2,618	$495	$5,730	$8,305	$1,848	$10,153
Academy of Math and Science Camelback	Public, Charter	K-8	6633 W Camelback Rd	Phoenix	85033	Maricopa County	Academy of Mathematics and Science Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 547-5587	1,063	51	20.8		39 (3.7%)	91 (8.6%)	916 (86.2%)	10 (0.9%)	5 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18.1	728^th of 909 public elementary schools	19.9%		19.7	702^nd of 912 public elementary schools	23.0%	26	24.0	20.0	25.0	27.0	36.0	21.0	41.0	16.0	24.0	16.0	24.0		29.0	16.0		$00			$00

Frequently Asked Questions about Challenger Middle School

Is Challenger Middle School a good school?

Challenger Middle School ranks 646^th of 909 Arizona elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Challenger Middle School attend?

Students who attend Challenger Middle School usually go on to attend:

High : Independence High School

What district is Challenger Middle School in?

Glendale Elementary District

What is the racial makeup of Challenger Middle School?

Students at Challenger Middle School are 66% Hispanic, 14% African American, 9% White, 6% Asian, 2% American Indian, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Challenger Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 839 students attended Challenger Middle 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.