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Cherokee Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5
7th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 909 Arizona Elementary Schools
Better than 99% of Arizona elementary schools
Summary

Cherokee Elementary School is a highly-regarded public elementary school located in Paradise Valley, Arizona, serving 673 students in grades PK-5. As part of the Scottsdale Unified District, which is ranked 81 out of 289 districts in the state, Cherokee Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Arizona, maintaining a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The school's academic performance is exceptional, with a statewide ranking between 6th and 19th out of over 1,000 schools in recent years. Cherokee Elementary excels across various student subgroups, ranking highly for female students, male students, Asian students, Hispanic students, Native American students, and White students. The school also stands out in its support for special education and low-income students, ranking 1st out of all Arizona elementary schools for special education students and 15th out of 618 schools for low-income students.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Cochise Elementary, Kiva Elementary, and Sequoya Elementary, Cherokee Elementary consistently outperforms its peers in academic achievement. For example, in 2024-2025, Cherokee's 3rd-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate was 81%, compared to 74% at Cochise, 62% at Kiva, and 70% at Sequoya. This sustained excellence over time, with a 5-star rating for the past 10 school years, is a testament to the school's commitment to providing a high-quality education for all its students.

690
Students ?
17.6
Student/teacher ratio ?
$7,449
Per pupil spending ?
5.9%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 8801 N 56th St
       Paradise Valley, AZ  85253-2246

(480) 484-8700

District: Scottsdale Unified District


Students who attend Cherokee Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Cocopah Middle School
High:    Chaparral High School
Racial breakdown:

White:
72.5%
Hispanic:
15.5%
Asian:
5.4%
more
 See top rated Arizona elementary schools

 Compare Cherokee Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Improving — 94th percentile in 2015 → 99th in 2025
Strengths
Test scores above the Arizona average (82% vs 39% meeting standards)
Ranks in the top 1% of Arizona elementary schools
Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2015
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school82%
District avg63%
Arizona avg39%
7th of 909
Arizona public elementary schools ?
Top 1%▲ up 5 pts since 2015
From top 6% (2015) to top 1% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Arizona Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
1st of 18Elementary Schools in the Scottsdale Unified District
81st of 289Scottsdale 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202597.87 of 90999.2%★★★★★
202497.58 of 91299.1%★★★★★
202397.813 of 124599.0%★★★★★
202294.919 of 100098.1%★★★★★
202198.56 of 122699.5%★★★★★
201991.367 of 103993.6%★★★★★
201894.241 of 110996.3%★★★★★
201794.048 of 110695.7%★★★★★
201695.724 of 107997.8%★★★★★
201591.756 of 95594.1%★★★★★
201493.125 of 107997.7%★★★★★
201390.333 of 115897.2%★★★★★
201288.748 of 114195.8%★★★★★
201191.932 of 107597.0%★★★★★
201095.27 of 109099.4%★★★★★
200991.431 of 106297.1%★★★★★

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202271.159 of 28979.6%★★★★☆
202191.913 of 89598.5%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202390.610 of 31696.8%★★★★★
202256.6109 of 27059.6%★★★☆☆
202181.636 of 62094.2%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202372.492 of 45179.6%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202595.67 of 58998.8%★★★★★
202496.29 of 60298.5%★★★★★
202397.711 of 121999.1%★★★★★
202294.111 of 82498.7%★★★★★
202197.86 of 121999.5%★★★★★
201986.379 of 86290.8%★★★★★
201894.135 of 102396.6%★★★★★

Foster Care

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202255.93 of 2588.0%★★★★☆
202129.0293 of 3064.2%☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202598.96 of 49698.8%★★★★★
202498.04 of 48699.2%★★★★★
202398.84 of 117099.7%★★★★★
202295.814 of 71698.0%★★★★★
202196.615 of 119898.7%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202386.583 of 111692.6%★★★★★
202293.215 of 61897.6%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202595.88 of 62698.7%★★★★★
202494.019 of 62897.0%★★★★★
202396.921 of 121698.3%★★★★★
202290.329 of 83096.5%★★★★★
202198.19 of 122099.3%★★★★★
201990.452 of 85093.9%★★★★★
201893.551 of 103295.1%★★★★★

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202251.9211 of 44452.5%★★★☆☆
202171.2188 of 102781.7%★★★★☆

Native American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202198.78 of 65498.8%★★★★★

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202583.71 of 10.0%★★★★★
202387.145 of 82094.5%★★★★★
202199.63 of 120199.8%★★★★★
201899.62 of 41799.5%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202593.711 of 46597.6%★★★★★
202493.17 of 48698.6%★★★★★
202393.016 of 102498.4%★★★★★
202290.818 of 80097.8%★★★★★
202194.29 of 116199.2%★★★★★
201980.277 of 59587.1%★★★★☆
201888.447 of 72093.5%★★★★★
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)
Female (2025)99th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2025)99th percentile~ school
Native American (2021)99th percentile~ school
Male (2025)99th percentile~ school
White (2025)98th percentile~ school
Asian (2023)97th percentile~ school
Low Socio Economic Status (2023)93rd percentile-6 vs school
Foster Care (2022)88th percentile-10 vs school
English Language Learner (2023)80th percentile-19 vs school
African American (2022)80th percentile-19 vs school
Multi-racial (2022)52nd percentile-46 vs school
Special Education (2025)<1st percentile-99 vs school
By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?
Mathematics88%+48 vs state
English Language Arts81%+41 vs state
Science69%+35 vs state

5.0
6 ratings · 6 written reviews
56
40
30
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10
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What people are saying
by a parent
Sunday, November 19, 2017

Open Quote excellent public school great and dedicated teachers. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, March 16, 2017

Open Quote Excellent public school, catering to the different needs of all students. Excellent and dedicated teachers and staff. Very involved parent group! Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, March 3, 2017

Open Quote Great school and great community . Teachers, staff, parents, and APT all work hard to make this a real success. Couldn't be happier with the choice we made for our two kids. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Open Quote Cherokee Elementary is more than just a top rated, excelling school. This school is a welcoming community that makes each child feel loved and safe while at the same time meeting their individual academic needs. Year after year they show growth even though they are already excelling. The faculty is warm and inviting, the students are kind and inclusive, and the scores are off the charts in regards to state and district averages. This school is a well oiled unit that uses all of its resources for the sole benefit of its students. They consistently do whats best for the child and their scores and climate reflect that. As a parent there is no other school in the valley I would rather send my child to. I am a proud parent who is fortunate to have my children at a school that is focused on the career readiness of an ever changing world. Thank you Cherokee faculty, staff, and APT for creating the very BEST elementary experience for our family. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, February 20, 2015

Open Quote LOVE it! We've had kids here since 2008. Our 4th & 1st graders have had tremendous success after starts in the Early Learning program there and and are challenged appropriately and supported where they need extra help. Our 4th grader's math scores are almost off the charts on state testing and both kids are at or above their target goals in all other areas. Our 3rd child started in the Early Learning Center this year. She's not quite 2 yet, but is learning numbers, knows her animals and is learning colors too. Cherokee has a tremendous community of highly-credentialed teachers and staff. But hands down, the families make this school what it is! I highly recommend it- regardless of what your child's needs are. Cherokee has solid programs for every kid! Really- come see it for yourself!! I think you'll be quite pleased. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Open Quote Great school full of great teachers, students and staff. Out of this world principal and vice principal. Has active and involved PTO and parents who care about education and it shows. Cherokee has many extras like pre-k program, full time PACT, lots of volunteers and aids - which all help bring standard class sizes down. Could not be happier, highly recommend this school! Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Cherokee Elementary School

Yes! Cherokee Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 7th of 909 Arizona elementary schools.

In the 2024-25 school year, 690 students attended Cherokee Elementary School.

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

Middle : Cocopah Middle School
High : Chaparral High School

Students at Cherokee Elementary School are 72% White, 16% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 5% Two or more races, 2% African American.


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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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