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Festival Foothills Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-8

Summary

Festival Foothills Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Buckeye, Arizona, part of the Wickenburg Unified District. The school has seen a shift in its student racial makeup in recent years, with a decrease in the percentage of White students and an increase in Hispanic students.

Festival Foothills Elementary consistently outperforms the Wickenburg Unified District and the state of Arizona in academic proficiency, with strong performance among certain student subgroups, such as special education and low-income students. However, the school struggles in other areas, such as performance for African American students and English Language Learners. Compared to nearby schools, Festival Foothills generally outperforms the Nadaburg Unified School District schools but lags behind the higher-performing Paragon Management Inc. charter schools and Dysart Unified District schools.

The school's spending per student has decreased in recent years, which may impact the resources and support available to students. Despite these challenges, Festival Foothills Elementary remains a strong-performing school within its district, with particular strengths in academic achievement, special education, and low-income student performance.

262

Students ?

22.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$5,487

Per pupil spending ?

30.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

26252 W. Desert Vista Blvd.
Buckeye, AZ 85396

(928) 501-6000

District: Wickenburg Unified District

Students who attend Festival Foothills Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Wickenburg High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.8%

Hispanic:

33.6%

African American:

10.3%

See top rated Arizona public schools

Compare Festival Foothills Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 75th percentile in 2014 → 64th in 2024

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2014

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

!Large classes — about 22 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg30%

Arizona avg41%

Not ranked this year

Festival Foothills Elementary School did not have enough recent test-score data to be ranked. Check the trend below for past years.

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
2024	59.8	332 of 912	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.8	491 of 1245	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.2	395 of 1000	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.6	361 of 1226	70.6%	★★★★☆
2019	59.8	399 of 1039	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.1	394 of 1109	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	54.4	450 of 1106	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	64.6	356 of 1079	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	74.1	223 of 955	76.6%	★★★★☆
2014	75.4	266 of 1079	75.3%	★★★★☆
2013	77.1	228 of 1158	80.3%	★★★★☆
2012	83.0	137 of 1141	88.0%	★★★★☆
2011	80.1	208 of 1075	80.7%	★★★★☆
2010	84.6	142 of 1090	87.0%	★★★★☆
2009	82.0	168 of 1062	84.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	32.2	437 of 607	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	38.9	806 of 975	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	52.4	501 of 1219	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.5	438 of 1219	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.8	358 of 1023	65.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	63.9	348 of 1170	70.3%	★★★★☆
2021	56.0	428 of 1198	64.3%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	78.5	11 of 423	97.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	58.9	364 of 1116	67.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	54.3	494 of 1216	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.6	386 of 1220	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.8	444 of 1032	57.0%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	69.1	58 of 239	75.7%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	43.1	565 of 1027	45.0%	★★☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	27.0	641 of 654	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	58.7	46 of 171	73.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	58.7	240 of 820	70.7%	★★★★☆
2021	61.4	257 of 1201	78.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	41.2	600 of 1024	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.5	487 of 800	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.2	410 of 1161	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.8	354 of 595	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.5	399 of 720	44.6%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	42.4	403 of 854	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.2	204 of 832	75.5%	★★★★☆
2019	67.2	186 of 605	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.7	233 of 711	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	62.4	211 of 695	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.0	211 of 677	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	75.0	169 of 690	75.5%	★★★★☆
2013	70.9	200 of 787	74.6%	★★★★☆
2012	74.5	171 of 772	77.8%	★★★★☆
2011	79.1	128 of 685	81.3%	★★★★☆
2010	82.6	103 of 692	85.1%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	99.4	4 of 573	99.3%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	56.9	44 of 606	92.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	42.5	388 of 806	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	21.8	390 of 494	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	71.0	192 of 820	76.6%	★★★★☆
2019	74.1	97 of 466	79.2%	★★★★☆
2018	52.6	253 of 624	59.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	39.3	411 of 760	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	13.9	368 of 392	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	51.0	286 of 802	64.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	55.0	233 of 717	67.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	47.8	347 of 810	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.6	326 of 476	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	61.0	245 of 818	70.0%	★★★★☆
2018	60.5	191 of 617	69.0%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	35.7	425 of 650	34.6%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	45.0	345 of 789	56.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	38.1	405 of 675	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.4	234 of 780	70.0%	★★★★☆
2019	61.3	121 of 337	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	38.7	271 of 436	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

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

Homeless (2021)97th percentile+27 vs school

Military Connected (2021)76th percentile+5 vs school

Pacific Islander (2021)73rd percentile+3 vs school

Special Education (2023)71st percentile+10 vs school

Hispanic (2023)70th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)67th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2023)59th percentile~ school

Female (2023)59th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2021)45th percentile-26 vs school

White (2023)41st percentile-19 vs school

African American (2023)28th percentile-33 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)17th percentile-53 vs school

Native American (2021)2nd percentile-69 vs school

Middle school

African American (2021)99th percentile+24 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)93rd percentile+17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)68th percentile+15 vs school

Male (2023)57th percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2021)56th percentile-19 vs school

Female (2023)52nd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2023)46th percentile-7 vs school

White (2023)40th percentile-13 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)35th percentile-41 vs school

3.0

6 ratings · 5 written reviews

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★3

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Saturday, March 5, 2022

How do you function in a school without a Discipline program either school or district-wide? You don't. Therefore, this may be the reason for the mass exodus of teachers who are still leaving (they have lost 3 since January 2022). The principal does not care about her staff or the kids. Morale is staggering low and we can only pray now they recover from losing their best teachers. It was not the ho hums that left. It is their powerhouse teachers that are leaving!!!! Try this school out for yourself. You will see. Sometimes (most often) seeing is believing. But do not say you were not warned. This was referred to as a country bumpkin school years ago...it still is. The community is a facade and what you see is not what you get. I still live here but my kids have been pulled and many are pulling their children for next year. This is NOT A SAFE environment. It is a toxic school environment for your babies, the teachers, and for community. One star is way too many! Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, November 9, 2014

I have lived in this community and my child has attended the school for 6 years now. I cannot say enough about the hard working and dedicated teachers and staff. We live in a rural area and maybe..according to another post....makes us a "country bumpkin school". But I chose to live in this rural area and just like anyone else, I have the choice to send my child wherever I want to for her education. As far as Christina Strauss goes, the parent who thinks the school went down after Hespen left... just know that Christina Strauss was the one handling most if not all of the discipline issues while Ms, Hespen was there. Ms. Hespen was attending other schools getting herself set up for a permanent move. I stand behind and stand up for our little school and all those dedicated to our children's education! Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Best school. So happy our child goes here. Thank you to all the teachers who have given my son a will and a way to learn. He is excelling for the first time. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, July 22, 2012

Christina Strauss is a breath of fresh air. She instills a vision of excellence through compassion and leadership. We moved to the Foothills from Surprise. The difference in schools was amazing. No theft, little bullying and people who honestly care about children. The small town environment and low student count provides a rare environment where students can thrive. Thank you Festival Foothills! Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, May 22, 2012

When Marcia Hespen was principal last year, the school was excellent and under true leadership. This year with Christina Strauss taking over, things have fallen into despair. Discipline problems are up. Achievement is down. There is no true vision and leadership. We transferred my son from here to a Peoria school when we moved and he was far far behind in technology skills. THey have one computer lab for all their grades and a teacher who does both PE and technology. They do not prepare students adequately for higher grades and technology achievement. They talk a big game about how "family oriented" they are but it's really a euphemism for "country bumpkin school". Close Quote

Schools Near Festival Foothills Elementary 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
Festival Foothills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	26252 W. Desert Vista Blvd.	Buckeye	85396	Maricopa County	Wickenburg Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(928) 501-6000	262	12	22.2		120 (45.8%)	27 (10.3%)	88 (33.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	4 (1.5%)	21 (8.0%)								(n/a)				38.0											$5,487	$296	$590	$1,182	$4,443	$158	$4,601
Nadaburg Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	21419 W Dove Valley Rd	Wittmann	85361	Maricopa County	Nadaburg Unified School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 388-2321	502	60	8.3		230 (45.8%)	5 (1.0%)	252 (50.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	19.5	711^th of 909 public elementary schools	21.8%		21.1	683^rd of 912 public elementary schools	25.1%	28		33.0	26.0	23.0	23.0	34.0		31.0					26.0		$8,510	$1,429	$1,172	$4,031	$5,591	$318	$5,908
Western Peaks Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	18063 W Surprise Farms Loop S	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	Dysart Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 523-8750	763	42	18.0		339 (44.4%)	55 (7.2%)	270 (35.4%)	16 (2.1%)	5 (0.7%)	4 (0.5%)	74 (9.7%)	71.2	245^th of 909 public elementary schools	73.0%		72.9	217^th of 912 public elementary schools	76.2%	28	51.0	54.0	54.0				54.0	52.0	56.0				56.0		$11,848	$309	$873	$1,491	$9,089	$1,577	$10,666
Sunset Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	17825 W Sierra Montana Loop	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	Dysart Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 523-8700	877	46	19.2		375 (42.8%)	68 (7.8%)	325 (37.1%)	8 (0.9%)	6 (0.7%)	7 (0.8%)	88 (10.0%)	69.8	254^th of 909 public elementary schools	72.1%		56	357^th of 912 public elementary schools	60.9%	103	51.0	56.0	51.0	51.0	48.0	57.0	60.0	61.0	46.0	44.0	32.0	36.0	55.0	59.0	$7,498	$145	$868	$1,158	$5,745	$740	$6,484
Canyon Ridge School	Public	PK, KG-8	17359 W Surprise Farms Loop N	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	Dysart Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 523-8450	1,042	51	20.5		545 (52.3%)	54 (5.2%)	316 (30.3%)	31 (3.0%)	6 (0.6%)	4 (0.4%)	86 (8.3%)	87.2	94^th of 909 public elementary schools	89.7%		89.8	73^rd of 912 public elementary schools	92.0%	21	55.0	76.0	59.0	84.0	76.0	73.0	68.0	63.0	58.0	77.0	38.0	58.0	58.0	64.0	$7,590	$143	$864	$1,151	$5,746	$836	$6,582
Cimarron Springs Middle School	Public	PK, KG-8	17032 W Surprise Farms Loop S	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	Dysart Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 523-8600	810	38	21.3		377 (46.5%)	61 (7.5%)	281 (34.7%)	17 (2.1%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	67 (8.3%)								(n/a)				45.0	56.0	64.0				34.0	28.0	49.0		50.0	$8,776	$208	$884	$1,301	$6,745	$938	$7,683
Mountain View	Public	PK, KG-8	18302 W Burton Ave	Waddell	85355	Maricopa County	Dysart Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 876-7450	1,045	48	22.0		490 (46.9%)	36 (3.4%)	418 (40.0%)	18 (1.7%)	7 (0.7%)	8 (0.8%)	68 (6.5%)	61.6	309^th of 909 public elementary schools	66.0%		71.2	238^th of 912 public elementary schools	73.9%	71	44.0	64.0	44.0	52.0	53.0	54.0	53.0	59.0	37.0	46.0	28.0	41.0	40.0	51.0	$7,586	$149	$859	$1,156	$5,904	$674	$6,578
Desert Oasis Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	17161 W Bajada Rd	Surprise	85387	Maricopa County	Nadaburg Unified School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 556-5880	753	73	10.3		417 (55.4%)	25 (3.3%)	257 (34.1%)	8 (1.1%)	9 (1.2%)	9 (1.2%)	28 (3.7%)	34.7	516^th of 909 public elementary schools	43.2%		29	585^th of 912 public elementary schools	35.9%	69	46.0	54.0	28.0	44.0	38.0	47.0	27.0	34.0	20.0			19.0	29.0	22.0	$5,834	$1,031	$737	$2,799	$3,734	$332	$4,066
Asante Preparatory Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	23251 N 166th Dr	Surprise	85387	Maricopa County	Dysart Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 523-8900	876	48	18.3		399 (45.5%)	36 (4.1%)	352 (40.2%)	14 (1.6%)	8 (0.9%)	4 (0.5%)	63 (7.2%)	49.3	391^st of 909 public elementary schools	57.0%		46	433^rd of 912 public elementary schools	52.5%	42	43.0	54.0	34.0				42.0	49.0	42.0				38.0		$8,968	$161	$876	$1,199	$6,838	$1,093	$7,930
Legacy Traditional School - West Surprise	Public, Charter	K-8	17300 W Cactus Road	Surprise	85388	Maricopa County	Legacy Traditional School - West Surprise	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 299-1800	1,231	23	53.5		529 (43.0%)	102 (8.3%)	440 (35.7%)	52 (4.2%)	4 (0.3%)	6 (0.5%)	98 (8.0%)	69.6	257^th of 909 public elementary schools	71.7%		62.9	306^th of 912 public elementary schools	66.4%	49	54.0	63.0	56.0	63.0	62.0	64.0	64.0	55.0	40.0	32.0	30.0	26.0	51.0	49.0		$00			$00

Frequently Asked Questions about Festival Foothills Elementary School

How many students attend Festival Foothills Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 262 students attended Festival Foothills Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Festival Foothills Elementary School?

Students at Festival Foothills Elementary School are 46% White, 34% Hispanic, 10% African American, 8% Two or more races, 2% Pacific Islander.

What district is Festival Foothills Elementary School in?

Wickenburg Unified District

What schools do graduates of Festival Foothills Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Festival Foothills Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Wickenburg 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.