Middle Schools in Cartwright Elementary District


Summary:

The Cartwright Elementary District in Arizona is home to 4 middle schools serving grades 6-8: Estrella Middle School, Raul H. Castro Middle School: Academy of Fine Arts, Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism, and Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy.

Among these schools, Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy stands out as the top performer, consistently ranking among the best middle schools in the state. This school significantly outpaces the other district schools and the state average on academic measures, with 76% of 7th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and 45% in 8th grade math. In contrast, the other district schools struggle, with only 8-10% of 8th graders proficient in math and 16% proficient in science.

The data also reveals systemic challenges across the Cartwright Elementary District, including high dropout rates of 5.2% and low test scores compared to state averages. While per-student spending varies, this does not appear to translate to better outcomes. Addressing these issues and ensuring equitable distribution of resources will be crucial for improving performance at the majority of schools in the district.

District Detail

 5220 W Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85031-2605

 (623) 691-4000

SchoolDigger Rank:
262nd of 289 Arizona districts

See the 2025 Arizona District rankings!
Grades served: PK, KG-8
Students: 13,436

Primary Schools: 17
Middle Schools: 4
High Schools: 0
Alternative Schools: 0
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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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