Dysart Unified District

The Dysart Unified District in Arizona operates 25 schools, including 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 5 high schools, serving the cities of Surprise and El Mirage. The district as a whole is ranked 159 out of 540 districts in Arizona and is rated 4 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger.

Several schools stand out in the district, including Freedom Traditional Academy, which is ranked 86 out of 1,245 Arizona elementary schools and has a 5-star rating, with exceptional test scores. Canyon Ridge School and Western Peaks Elementary also have strong rankings and test scores, while Marley Park Elementary has consistently high performance across grades 3-8.

However, the data also reveals stark contrasts in academic performance, with a correlation between socioeconomic status and student outcomes. Schools with higher rates of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, such as Dysart Middle School and Thompson Ranch Elementary, tend to have lower test scores. The middle schools in the district also appear to be struggling, with lower test scores and higher dropout rates compared to the elementary and high schools.