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Desert Heights Charter School

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12
523rd
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 909 Arizona Alternative Schools
Better than 42% of Arizona alternative schools
Summary

Desert Heights Charter School is an alternative public charter school located in Glendale, Arizona, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 897 students. The school is part of the Desert Heights Charter Schools district.

Desert Heights Charter School has seen a steady increase in its four-year graduation rate, from 75.7% in 2020-2021 to 78.4% in 2023-2024, which is higher than the state average of 78.4%. The school also outperforms the state average in several academic areas, including 11th grade English Language Arts (66% proficient or better vs. 40% state average) and 11th grade Mathematics (51% proficient or better vs. 30% state average). However, the school lags behind the state average in some subjects, such as 5th and 8th grade Science. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Desert Heights Charter School has increased from 14.73% in 2021-2022 to 29.88% in 2022-2023, suggesting an increasing proportion of students from lower-income families attending the school.

Comparing Desert Heights Charter School to nearby institutions, Great Hearts Academies - Maryvale Prep, a nearby public charter school, has lower test scores than Desert Heights Charter School in several subjects, such as English Language Arts and Mathematics. In contrast, Westland School Brighton Campus, another nearby public charter school, has higher graduation rates and test scores in some areas compared to Desert Heights Charter School. The significant fluctuations in spending per student at Desert Heights Charter School may indicate changes in funding sources or enrollment, which could impact the school's ability to provide consistent resources and support for its students.

868
Students ?
15.0
Student/teacher ratio ?
$10,891
Per pupil spending ?
29.9%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 5821 W Beverly Ln
       Glendale, AZ  85306-1801

(602) 896-2900

District: Desert Heights Charter Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:
50.2%
Hispanic:
34.8%
Two or more races:
7.0%
more
 See top rated Arizona elementary schools

 Compare Desert Heights Charter School to nearby alternative schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 79th percentile in 2024 → 74th in 2025
Worth a look
!Ranking has slipped from its 79th-percentile peak (2024) to 74th (2025)
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school38%
District avg38%
Arizona avg35%
Elementary school
523rd of 909
Arizona public elementary schools ?
Bottom 42%▼ down 11 pts since 2015
From top 46% (2015) to bottom 42% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Arizona Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
257th of 552
Arizona public middle schools ?
Top 47%▲ up 6 pts since 2021
From bottom 48% (2021) to top 47% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Arizona Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
71st of 271
Arizona public high schools ?
Top 26%▬ steady since 2021
See the entire ranking list of Arizona High Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202534.1523 of 90942.5%★★☆☆☆
202433.0545 of 91240.2%★★☆☆☆
202355.3487 of 124560.9%★★★☆☆
202256.0380 of 100062.0%★★★☆☆
202162.4415 of 122666.2%★★★☆☆
201962.8382 of 103963.2%★★★☆☆
201851.8483 of 110956.4%★★★☆☆
201765.0368 of 110666.7%★★★☆☆
201663.4375 of 107965.2%★★★☆☆
201546.6442 of 95553.7%★★★☆☆
201469.4337 of 107968.8%★★★☆☆
201367.5362 of 115868.7%★★★☆☆
201259.7459 of 114159.8%★★★☆☆
201171.2311 of 107571.1%★★★★☆
201073.3285 of 109073.9%★★★★☆
200975.3269 of 106274.7%★★★★☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202360.2214 of 60764.7%★★★☆☆
202140.3494 of 89544.8%★★☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202222.7241 of 27010.7%★☆☆☆☆
202133.5471 of 62024.0%★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202159.966 of 97593.2%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202526.0432 of 58926.7%★☆☆☆☆
202430.6423 of 60229.7%★☆☆☆☆
202358.3458 of 121962.4%★★★☆☆
202251.8397 of 82451.8%★★★☆☆
202159.6431 of 121964.6%★★★☆☆
201950.0401 of 86253.5%★★★☆☆
201847.0501 of 102351.0%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202357.1425 of 117063.7%★★★☆☆
202153.8458 of 119861.8%★★★☆☆
201842.7489 of 91146.3%★★☆☆☆

Homeless

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202143.8186 of 42356.0%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202449.5237 of 55657.4%★★★☆☆
202353.0448 of 111659.9%★★★☆☆
201869.6192 of 82076.6%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202528.9428 of 62631.6%★★☆☆☆
202428.1441 of 62829.8%★★☆☆☆
202349.0553 of 121654.5%★★★☆☆
202249.7410 of 83050.6%★★★☆☆
202162.6403 of 122067.0%★★★☆☆
201958.5330 of 85061.2%★★★☆☆
201861.5375 of 103263.7%★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202348.8322 of 61747.8%★★☆☆☆
202241.9288 of 44435.1%★★☆☆☆
202154.9390 of 102762.0%★★★☆☆

Native American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202378.337 of 21983.1%★★★★☆

Pacific Islander

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202156.068 of 17160.2%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202329.8595 of 82027.4%★☆☆☆☆
202135.1760 of 120136.7%★★☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
20258.9445 of 4654.3%☆☆☆☆☆
202421.9413 of 48615.0%★☆☆☆☆
202334.9681 of 102433.5%★★☆☆☆
202233.8588 of 80026.5%★☆☆☆☆
202158.3438 of 116162.3%★★★☆☆
201953.8273 of 59554.1%★★★☆☆
201843.9431 of 72040.1%★★☆☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202542.1257 of 55253.4%★★★☆☆
202442.3268 of 55051.3%★★★☆☆
202350.7335 of 85460.8%★★★☆☆
202246.8282 of 60553.4%★★★☆☆
202139.1434 of 83247.8%★★☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202340.2236 of 40041.0%★★☆☆☆
202122.7507 of 57311.5%☆☆☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202334.5181 of 24726.7%★☆☆☆☆
202248.6100 of 19247.9%★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202142.3196 of 60667.7%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202542.7195 of 39550.6%★★★☆☆
202443.1199 of 38648.4%★★☆☆☆
202352.2302 of 80662.5%★★★☆☆
202146.4358 of 82056.3%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202544.6153 of 34555.7%★★★☆☆
202350.5299 of 76060.7%★★★☆☆
202140.9411 of 80248.8%★★☆☆☆

Homeless

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202150.367 of 25773.9%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202344.6336 of 71753.1%★★★☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202543.5196 of 37948.3%★★☆☆☆
202443.0194 of 37047.6%★★☆☆☆
202344.8368 of 81054.6%★★★☆☆
202243.9249 of 47647.7%★★☆☆☆
202132.8507 of 81838.0%★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202325.9315 of 38418.0%★☆☆☆☆
202141.0365 of 65043.8%★★☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202123.877 of 10828.7%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202334.0211 of 36341.9%★★☆☆☆
202133.6552 of 78930.0%★★☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202521.3225 of 27718.8%★☆☆☆☆
202426.7220 of 28823.6%★☆☆☆☆
202340.3382 of 67543.4%★★☆☆☆
202224.2362 of 44618.8%★☆☆☆☆
202137.2509 of 78034.7%★★☆☆☆
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202569.071 of 27173.8%★★★★☆
202474.956 of 27079.3%★★★★☆
202370.8116 of 46975.3%★★★★☆
202247.5178 of 46461.6%★★★☆☆
202166.5133 of 50973.9%★★★★☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202220.2221 of 30126.6%☆☆☆☆☆
202124.0202 of 30634.0%★★☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202253.4105 of 23855.9%★★★☆☆
202191.61 of 23199.6%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202241.753 of 25879.5%★★★☆☆
202144.629 of 31290.7%☆☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202361.8128 of 40668.5%★★★☆☆
202255.0150 of 45667.1%★★★☆☆
202160.3153 of 49268.9%★★★☆☆

Foster Care

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202168.411 of 13091.5%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202352.8150 of 37960.4%★★★☆☆
202241.9189 of 44157.1%★★★☆☆
202162.4114 of 47976.2%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202392.714 of 34796.0%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202583.734 of 22384.8%★★★★☆
202478.544 of 21979.9%★★★★☆
202373.195 of 42977.9%★★★★☆
202245.6178 of 45560.9%★★★☆☆
202167.0118 of 49276.0%★★★★☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202252.4119 of 28257.8%★★★☆☆
202116.7271 of 37427.5%★☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202220.180 of 12938.0%★☆☆☆☆
202127.241 of 9456.4%★★☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202399.22 of 17298.8%★★★★★
202258.670 of 38081.6%★★★★☆
202131.9212 of 42249.8%★★☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankArizona percentileRating
202581.327 of 17884.8%★★★★☆
202455.476 of 18458.7%★★★☆☆
202356.6146 of 37160.6%★★★☆☆
202247.4185 of 40954.8%★★★☆☆
202162.2149 of 44866.7%★★★☆☆
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
English Language Learner (2021)93rd percentile+27 vs school
Native American (2023)83rd percentile+22 vs school
African American (2023)65th percentile+4 vs school
Hispanic (2023)64th percentile+3 vs school
Pacific Islander (2021)60th percentile-6 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2024)57th percentile+17 vs school
Homeless (2021)56th percentile-10 vs school
Multi-racial (2023)48th percentile-13 vs school
Male (2025)32nd percentile-11 vs school
Special Education (2023)27th percentile-33 vs school
Female (2025)27th percentile-16 vs school
Asian (2022)11th percentile-51 vs school
White (2025)4th percentile-38 vs school
Middle school
Homeless (2021)74th percentile+26 vs school
English Language Learner (2021)68th percentile+20 vs school
Hispanic (2025)56th percentile~ school
Low Socio Economic Status (2023)53rd percentile-8 vs school
Female (2025)51st percentile-3 vs school
Male (2025)48th percentile-5 vs school
Special Education (2023)42nd percentile-19 vs school
African American (2023)41st percentile-20 vs school
Pacific Islander (2021)29th percentile-19 vs school
Asian (2023)27th percentile-34 vs school
White (2025)19th percentile-35 vs school
Multi-racial (2023)18th percentile-43 vs school
High school
Special Education (2023)99th percentile+24 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2023)96th percentile+21 vs school
Foster Care (2021)92nd percentile+18 vs school
White (2025)85th percentile+11 vs school
Male (2025)85th percentile+11 vs school
English Language Learner (2022)79th percentile+18 vs school
Female (2023)68th percentile-7 vs school
Hispanic (2023)60th percentile-15 vs school
Multi-racial (2022)58th percentile-4 vs school
Asian (2022)56th percentile-6 vs school
Pacific Islander (2022)38th percentile-24 vs school
African American (2022)27th percentile-35 vs school
By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?
English Language Arts41%~ state avg
Mathematics38%+4 vs state
Science28%~ state avg

5.0
1 rating · 1 written review
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What people are saying
by a parent
Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Open Quote We have been with Desert Heights Schools for 5 years. Each year I am impressed by the efforts of the staff, the overwhelming family feeling of the community, and most important the level of academics my child receives.

I am grateful to have my child in a school where she is in a safe learning environment that continues to grow. We cannot wait for the future, as we continue up through the grades.

Thank you Desert Heights! Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Desert Heights Charter School

In the 2024-25 school year, 868 students attended Desert Heights Charter School.

Desert Heights Charter School ranks 523rd of 909 Arizona alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Desert Heights Charter School are 50% White, 35% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 5% African American, 1% Asian.


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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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