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Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12

Summary

Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix is a public charter school in Phoenix, Arizona that serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. With a diverse student population, the school has seen some demographic shifts in recent years, including a decrease in the percentage of White students and an increase in the percentage of African American students.

One of the school's key strengths is its strong graduation rates, which have been at or above 84% in recent years, outperforming many nearby schools. However, Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix faces challenges in academic performance, particularly in mathematics and science, where its test scores are lower than the state averages. For example, in 2022-2023, only 4% of 11th graders were proficient or better in science, compared to the state average of 22%. The school's English Language Arts scores are also below the state averages across most grade levels. These academic struggles may be linked to the school's high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, which suggests a predominantly low-income student population.

Compared to nearby charter schools, AmeriSchools Academy - Camelback, The Paideia Academy of South Phoenix, Desert Marigold School, and others, Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix has lower test scores but higher graduation rates and lower dropout rates. This suggests that while the school faces academic challenges, it is providing a supportive environment for its students, helping them to stay in school and graduate at higher rates.

439

Students ?

13.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

98.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4837 E McDowell Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85008-4225

(602) 244-9855

District: Daisy Education Corporation dba Sonoran Science Ac

Racial breakdown:

African American:

54.2%

Hispanic:

21.6%

Asian:

10.9%

See top rated Arizona public schools

Compare Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 56th percentile in 2018 → 28th in 2023

Strengths

✓84% graduate in 4 years — above the Arizona average (77%)

Worth a look

!Dropout rate above the Arizona average (11% vs 5%)

!Ranking has slipped from its 56th-percentile peak (2018) to 28th (2023)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg36%

Arizona avg41%

Not ranked this year

Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix 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
2023	26.3	880 of 1245	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.3	803 of 1226	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.8	485 of 1039	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	22.9	856 of 1109	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	26.1	805 of 1106	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	12.1	1009 of 1079	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	29.4	799 of 1079	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	35.9	810 of 1158	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	37.4	784 of 1141	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	28.7	813 of 1075	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	57.6	460 of 1090	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	42.6	633 of 1062	40.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	29.0	470 of 607	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	48.8	339 of 895	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.1	42 of 100	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	23.8	283 of 316	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.7	252 of 270	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	32.6	475 of 620	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	35.7	234 of 451	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.3	545 of 975	44.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	29.0	824 of 1219	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.7	822 of 1219	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.6	814 of 1023	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	45.4	577 of 1170	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	15.1	1155 of 1198	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	33.9	736 of 1116	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.2	701 of 820	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	21.5	976 of 1216	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.3	772 of 1220	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.1	768 of 1032	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	26.5	835 of 1027	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	24.1	1041 of 1201	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	27.7	921 of 1161	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	23.2	644 of 854	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.7	685 of 832	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.4	595 of 711	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	41.2	346 of 695	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	53.2	265 of 677	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	39.6	407 of 690	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	39.8	501 of 787	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	35.5	537 of 772	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	25.8	537 of 685	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	53.0	308 of 692	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	57.7	260 of 663	60.8%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	29.6	288 of 400	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.1	306 of 573	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.9	60 of 125	52.0%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	27.0	208 of 247	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.2	284 of 404	29.7%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	29.1	88 of 145	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.7	298 of 606	50.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	23.8	609 of 806	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.7	756 of 820	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.8	585 of 624	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	12.3	739 of 760	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.9	724 of 802	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	32.1	468 of 717	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	18.3	447 of 503	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	23.7	612 of 810	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.7	562 of 818	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	24.7	449 of 617	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	25.7	515 of 650	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	28.1	644 of 789	18.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	13.7	729 of 780	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	25.3	339 of 469	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.0	298 of 464	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.1	369 of 509	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.1	184 of 420	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	48.7	152 of 416	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	49.9	153 of 406	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	78.3	86 of 394	78.2%	★★★★☆
2013	53.0	241 of 491	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	30.3	331 of 471	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	68.3	137 of 397	65.5%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	37.1	160 of 301	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.4	151 of 306	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.3	33 of 122	73.0%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	4.5	217 of 238	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.1	181 of 231	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	41.7	53 of 258	79.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.6	29 of 312	90.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	36.5	231 of 456	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.3	355 of 492	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.2	237 of 354	33.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	25.0	285 of 379	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.5	233 of 441	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	19.5	374 of 479	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2018	51.4	88 of 253	65.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	25.8	301 of 429	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	14.9	387 of 455	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.0	357 of 492	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	56.5	117 of 370	68.4%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	16.7	271 of 374	27.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	32.4	192 of 380	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.9	212 of 422	49.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	12.4	362 of 448	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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

Hispanic (2023)51st percentile+21 vs school

English Language Learner (2023)48th percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)34th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2023)32nd percentile+3 vs school

African American (2023)23rd percentile-7 vs school

White (2021)21st percentile-14 vs school

Male (2023)20th percentile-10 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)19th percentile-16 vs school

Special Education (2021)13th percentile-21 vs school

Asian (2023)10th percentile-19 vs school

Middle school

English Language Learner (2023)39th percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)35th percentile+10 vs school

African American (2023)28th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2023)24th percentile~ school

Female (2023)24th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2021)21st percentile+3 vs school

Special Education (2021)18th percentile~ school

Asian (2023)16th percentile-9 vs school

White (2021)7th percentile-11 vs school

Hispanic (2023)3rd percentile-22 vs school

High school

English Language Learner (2022)79th percentile+44 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2018)65th percentile+9 vs school

Special Education (2022)49th percentile+14 vs school

Female (2022)49th percentile+14 vs school

African American (2022)47th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2023)30th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2021)28th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2023)25th percentile-3 vs school

White (2021)19th percentile-8 vs school

Asian (2022)9th percentile-27 vs school

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Schools Near Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	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 English Language Arts 11th 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	AASA Mathematics 11th Grade	AzSCI Science 5th Grade	AzSCI Science 8th Grade	AzSCI Science 11th 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
Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	4837 E McDowell Rd	Phoenix	85008	Maricopa County	Daisy Education Corporation dba Sonoran Science Ac	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 244-9855	439	32	13.5		35 (8.0%)	238 (54.2%)	95 (21.6%)	48 (10.9%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.6%)								(n/a)					30.0	32.0	46.0												$00			$00
Great Hearts Online - Arizona	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	4801 E Washington St Ste 250	Phoenix	85034	Maricopa County	Archway Classical Academy Trivium West	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(602) 438-7045	246	33	7.5		99 (40.2%)	15 (6.1%)	85 (34.6%)	18 (7.3%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (10.6%)								(n/a)		68.0	57.0		52.0	40.0			47.0	48.0					52.0
Great Hearts Academies - Archway Veritas	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	3102 N 56th St	Phoenix	85018	Maricopa County	Archway Classical Academy Veritas	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(602) 489-7341	716	41	17.4		458 (64.0%)	18 (2.5%)	143 (20.0%)	40 (5.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (7.7%)								(n/a)	64.0	74.0	65.0					69.0	66.0	69.0					62.0			$10,452	$245	$112	$602	$5,957	$4,138	$10,095
Nueva Vista School / Arizona State Hospital	Public, Alternative	K-12	2500 E Van Buren St # G1181	Phoenix	85008	Maricopa County	Arizona State Hospital	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 244-1331	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Scottsdale Online Learning	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	7601 E Oak St.	Scottsdale	85257	Maricopa County	Scottsdale Unified District	No	(n/a)	Yes	No	(480) 484-6897	141	12	11.5		89 (63.1%)	5 (3.5%)	34 (24.1%)	7 (5.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.5%)								(n/a)																		$10,528	$00	$00	$00	$9,030	$1,498	$10,528
ASU Preparatory Academy Digital	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1130 E University Dr STE 230	Tempe	85281	Maricopa County	ASU Preparatory Academy Digital	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	No	(844) 692-3372	3,850	230	16.7		1,714 (44.5%)	269 (7.0%)	1,282 (33.3%)	140 (3.6%)	178 (4.6%)	18 (0.5%)	249 (6.5%)								(n/a)	34.0	54.0	31.0	55.0	59.0	50.0	67.0	25.0	32.0	21.0	23.0	30.0	18.0	43.0	28.0	35.0	42.0		$00			$00
Kelly	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1648 S 16th St	Phoenix	85034	Maricopa County	Edkey Inc. - Sequoia School for the Deaf and Hard	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 712-0500	21	5	4.2		5 (23.8%)	5 (23.8%)	10 (47.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																		$54,496	$5,871	$1,155	$12,896	$21,040	$26,430	$47,470
Arizona Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	99 E Virginia Ave Ste 200	Phoenix	85004	Maricopa County	Portable Practical Educational Preparation Inc. (	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	Yes	(602) 476-1320	4,476	157	28.4		2,527 (56.5%)	399 (8.9%)	1,038 (23.2%)	43 (1.0%)	148 (3.3%)	22 (0.5%)	299 (6.7%)								(n/a)	18.0	30.0	20.0	18.0	27.0	27.0	31.0	8.0	10.0	9.0	3.0	6.0		14.0	20.0	17.0	12.0		$00			$00
BASIS Phoenix Central Primary	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	201 E Indianola Ave	Phoenix	85012	Maricopa County	BASIS Charter Schools Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 962-7393	239	25	9.5		52 (21.8%)	38 (15.9%)	90 (37.7%)	27 (11.3%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (12.1%)								(n/a)	55.0	76.0	65.0					38.0	42.0	48.0					49.0			$11,866	$201	$29	$430	$7,709	$3,928	$11,636
Desert Marigold School	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	6210 S 28th St	Phoenix	85042	Maricopa County	Valley of the Sun Waldorf Education Association d	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 243-6909	286				173 (60.5%)	8 (2.8%)	77 (26.9%)	6 (2.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.0%)								(n/a)						50.0										54.0			$00			$00

Frequently Asked Questions about Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix

How many students attend Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix?

In the 2024-25 school year, 439 students attended Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix.

What is the racial makeup of Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix?

Students at Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix are 54% African American, 22% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 8% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

What district is Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix in?

Daisy Education Corporation dba Sonoran Science Ac

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Latest Arizona data All new data »

2024–25 dropout ratesDec 2, 2025

2024–25 graduation ratesNov 7, 2025

2024–25 AASA & AzSCI test scoresOct 10, 2025

2023–24 dropout ratesJun 30, 2025

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.