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Pensar Academy

Q: Is Pensar Academy a good school?

Pensar Academy ranks 216 th of 552 Arizona middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 4-8

216^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 552 Arizona Middle Schools

Better than 61% of Arizona middle schools

Summary

Pensar Academy is a public charter middle school located in Litchfield Park, Arizona, serving grades 4-8 with a total enrollment of 210 students. The school is part of the Pensar Academy District, which is ranked 121 out of 289 districts in Arizona and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Pensar Academy has shown mixed academic performance, with some strengths in specific subject areas and student subgroups, but also areas of concern. The school outperformed the state in 8th grade Science, 6th and 8th grade English Language Arts, and 6th and 8th grade Mathematics, but its performance in other grade levels and subjects has been below the state average, particularly in 7th grade English Language Arts and 7th grade Mathematics. Pensar Academy's performance has been inconsistent over the years, with its ranking among Arizona middle schools ranging from 216 to 429 between the 2024-2025 and 2018-2019 school years. The school has shown some strengths in the performance of Hispanic and Native American students, but has struggled with the performance of English Language Learner students.

Pensar Academy's performance is generally stronger than the nearby Imagine Desert West Middle and Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism, which are both lower-performing schools. However, Pensar Academy lags behind the higher-performing schools in the Litchfield Elementary District, such as Western Sky Middle School and L. Thomas Heck Middle School, which have 3-4 star ratings and outperform Pensar Academy in most academic areas.

203

Students ?

16.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

97.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6135 N Black Canyon Hwy
Phoenix, AZ 85015-1828

(602) 383-4013

District: Pensar Academy

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

74.4%

White:

11.3%

African American:

9.9%

See top rated Arizona middle schools

Compare Pensar Academy to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 29th percentile in 2019 → 61st in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arizona average (41% vs 35% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 32 percentile points since 2019

✓Above the Arizona median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg41%

Arizona avg35%

216^th of 552

Arizona public middle schools ?

Top 39%▲ up 32 pts since 2019

From bottom 29% (2019) to top 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arizona Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

121^st of 289Pensar Academy among Arizona districts

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	38.2	703 of 1245	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.1	633 of 1000	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.3	906 of 1226	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.6	796 of 1039	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	39.9	373 of 607	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.9	867 of 895	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	85.6	17 of 620	97.3%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	39.5	520 of 975	46.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	42.5	627 of 1219	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.5	486 of 824	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.8	894 of 1219	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.6	864 of 1023	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	40.7	657 of 1170	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.5	514 of 716	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.9	933 of 1198	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.0	538 of 709	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.0	797 of 911	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	50.5	482 of 1116	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.1	376 of 618	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	24.2	670 of 820	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	31.4	794 of 1216	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	14.4	741 of 830	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.9	885 of 1220	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.4	667 of 850	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.6	906 of 1032	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	84.2	58 of 820	92.9%	★★★★★
2022	86.5	14 of 145	90.3%	★★★★★
2021	30.3	905 of 1201	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	37.3	649 of 1024	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.1	407 of 800	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.5	842 of 1161	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	52.0	216 of 552	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	35.5	304 of 550	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.2	389 of 854	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.9	383 of 832	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.2	429 of 605	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	47.2	183 of 400	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	27.1	467 of 573	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	41.1	566 of 606	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	33.7	484 of 806	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.3	398 of 820	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.4	329 of 624	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	63.1	92 of 345	73.3%	★★★★☆
2024	52.3	120 of 329	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.0	384 of 760	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.5	344 of 802	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	23.0	307 of 387	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.4	301 of 543	44.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	67.7	72 of 344	79.1%	★★★★☆
2024	52.1	114 of 320	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.6	237 of 717	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.0	241 of 503	52.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	52.0	154 of 379	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.3	324 of 810	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.0	350 of 818	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	26.1	435 of 617	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	32.1	461 of 650	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	58.6	65 of 390	83.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	55.7	111 of 363	69.4%	★★★★☆
2021	41.9	401 of 789	49.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	55.0	268 of 675	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.6	216 of 446	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.2	205 of 780	73.7%	★★★★☆

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

Asian (2021)97th percentile+71 vs school

Special Education (2023)93rd percentile+49 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)57th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2023)49th percentile+5 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)47th percentile+21 vs school

Hispanic (2023)44th percentile~ school

African American (2023)39th percentile-5 vs school

White (2023)37th percentile-7 vs school

Male (2023)35th percentile-9 vs school

Middle school

Native American (2021)83rd percentile+29 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)79th percentile+18 vs school

Hispanic (2025)73rd percentile+12 vs school

Special Education (2023)69th percentile+15 vs school

White (2023)60th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)59th percentile~ school

African American (2023)54th percentile~ school

Female (2023)40th percentile-14 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)29th percentile-25 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)7th percentile-47 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts46%+5 vs state

Science40%+10 vs state

Mathematics36%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pensar Academy

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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 (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 6th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 7th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 8th Grade	AASA Mathematics 6th Grade	AASA Mathematics 7th Grade	AASA Mathematics 8th 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
Pensar Academy	Public, Charter	4-8	6135 N Black Canyon Hwy	Phoenix	85015	Maricopa County	Pensar Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(602) 383-4013	203	13	16.2		23 (11.3%)	20 (9.9%)	151 (74.4%)	3 (1.5%)	6 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52	216^th of 552 public middle schools	60.9%		35.5	304^th of 550 public middle schools	44.7%	88	45.0	42.0	50.0	32.0		39.0	40.0		$00			$00
Wigwam Creek Middle School	Public	5-8	4510 N 127th Ave	Litchfield Park	85340	Maricopa County	Litchfield Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 547-1100	782	37	21.1		170 (21.7%)	89 (11.4%)	448 (57.3%)	16 (2.0%)	5 (0.6%)	5 (0.6%)	49 (6.3%)	41.1	266^th of 552 public middle schools	51.8%		38.2	290^th of 550 public middle schools	47.3%	24	35.0	49.0	48.0	19.0	32.0	24.0	35.0	$6,767	$369	$01	$739	$5,342	$1,054	$6,396
Western Sky Middle School	Public	5-8	4095 N. 144th Ave.	Goodyear	85340	Maricopa County	Litchfield Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 535-6300	952	37	26.0		369 (38.8%)	61 (6.4%)	423 (44.4%)	25 (2.6%)	4 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	68 (7.1%)	54.3	210^th of 552 public middle schools	62.0%		58.6	195^th of 550 public middle schools	64.5%	15	45.0	51.0	55.0	33.0	34.0	30.0	43.0	$5,674	$240		$479	$4,868	$566	$5,434
Avondale Middle School	Public	5-8	1406 N Central Ave	Avondale	85323	Maricopa County	Avondale Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 772-4500	351	13	27.0		29 (8.3%)	50 (14.2%)	264 (75.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.7%)	11.1	523^rd of 552 public middle schools	5.3%		14.8	476^th of 550 public middle schools	13.5%	47	16.0	18.0	26.0		12.0		11.0	$10,663	$766	$721	$2,253	$6,809	$2,366	$9,176
Imagine Avondale Middle	Public, Charter	6-8	950 North Eliseo C. Felix Jr.	Avondale	85323	Maricopa County	Imagine Avondale Middle Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 344-1730	164	3	54.6		10 (6.1%)	20 (12.2%)	126 (76.8%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.3%)	18.4	444^th of 552 public middle schools	19.6%					(n/a)	24.0	23.0	32.0						$00			$00
Raul H. Castro Middle School: Academy of Fine Arts	Public	6-8	2730 N 79th Ave	Phoenix	85035	Maricopa County	Cartwright Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 691-5300	545	24	22.4		14 (2.6%)	56 (10.3%)	463 (85.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.3%)	10.6	529^th of 552 public middle schools	4.2%		9.6	530^th of 550 public middle schools	3.6%	1		25.0	20.0		7.0	4.0	14.0	$12,164	$1,785	$486	$4,055	$8,362	$1,532	$9,894
Estrella Middle School College and Career Prep	Public	6-8	3733 N 75th Ave	Phoenix	85033	Maricopa County	Cartwright Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 691-5400	650	32	20.3		11 (1.7%)	22 (3.4%)	608 (93.5%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	10.7	528^th of 552 public middle schools	4.3%		10.9	518^th of 550 public middle schools	5.8%	10		18.0	21.0			6.0	16.0	$11,768	$3,000	$403	$6,404	$6,958	$1,407	$8,365
Imagine Desert West Middle	Public, Charter	6-8	6738 W McDowell Rd	Phoenix	85035	Maricopa County	Imagine Desert West Middle Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 469-2024	437	21	20.8		7 (1.6%)	32 (7.3%)	380 (87.0%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.7%)	10 (2.3%)	7.4	548^th of 552 public middle schools	0.7%		9.9	526^th of 550 public middle schools	4.4%	22	10.0	13.0	19.0				12.0		$00			$00
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism	Public	6-8	6308 W Campbell Ave	Phoenix	85033	Maricopa County	Cartwright Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 691-4900	510	28	18.5		14 (2.7%)	43 (8.4%)	437 (85.7%)	3 (0.6%)	10 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	8.1	545^th of 552 public middle schools	1.3%		7	548^th of 550 public middle schools	0.4%	3		12.0	16.0			10.0	11.0	$14,529	$2,484	$477	$5,445	$9,954	$1,614	$11,568
Santa Maria Middle School	Public	6-8	7250 W Lower Buckeye Rd	Phoenix	85043	Maricopa County	Fowler Elementary District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 707-1100	591	26	22.7		25 (4.2%)	87 (14.7%)	449 (76.0%)	8 (1.4%)	9 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.2%)	9.1	537^th of 552 public middle schools	2.7%		8.5	539^th of 550 public middle schools	2.0%	2	18.0	20.0	19.0	12.0		9.0	8.0		$00			$00

Frequently Asked Questions about Pensar Academy

Is Pensar Academy a good school?

Pensar Academy ranks 216^th of 552 Arizona middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Pensar Academy?

Students at Pensar Academy are 74% Hispanic, 11% White, 10% African American, 3% American Indian, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Pensar Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 203 students attended Pensar Academy.

What district is Pensar Academy in?

Pensar Academy

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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.