Gila Bend Elementary

Gila Bend Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Gila Bend, Arizona, with a student population of 311. The school has a predominantly Hispanic student body (67.85%), with a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds (100% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch).

Gila Bend Elementary consistently ranks among the lowest-performing schools in Arizona, with proficiency rates ranging from 2% to 18% in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The school's performance is particularly concerning for Hispanic, male, and low socioeconomic status students, ranking in the bottom 10% of Arizona elementary schools for these subgroups. However, the school performs relatively better for Native American students, ranking in the top 20% of schools for this subgroup. Additionally, Gila Bend Elementary had a high dropout rate of 8.4% in the 2015-2016 school year, significantly higher than the state average.

In comparison, the nearest comparable school, Kiser Elementary School, which is part of the Paloma School District, performs significantly better than Gila Bend Elementary across all grade levels and subject areas, despite also being below the state average. This suggests that factors beyond just socioeconomic status may be contributing to the academic challenges at Gila Bend Elementary. However, the school's relatively strong performance for its English Language Learner students and the diversity of its student population indicate that there may be opportunities for improvement if the right strategies and resources are put in place.