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Desert Trails Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-7

9^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 909 Arizona Elementary Schools

Better than 99% of Arizona elementary schools

Summary

Desert Trails Elementary School is a high-performing public elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona, serving 650 students in grades PK-7 and part of the Paradise Valley Unified District. The school has consistently ranked among the top 1-3% of all Arizona elementary schools, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger in the 2024-2025 school year.

Desert Trails Elementary School's academic performance is truly exceptional, with students significantly outperforming their peers in the district and across the state. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school boasted impressive proficiency rates, including 93% in 6th grade ELA, 96% in 6th grade Math, and 80% in 5th grade ELA. These results are notably higher than the district and state averages. The school's strong performance extends across various student subgroups, with Desert Trails ranking in the top 1-5% of Arizona elementary schools for female, male, Hispanic, and white students.

While the school's academic success is undoubtedly impressive, it is important to note that Desert Trails Elementary School serves a relatively low-poverty student population, with free and reduced lunch rates ranging from 5.12% to 9.95% over the past few years. This socioeconomic factor may contribute to the school's high performance. Additionally, the school's higher spending per student and lower student-teacher ratio compared to nearby schools suggest that it is able to allocate more resources towards supporting student learning and providing a more personalized educational experience. Overall, Desert Trails Elementary School stands out as a model of excellence within the Paradise Valley Unified District.

590

Students ?

14.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,573

Per pupil spending ?

10%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4315 E Cashman Dr
Phoenix, AZ 85050-8733

(602) 449-4100

District: Paradise Valley Unified District

Students who attend Desert Trails Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Explorer Middle School
High:	Pinnacle High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

72.0%

Hispanic:

12.0%

Two or more races:

7.5%

See top rated Arizona elementary schools

Compare Desert Trails Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 88th percentile in 2015 → 99th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arizona average (82% vs 38% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Arizona elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school82%

District avg52%

Arizona avg38%

9^th of 909

Arizona public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 11 pts since 2015

From top 12% (2015) to top 1% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arizona Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 23Elementary Schools in the Paradise Valley Unified District

106^th of 289Paradise Valley Unified District 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	97.1	9 of 909	99.0%	★★★★★
2024	97.5	9 of 912	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	97.6	16 of 1245	98.7%	★★★★★
2022	93.0	34 of 1000	96.6%	★★★★★
2021	96.1	37 of 1226	97.0%	★★★★★
2019	95.8	22 of 1039	97.9%	★★★★★
2018	95.4	26 of 1109	97.7%	★★★★★
2017	96.9	16 of 1106	98.6%	★★★★★
2016	95.0	35 of 1079	96.8%	★★★★★
2015	85.6	114 of 955	88.1%	★★★★☆
2014	89.8	75 of 1079	93.0%	★★★★★
2013	89.5	47 of 1158	95.9%	★★★★★
2012	84.3	117 of 1141	89.7%	★★★★☆
2011	87.1	94 of 1075	91.3%	★★★★★
2010	88.3	86 of 1090	92.1%	★★★★★
2009	87.3	83 of 1062	92.2%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	61.5	177 of 895	80.2%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	80.8	39 of 316	87.7%	★★★★☆
2022	60.7	97 of 270	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	75.1	93 of 620	85.0%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	76.7	75 of 451	83.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	90.3	28 of 589	95.2%	★★★★★
2024	93.6	17 of 602	97.2%	★★★★★
2023	94.9	35 of 1219	97.1%	★★★★★
2022	88.4	49 of 824	94.1%	★★★★★
2021	93.9	41 of 1219	96.6%	★★★★★
2019	92.8	33 of 862	96.2%	★★★★★
2018	95.7	16 of 1023	98.4%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	94.6	29 of 1170	97.5%	★★★★★
2022	93.1	25 of 716	96.5%	★★★★★
2021	88.4	78 of 1198	93.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	90.5	48 of 1116	95.7%	★★★★★
2022	70.8	166 of 618	73.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	96.6	6 of 626	99.0%	★★★★★
2024	95.8	8 of 628	98.7%	★★★★★
2023	98.3	9 of 1216	99.3%	★★★★★
2022	92.1	20 of 830	97.6%	★★★★★
2021	96.3	23 of 1220	98.1%	★★★★★
2019	93.7	27 of 850	96.8%	★★★★★
2018	93.4	54 of 1032	94.8%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	93.4	5 of 617	99.2%	★★★★★
2022	59.9	158 of 444	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	88.7	25 of 1027	97.6%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	66.5	163 of 820	80.1%	★★★★☆
2022	77.0	35 of 145	75.9%	★★★★☆
2021	84.8	49 of 1201	95.9%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	89.7	16 of 465	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	92.1	12 of 486	97.5%	★★★★★
2023	91.5	28 of 1024	97.3%	★★★★★
2022	86.1	46 of 800	94.3%	★★★★★
2021	88.7	47 of 1161	96.0%	★★★★★
2019	91.2	15 of 595	97.5%	★★★★★
2018	91.2	26 of 720	96.4%	★★★★★

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)

Multi-racial (2023)99th percentile~ school

Male (2025)99th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2023)98th percentile~ school

White (2025)97th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)96th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)95th percentile-4 vs school

Asian (2023)88th percentile-11 vs school

English Language Learner (2023)83rd percentile-15 vs school

African American (2021)80th percentile-17 vs school

Special Education (2023)80th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics88%+51 vs state

English Language Arts80%+40 vs state

Science66%+32 vs state

2.3

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★2

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, June 10, 2019

This school was a nightmare for my daughter and my family. They do not care about your child, they care about their rankings. The place is run by crazy helicopter parents and the teachers and administration plays favorites. They wanted to place my above average IQ daughter in a self contained special ed class, and refused to address her learning difference and anxiety - caused by her awful experience. Kids are entitled, my child learned nothing, understaffed, playground is unsafe... I could go on and on. We moved to a new district and I am blown away by how great a school and district can be! Stay away from Desert Trails Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, May 24, 2017

This school has a dedicated teachers, a great principal and strong PTO. My children have been attending for 6 years and they love their school! Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, August 24, 2012

I chose Desert Trails because it was suppose to be one of the best elementary schools in the PV school district. It has not been the case at all. I have been continually disappointed with the school as a whole and the administration is not effective at all. There is a lack of leadership all the way around. My son has been labeled special needs, when in fact he is not. I have even had outside testing done. Any gains he has made is because I am doing it at home, not because the teachers are teaching him. Disappointed by the whole experience. Close Quote

Schools Near Desert Trails Elementary School

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 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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	AASA Mathematics 4th Grade	AASA Mathematics 5th Grade	AASA Mathematics 6th Grade	AzSCI Science 5th 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
Desert Trails Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-7	4315 E Cashman Dr	Phoenix	85050	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-4100	590	41	14.2		425 (72.0%)	8 (1.4%)	71 (12.0%)	38 (6.4%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (7.5%)	97.1	9^th of 909 public elementary schools	99.0%		97.5	9^th of 912 public elementary schools	99.0%		72.0	76.0	80.0	93.0		81.0	80.0	94.0	96.0	66.0	$8,573	$387	$135	$908	$7,715	$337	$8,052
Wildfire Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3997 E Lockwood Dr	Phoenix	85050	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-4300	394	29	13.8		304 (77.2%)	5 (1.3%)	53 (13.5%)	9 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (5.3%)	92.4	54^th of 909 public elementary schools	94.1%		90.3	68^th of 912 public elementary schools	92.5%	14	86.0	88.0	65.0	76.0		80.0	78.0	68.0	56.0	56.0	$8,321	$181	$170	$533	$7,526	$444	$7,970
Fireside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3725 E. Love Cactus Drive	Phoenix	85050	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-4700	693	42	16.5		437 (63.1%)	11 (1.6%)	78 (11.3%)	124 (17.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (6.1%)	96.2	19^th of 909 public elementary schools	97.9%		96.9	14^th of 912 public elementary schools	98.5%	5	70.0	94.0	75.0	82.0		74.0	97.0	72.0	79.0	64.0	$6,885	$297	$137	$732	$6,106	$344	$6,451
Sky Crossing Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3300 E. Sky Crossing Way	Phoenix	85050	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-5900	628	42	14.7		461 (73.4%)	7 (1.1%)	58 (9.2%)	50 (8.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.0%)	95.3	30^th of 909 public elementary schools	96.7%		94.7	33^rd of 912 public elementary schools	96.4%	3	67.0	74.0	82.0	83.0		74.0	79.0	78.0	68.0	70.0	$9,058	$234	$220	$688	$7,519	$1,085	$8,604
Quail Run Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3303 E Utopia Rd	Phoenix	85050	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-4400	533	34	15.7		321 (60.2%)	21 (3.9%)	134 (25.1%)	18 (3.4%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (6.4%)	81.8	141^st of 909 public elementary schools	84.5%		84.8	125^th of 912 public elementary schools	86.3%	16	51.0	74.0	55.0	58.0		68.0	65.0	65.0	53.0	55.0	$8,032	$281	$97	$658	$7,121	$534	$7,654
Milestones Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	4707 E Robert E Lee St	Phoenix	85032	Maricopa County	Milestones Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 404-1009	186	14	13.2		69 (37.1%)	12 (6.5%)	20 (10.8%)	74 (39.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.2%)	7 (3.8%)	94.8	36^th of 909 public elementary schools	96.0%		88.4	87^th of 912 public elementary schools	90.5%	51	55.0	82.0		87.0	65.0	75.0	82.0	92.0	86.0			$00			$00
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	5405 E. Pinnacle Vista Drive	Phoenix	85054	Maricopa County	Cave Creek Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 272-8500	424	24	17.7		339 (80.0%)	8 (1.9%)	38 (9.0%)	11 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.4%)	86.7	101^st of 909 public elementary schools	88.9%		86.7	104^th of 912 public elementary schools	88.6%	3	57.0	79.0	73.0	46.0		68.0	78.0	78.0	52.0	70.0	$2,778	$105	$60	$271	$1,959	$653	$2,612
Copper Canyon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	17650 N 54th St	Scottsdale	85254	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-7200	446	35	12.9		290 (65.0%)	4 (0.9%)	66 (14.8%)	54 (12.1%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (5.8%)	89.6	73^rd of 909 public elementary schools	92.0%		88.7	81^st of 912 public elementary schools	91.1%	8	59.0	73.0	65.0	73.0		53.0	80.0	74.0	68.0	74.0	$8,739	$372	$146	$889	$7,648	$573	$8,221
Boulder Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	22801 N 22nd St	Phoenix	85024	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-4500	621	35	17.7		444 (71.5%)	10 (1.6%)	102 (16.4%)	21 (3.4%)	6 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	36 (5.8%)	93.3	48^th of 909 public elementary schools	94.7%		94.6	34^th of 912 public elementary schools	96.3%	14	61.0	87.0	76.0	76.0		68.0	90.0	84.0	54.0	69.0	$7,008	$337	$79	$753	$6,133	$458	$6,592
Sunset Canyon School	Public	PK, KG-6	2727 E Siesta Ln	Phoenix	85050	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(602) 449-5100	0	35	9.4		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)											$12,626	$2,206	$346	$4,759	$9,674	$400	$10,074

Frequently Asked Questions about Desert Trails Elementary School

What district is Desert Trails Elementary School in?

Paradise Valley Unified District

How many students attend Desert Trails Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 590 students attended Desert Trails Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Desert Trails Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Desert Trails Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Explorer Middle School
High : Pinnacle High School

What is the racial makeup of Desert Trails Elementary School?

Students at Desert Trails Elementary School are 72% White, 12% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 6% Asian, 1% African American.

Is Desert Trails Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Desert Trails Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 9^th of 909 Arizona elementary schools.

Rate Desert Trails Elementary School!

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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.