Fireside Elementary School

Summary:

Fireside Elementary School is a highly-rated public elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona, serving 730 students in grades PK-6 and part of the Paradise Valley Unified District. The school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, with exceptional academic performance, a diverse student population, and a low percentage of students from low-income backgrounds.

Fireside Elementary School's students demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, with proficiency rates significantly higher than the district and state averages in English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 86% of 3rd-grade students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 53% in the district and 39% statewide. The school's Asian and Hispanic students also perform exceptionally well, ranking among the top schools in the state for these subgroups. In contrast, some nearby schools, such as Campo Bello Elementary and Eagle Ridge Elementary, have significantly lower academic achievement and serve higher percentages of students from low-income backgrounds.

Fireside Elementary School's diverse student population includes 66.99% White, 8.63% Hispanic, and 17.81% Asian students, which is notable compared to some of the nearby schools. Additionally, the school has a very low percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with only 4.93% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, significantly lower than the district and state averages. This, combined with the school's low student-teacher ratio of 15.6 students per teacher, likely contributes to its exceptional academic performance, which the school has maintained over the past decade.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 3725 E. Love Cactus Drive
       Phoenix, AZ  85050


(602) 449-4700

District: Paradise Valley Unified District

SchoolDigger Rank:
16th of 904 Arizona Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,885 Help


Students who attend Fireside Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Explorer Middle School
High:    Pinnacle High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.6 Help
Number of students:  730

Racial breakdown:

White:
67.0%
Asian:
17.8%
Hispanic:
8.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  4.9% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Fireside Elementary School ranks better than 98.2% of elementary schools in Arizona. It also ranks 2nd among 25 ranked elementary schools in the Paradise Valley Unified District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.98. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Fireside Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Paradise Valley Unified District. Racial makeup is: White (67%), Asian (17.8%), Hispanic (8.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 4.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Fireside Elementary School is 15.6. 24 elementary schools in the Paradise Valley Unified District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Fireside Elementary School employs 46.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Fireside Elementary School is $6,885, which is the lowest among 27 elementary schools in the Paradise Valley Unified District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Fireside Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Fireside Elementary School 16th of 904 Arizona public elementary schools. (See Fireside Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
White students:


Paradise Valley Unified District:

SchoolDigger ranks Paradise Valley Unified District 108th of 288 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Fireside Elementary School?

Rank History for Fireside Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2015 95.38 26th 955 97.3%
2016 95.78 23rd 1079 97.9%
2017 97.70 8th 1106 99.3%
2018 96.67 13th 1109 98.8%
2019 96.37 15th 1039 98.6%
2021 97.09 21st 1226 98.3%
2022 97.09 5th 1000 99.5%
2023 98.26 10th 1245 99.2%
2024 96.98 16th 904 98.2%
See the entire list of Arizona Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 86.31 38th 1027 96.3%
2022 80.27 45th 444 89.9%
2023 92.66 7th 617 98.9%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 56.03 347th 1201 71.1%
2023 62.95 197th 820 76.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 92.67 16th 618 97.4%
2023 89.04 61st 1116 94.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 94.58 29th 1023 97.2%
2019 93.97 21st 862 97.6%
2021 96.76 14th 1219 98.9%
2022 93.86 14th 824 98.3%
2023 96.82 15th 1219 98.8%
2024 96.12 11th 593 98.1%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.26 9th 1032 99.1%
2019 95.34 11th 850 98.7%
2021 95.97 28th 1220 97.7%
2022 96.27 5th 830 99.4%
2023 98.31 7th 1216 99.4%
2024 92.21 32nd 609 94.7%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 79.48 56th 620 91.0%
2023 97.23 2nd 316 99.4%
2024 88.40 2nd 28 92.9%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 61.98 173rd 895 80.7%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 97.55 10th 1198 99.2%
2022 96.15 12th 716 98.3%
2023 98.39 7th 1170 99.4%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 90.74 5th 171 97.1%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for White students at Fireside Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 91.25 21st 720 97.1%
2019 89.03 26th 595 95.6%
2021 89.57 36th 1161 96.9%
2022 90.08 22nd 800 97.3%
2023 90.52 39th 1024 96.2%
2024 86.28 34th 477 92.9%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Arizona Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Fireside Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: Arizona Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
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by a parent
Friday, October 26, 2018

Open Quote Great school!! New, and the teachers are great!!! Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, August 31, 2018

Open Quote This is our fourth year at Fireside in the gifted self-contained program, and could not be happier. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, August 20, 2018

Open Quote We absolutely love this school! Every teacher we have had has been amazing! We have not encountered any bullying any of the 3 years we have been here... from students or teachers. We don't have enough great things to say about Fireside Elementary! Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, May 31, 2018

Open Quote You can't get a school better than this. The test scores are always among the highest in the state! Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, December 22, 2016

Open Quote Horrible school in white collar neighborhood. Kids and parents bullies, and the teacher are bullies... horrible horrible school! Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, December 22, 2016

Open Quote The worst for bullies! Teachers lack communication with parents. Student grades drop and NO communication with parents. Ignore parent the can't manipulate and bully. Not professional and violates confidentiality of students personal information and personal parent information. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, December 22, 2016

Open Quote This school is horrible for bullying. Teachers are the worst for feeling entitled. The principal and teachers are a disgrace to educators and people who really want better for their kids. If you care about your kids don't sent them here, the worst! Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Open Quote This school has absolutely the worst staff regarding communication and child protection. Bullying is rampant not only from other students but teachers. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Fireside Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2013 417 7 14 63 0 0 25 0 526
2014 563 9 42 87 1 0 25 0 727
2015 604 6 44 80 2 2 25 0 763
2016 625 7 44 72 2 2 31 0 783
2017 607 0 49 64 2 3 27 0 752
2018 619 0 80 75 2 3 26 0 805
2019 639 5 76 71 0 3 30 0 824
2020 613 5 97 74 0 3 34 0 826
2021 552 8 100 72 0 2 41 0 775
2022 502 6 104 58 0 1 41 0 712
2023 489 5 130 63 4 1 38 0 730

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Fireside Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2013 526 26.1 20.1 15.2
2014 727 36.6 19.8 2.6
2015 763 38.0 20.0 4.3
2016 783 41.0 19.0 3.4
2017 752 42.0 17.9 4.4
2018 805 44.0 18.2 4
2019 824 46.0 17.9 2.9
2020 826 47.1 17.5 2.9
2021 775 44.1 17.5 n/a
2022 712 45.3 15.6 2.4
2023 730 46.6 15.6 4.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Fireside Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2013 526 26.1 20.1 15.2
2014 727 36.6 19.8 2.6
2015 763 38.0 20.0 4.3
2016 783 41.0 19.0 3.4
2017 752 42.0 17.9 4.4
2018 805 44.0 18.2 4
2019 824 46.0 17.9 2.9
2020 826 47.1 17.5 2.9
2021 775 44.1 17.5 n/a
2022 712 45.3 15.6 2.4
2023 730 46.6 15.6 4.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Fireside Elementary School

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $117 (1.5%) $51 (0.7%) $284 (3.7%) $5,751 (75.9%) $1,657 (21.9%) $7,407 (97.8%) $7,575
2020 $00 (0.0%) n/a n/a $5,173 (93.0%) $390 (7.0%) $5,563 (100.0%) $5,563
2021 $1,004 (14.0%) $1,124 (15.6%) $3,131 (43.6%) $4,557 (63.4%) $500 (7.0%) $5,058 (70.4%) $7,185
2022 $297 (4.3%) $137 (2.0%) $732 (10.6%) $6,106 (88.7%) $344 (5.0%) $6,450 (93.7%) $6,885

Data source: Arizona Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Fireside Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 15th of 1039 Elementary schoolsRanks 10th of 1245 Elementary schools
 0.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students824730
 11.4%
African American55
American Indian04
Asian76130
 71.1%
Hispanic7163
 11.3%
Pacific Islander31
 66.7%
White639489
 23.5%
Two or More Races3038
 26.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients2.9%4.9%
 2%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Fireside Elementary School

Students at Fireside Elementary School are 67% White, 18% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

Yes! Fireside Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 16th of 904 Arizona elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 730 students attended Fireside Elementary School.

Students who attend Fireside Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Explorer Middle School
High : Pinnacle High 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.





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