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Desert Canyon Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

56^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 909 Arizona Elementary Schools

Better than 94% of Arizona elementary schools

Summary

Desert Canyon Elementary is a high-performing public elementary school in Scottsdale, Arizona, serving 470 students in grades PK-5 and part of the Scottsdale Unified District. The school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Arizona, with strong academic performance across all grade levels and subjects.

In the 2024-2025 school year, Desert Canyon Elementary ranked 56th out of 909 Arizona elementary schools and received a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school significantly outperforms the Scottsdale Unified District and the state of Arizona in standardized test scores, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science that are well above the district and state averages. For example, in 5th grade, the school had a 78% proficiency rate in ELA, compared to 63% for the district and 38% for the state.

While nearby public schools within the Scottsdale Unified District, such as Anasazi Elementary and Cochise Elementary School, also perform well academically, Desert Canyon Elementary generally outperforms these schools. When compared to schools outside the district, such as Sonoran Sky Elementary School in the neighboring Paradise Valley Unified District, the performance gap is more pronounced. Additionally, high-performing charter schools like the BASIS Scottsdale Primary campuses consistently outperform Desert Canyon Elementary in key subject areas.

453

Students ?

13.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,545

Per pupil spending ?

6.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10203 E McDowell Mountain Ranc
Scottsdale, AZ 85255-8600

(480) 484-1700

District: Scottsdale Unified District

Students who attend Desert Canyon Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Desert Canyon Middle School
High:	Desert Mountain High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.3%

Hispanic:

12.1%

Two or more races:

9.1%

See top rated Arizona elementary schools

Compare Desert Canyon Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 98th percentile in 2015 → 94th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arizona average (71% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 6% of Arizona elementary schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school71%

District avg63%

Arizona avg39%

56^th of 909

Arizona public elementary schools ?

Top 6%▼ down 4 pts since 2015

From top 2% (2015) to top 6% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arizona Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 18Elementary Schools in the Scottsdale Unified District

81^st of 289Scottsdale 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	92.0	56 of 909	93.8%	★★★★★
2024	87.4	97 of 912	89.4%	★★★★☆
2023	94.6	52 of 1245	95.8%	★★★★★
2022	92.1	44 of 1000	95.6%	★★★★★
2021	93.9	63 of 1226	94.9%	★★★★★
2019	93.3	44 of 1039	95.8%	★★★★★
2018	95.3	28 of 1109	97.5%	★★★★★
2017	96.0	27 of 1106	97.6%	★★★★★
2016	95.3	31 of 1079	97.1%	★★★★★
2015	95.8	23 of 955	97.6%	★★★★★
2014	90.3	69 of 1079	93.6%	★★★★★
2013	91.7	20 of 1158	98.3%	★★★★★
2012	90.1	30 of 1141	97.4%	★★★★★
2011	91.6	37 of 1075	96.6%	★★★★★
2010	90.8	48 of 1090	95.6%	★★★★★
2009	91.7	27 of 1062	97.5%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	92.0	18 of 607	97.0%	★★★★★
2022	67.6	78 of 289	73.0%	★★★★☆
2021	56.9	243 of 895	72.8%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	75.0	64 of 316	79.7%	★★★★☆
2022	48.8	134 of 270	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.7	247 of 620	60.2%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	39.1	780 of 975	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	86.1	49 of 589	91.7%	★★★★★
2024	79.1	83 of 602	86.2%	★★★★☆
2023	95.9	26 of 1219	97.9%	★★★★★
2022	91.2	33 of 824	96.0%	★★★★★
2021	91.9	75 of 1219	93.8%	★★★★★
2019	94.0	19 of 862	97.8%	★★★★★
2018	94.9	27 of 1023	97.4%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	77.8	186 of 1170	84.1%	★★★★☆
2022	88.9	45 of 716	93.7%	★★★★★
2021	68.9	274 of 1198	77.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	87.9	70 of 1116	93.7%	★★★★★
2022	62.7	226 of 618	63.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	84.0	65 of 626	89.6%	★★★★☆
2024	77.5	106 of 628	83.1%	★★★★☆
2023	90.3	99 of 1216	91.9%	★★★★★
2022	85.9	65 of 830	92.2%	★★★★★
2021	91.5	85 of 1220	93.0%	★★★★★
2019	86.3	82 of 850	90.4%	★★★★★
2018	94.8	33 of 1032	96.8%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	48.0	331 of 617	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.0	357 of 444	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	89.3	21 of 1027	98.0%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	74.3	116 of 820	85.9%	★★★★☆
2022	51.4	85 of 145	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	88.0	33 of 1201	97.3%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	81.8	46 of 465	90.1%	★★★★★
2024	70.3	118 of 486	75.7%	★★★★☆
2023	86.7	76 of 1024	92.6%	★★★★★
2022	87.0	39 of 800	95.1%	★★★★★
2021	88.5	50 of 1161	95.7%	★★★★★
2019	83.6	54 of 595	90.9%	★★★★★
2018	89.5	37 of 720	94.9%	★★★★★

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)

African American (2023)97th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)94th percentile~ school

Female (2025)92nd percentile~ school

White (2025)90th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)90th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2023)86th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2023)84th percentile-12 vs school

Asian (2023)80th percentile-16 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)46th percentile-49 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)20th percentile-75 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts74%+34 vs state

Mathematics71%+31 vs state

Science66%+32 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Our family has been at DCES 6 years and we love the education and close community. Our students have grown so much academically and they love their teachers, their specials and the Mandarin Immersion Program. We’re so grateful for the opportunities at DCES. Close Quote

Schools Near Desert Canyon Elementary

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 English Language Arts 8th 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	AzSCI Science 5th 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
Desert Canyon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10203 E McDowell Mountain Ranc	Scottsdale	85255	Maricopa County	Scottsdale Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 484-1700	453	35	13.1		314 (69.3%)	9 (2.0%)	55 (12.1%)	27 (6.0%)	3 (0.7%)	4 (0.9%)	41 (9.1%)	92	56^th of 909 public elementary schools	93.8%		87.4	97^th of 912 public elementary schools	89.4%	41	76.0	68.0	78.0				75.0	78.0	59.0				66.0		$7,545	$274	$01	$549	$6,863	$408	$7,271
Cheyenne Traditional School	Public	PK, KG-8	13636 N 100th St	Scottsdale	85260	Maricopa County	Scottsdale Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 484-5600	953	49	19.6		748 (78.5%)	6 (0.6%)	91 (9.5%)	62 (6.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (4.7%)	97.1	10^th of 909 public elementary schools	98.9%		96.4	19^th of 912 public elementary schools	97.9%	9	67.0	89.0	77.0	84.0	79.0	75.0	79.0	81.0	86.0	74.0	69.0	69.0	74.0	68.0	$5,968	$80	$482	$642	$5,322	$85	$5,406
Redfield Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	9181 E Redfield Rd	Scottsdale	85260	Maricopa County	Scottsdale Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 484-4000	420	36	11.6		237 (56.4%)	25 (6.0%)	71 (16.9%)	51 (12.1%)	8 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (6.4%)	69.9	253^rd of 909 public elementary schools	72.2%		78.8	177^th of 912 public elementary schools	80.6%	76	44.0	57.0	61.0				44.0	52.0	67.0				53.0		$8,690	$60	$656	$776	$7,896	$78	$7,974
Copper Ridge School	Public	PK, KG-8	10101 E Thompson Peak Pkwy	Scottsdale	85255	Maricopa County	Scottsdale Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 484-1400	554	40	13.8		444 (80.1%)	9 (1.6%)	52 (9.4%)	19 (3.4%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.7%)	81.4	145^th of 909 public elementary schools	84.0%		81.8	150^th of 912 public elementary schools	83.6%	5	75.0	65.0	75.0	65.0	74.0	64.0	84.0	56.0	63.0	45.0	47.0	39.0	41.0	51.0	$7,613	$185	$499	$870	$6,365	$563	$6,928
BASIS Scottsdale Primary - West Campus	Public, Charter	K-4	7496 E Tierra Buena Ln	Scottsdale	85260	Maricopa County	BASIS Charter Schools Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 900-1858	464	25	18.5		87 (18.8%)	13 (2.8%)	43 (9.3%)	291 (62.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (6.0%)	98.5	6^th of 909 public elementary schools	99.3%		97.3	12^th of 912 public elementary schools	98.7%	6	86.0	86.0					88.0	85.0							$10,691	$382	$45	$808	$6,686	$3,578	$10,264
Laguna Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	10475 E Lakeview Dr	Scottsdale	85258	Maricopa County	Scottsdale Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 484-2400	369	31	11.9		262 (71.0%)	4 (1.1%)	52 (14.1%)	30 (8.1%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.3%)	80.8	150^th of 909 public elementary schools	83.5%		75.8	198^th of 912 public elementary schools	78.3%	48	57.0	61.0	56.0				68.0	68.0	63.0				48.0		$10,408	$295	$761	$1,351	$9,050	$301	$9,352
Anasazi Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12121 N 124th St	Scottsdale	85259	Maricopa County	Scottsdale Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 484-7300	423	29	14.6		293 (69.3%)	8 (1.9%)	59 (13.9%)	28 (6.6%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (6.9%)	88.3	81^st of 909 public elementary schools	91.1%		86.2	111^th of 912 public elementary schools	87.8%	30	72.0	76.0	67.0				69.0	68.0	60.0				53.0		$7,345	$91	$996	$1,178	$6,354		$6,258
Sonoran Sky Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	12990 N 75th St	Scottsdale	85260	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-6500	567	36	15.5		405 (71.4%)	13 (2.3%)	75 (13.2%)	25 (4.4%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (7.9%)	95.1	33^rd of 909 public elementary schools	96.4%		96.2	20^th of 912 public elementary schools	97.8%	13	72.0	85.0	70.0	83.0			83.0	75.0	87.0	71.0			56.0		$8,366	$269	$127	$665	$7,557	$413	$7,970
Sandpiper Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	6724 E Hearn Rd	Scottsdale	85254	Maricopa County	Paradise Valley Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 449-6300	429	29	15.0		217 (50.6%)	2 (0.5%)	172 (40.1%)	2 (0.5%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.2%)	74.5	207^th of 909 public elementary schools	77.2%		85.5	122^nd of 912 public elementary schools	86.6%	85	58.0	65.0	49.0	78.0			79.0	50.0	37.0	51.0			51.0		$10,275	$539	$154	$1,231	$9,129	$453	$9,583
BASIS Scottsdale Primary - East Campus	Public, Charter	K-5	7214 E Jenan Dr	Scottsdale	85260	Maricopa County	BASIS Charter Schools Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 391-1099	489	34	14.3		156 (31.9%)	12 (2.5%)	46 (9.4%)	231 (47.2%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	41 (8.4%)	97	11^th of 909 public elementary schools	98.8%		97.6	7^th of 912 public elementary schools	99.2%	4	80.0	87.0					83.0	75.0							$11,713	$383	$90	$855	$6,967	$4,274	$11,241

Frequently Asked Questions about Desert Canyon Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Desert Canyon Elementary?

Students at Desert Canyon Elementary are 69% White, 12% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 6% Asian, 2% African American.

What schools do graduates of Desert Canyon Elementary attend?

Students who attend Desert Canyon Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Desert Canyon Middle School
High : Desert Mountain High School

What district is Desert Canyon Elementary in?

Scottsdale Unified District

How many students attend Desert Canyon Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 453 students attended Desert Canyon Elementary.

Is Desert Canyon Elementary a good school?

Yes. Desert Canyon Elementary ranks in the top 6.2% of Arizona elementary schools.

Rate Desert Canyon Elementary!

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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.