Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 85142

The 85142 zip code in Arizona is home to 17 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, spanning several school districts including Queen Creek Unified District, Higley Unified School District, Chandler Unified District #80, and Florence Unified School District, as well as various charter school networks.

Among the standout schools in the area are Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary, which consistently ranks among the top 5% of elementary schools in Arizona with 75-81% of students proficient in English Language Arts and Mathematics, and Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School, which ranks in the top 15% statewide with strong performance across core subjects. Cortina Elementary, part of the Higley Unified School District, is another high-performing school in the top 15% of Arizona elementary schools.

However, the data also reveals a wide range of academic performance among the schools, with some struggling to reach 20-30% proficiency in core subjects, while the top-performing schools achieve 60-80% proficiency. This suggests significant achievement gaps within the local education system. The schools with the highest per-student spending (over $7,000) tend to be the top-performing, indicating a potential link between funding and academic outcomes. Additionally, the charter schools in the area show a wide range of performance, highlighting the need to closely examine the specific practices and approaches of individual schools.