Desert Sky

Desert Sky is a large K–6 elementary school in Eagle Mountain, Utah, serving 1,096 students in the growing suburban Alpine District. The school ranks 331st of 563 Utah schools, placing it at the 41st statewide percentile and earning a 2-star rating. This puts it near the middle of the local comparison group: ahead of Brookhaven School, Eagle Valley School, Pony Express School, and Mountain Trails School, but below Black Ridge School, Silver Lake Elementary, Hidden Hollow School, and Ranches Academy.

Academically, science is Desert Sky’s strongest subject, with average proficiency of 52.6%. Fifth grade is a particular bright spot: students reached 51.6% in English language arts, 46.3% in mathematics, and 55.8% in science, with all three results at or above state averages. The school’s main challenges are fourth- and sixth-grade performance. Fourth grade posted 36.1% in ELA and 37.3% in math, while sixth grade posted 38.8% in ELA and 33.4% in math—the school’s lowest reported result. In comparison, Black Ridge School exceeded Desert Sky in every reported math grade, and Hidden Hollow School, located only 1.17 miles away, outperformed it in every reported ELA and math grade.

Desert Sky’s 22.6 students-per-teacher ratio is typical for nearby schools and improved from 23.9 the previous year. Its 16.7% free- or reduced-price lunch rate is lower than most nearby traditional public schools, including Brookhaven School, Hidden Hollow School, and Eagle Valley School. The school’s large enrollment may make consistency across grades more challenging, although the data does not establish a cause. Parents may want to ask about fourth- and sixth-grade supports, math intervention, attendance, and whether successful fifth-grade practices are being extended across the school.