Desert Shadows Elementary School (Ranked Top 10% for 2025)

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Desert Shadows Elementary School

5902 E Sweetwater Ave
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

( shown in map)

10/

Top 10%

Serving 479 students in grades Prekindergarten-6, Desert Shadows Elementary School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).

The percentage of students achieving is 63% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving is 68% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).

The student:teacher ratio of 14:1 is lower than the Arizona state level of 17:1.

Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 66% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: Prekindergarten-6
Enrollment: 479 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 31%
: Top 10% in AZ
: 63% (Top 10%)
: 68% (Top 10%)
: 40-49% (Top 20%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Desert Shadows Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:

School Overview

Desert Shadows Elementary School's student population of 479 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 35 teachers has grown by 25% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-6
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Desert Shadows Elementary School
Pre-K	21
Kind	70
1	60
2	78
3	47
4	68
5	73
6	62

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Total Students

479 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School
2023	464
2022	468
2021	454
2020	470
2019	470
2018	478
2017	478
2016	474
2015	501
2014	521
2013	503
2012	482
2011	474
2010	487
2009	509
2008	506
2007	513
2006	556
2005	589
2004	591
2003	575
2002	605
2001	562
2000	516
1999	545
1998	570
1997	578
1996	586
1995	578
1994	587
1993	545
1992	553
1991	585
1990	570
1989	637
1988	714
1987	744

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

35 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School
2023	35
2022	34
2021	33
2020	28
2019	28
2018	30
2017	30
2016	31
2015	33
2014	30
2013	32
2012	33
2011	33
2010	32
2009	36
2008	35
2007	32
2006	33
2005	31
2004	33
2003	34
2002	36
2001	29
2000	33
1999	32
1998	32
1997	32
1996	34
1995	32
1994	35
1993	35
1992	34
1991	36
1990	33
1989	34
1988	38
1987	35

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School Rankings

Desert Shadows Elementary School ranks within the top 10% of all 1,956 schools in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Desert Shadows Elementary School is 0.49, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.66. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (AZ)

#138 out of 1956 schools
(Top 10%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School
2022	#138
2021	#188
2019	#297
2018	#216
2017	#136
2016	#229
2015	#253
2014	#585
2013	#320
2012	#190
2011	#185

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(22-23)

63%

34%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	63%	34%	47%
2022	66%	35%	46%
2021	60%	32%	39%
2019	63%	45%	50%
2018	69%	45%	52%
2017	71%	42%	50%
2016	64%	39%	46%
2015	55%	38%	42%
2014	65%	63%	70%
2013	77%	63%	71%
2012	81%	63%	71%

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68%

40%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2022	68%	40%	51%
2021	61%	39%	46%
2019	69%	45%	53%
2018	69%	44%	52%
2017	69%	42%	51%
2016	60%	40%	49%
2015	59%	38%	45%
2014	89%	79%	85%
2013	90%	78%	85%
2012	92%	77%	84%
2011	92%	77%	84%

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40-49%

24%

Student : Teacher Ratio

14:1

17:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	13:1	17:1	15:1
2022	14:1	17:1	16:1
2021	14:1	17:1	16:1
2020	17:1	18:1	18:1
2019	17:1	18:1	18:1
2018	16:1	19:1	18:1
2017	16:1	19:1	18:1
2016	15:1	20:1	18:1
2015	15:1	20:1	19:1
2014	18:1	19:1	19:1
2013	16:1	19:1	19:1
2012	15:1	18:1	18:1
2011	14:1	19:1	19:1
2010	15:1	18:1	18:1
2009	14:1	18:1	18:1
2008	14:1	18:1	18:1
2007	16:1	18:1	18:1
2006	17:1	18:1	18:1
2005	19:1	19:1	19:1
2004	18:1	19:1	20:1
2003	17:1	19:1	19:1
2002	17:1	19:1	19:1
2001	19:1	19:1	20:1
2000	16:1	19:1	20:1
1999	17:1	19:1	20:1
1998	18:1	19:1	20:1
1997	18:1	19:1	21:1
1996	17:1	19:1	20:1
1995	18:1	19:1	20:1
1994	17:1	19:1	20:1
1993	16:1	20:1	20:1
1992	16:1	20:1	20:1
1991	16:1	20:1	20:1
1990	18:1	20:1	21:1
1989	19:1	20:1	20:1
1988	19:1	20:1	21:1
1987	21:1	20:1	21:1

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American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2006-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	1%	5%	1%
2022	1%	5%	1%
2014	1%	5%	1%
2013	1%	5%	1%
2012	1%	5%	1%
2011	1%	7%	2%
2010	2%	6%	2%
2009	1%	6%	1%
2008	1%	5%	2%
2007	1%	6%	1%
2006	1%	7%	1%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	4%	3%	4%
2022	2%	3%	4%
2021	2%	3%	4%
2020	3%	3%	4%
2019	3%	3%	4%
2018	3%	3%	4%
2017	3%	3%	4%
2016	2%	3%	4%
2015	2%	3%	4%
2014	2%	3%	3%
2013	2%	3%	3%
2012	2%	3%	4%
2011	1%	3%	3%
2010	2%	3%	4%
2009	2%	3%	4%
2008	1%	3%	4%
2007	1%	3%	3%
2006	1%	2%	3%
2005	1%	2%	3%
2004	1%	2%	3%
2003	1%	2%	3%
2002	1%	2%	3%
2001	1%	2%	3%
2000	1%	2%	2%
1999	1%	2%	2%
1997	1%	2%	2%
1995	1%	2%	2%
1994	1%	2%	2%
1992	1%	2%	1%
1989	1%	1%	2%
1988	1%	1%	2%

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Hispanic

18%

48%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	16%	47%	34%
2022	18%	47%	33%
2021	17%	46%	33%
2020	16%	45%	31%
2019	16%	45%	31%
2018	17%	45%	31%
2017	17%	45%	31%
2016	15%	45%	31%
2015	16%	45%	28%
2014	13%	44%	28%
2013	11%	43%	28%
2012	11%	43%	27%
2011	10%	42%	26%
2010	8%	41%	23%
2009	8%	41%	23%
2008	7%	42%	22%
2007	7%	41%	22%
2006	5%	39%	20%
2005	5%	38%	19%
2004	5%	37%	18%
2003	5%	36%	16%
2002	5%	35%	15%
2001	5%	33%	13%
2000	5%	33%	12%
1999	3%	32%	10%
1998	2%	31%	9%
1997	3%	30%	9%
1996	3%	30%	8%
1995	3%	29%	7%
1994	3%	28%	6%
1993	3%	27%	6%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	2%	6%	4%
2022	2%	6%	4%
2021	2%	6%	4%
2020	2%	5%	3%
2019	2%	5%	3%
2018	1%	5%	3%
2017	1%	5%	3%
2016	1%	5%	3%
2015	2%	5%	3%
2014	2%	5%	3%
2013	2%	5%	3%
2012	1%	5%	3%
2011	1%	5%	3%
2010	2%	6%	4%
2009	2%	6%	4%
2008	1%	6%	3%
2007	2%	5%	3%
2006	2%	5%	3%
2005	2%	5%	3%
2004	2%	5%	3%
2003	2%	5%	3%
2002	1%	5%	3%
2001	1%	5%	2%
2000	1%	4%	2%
1996	1%	4%	1%

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White

69%

34%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	69%	35%	52%
2022	72%	35%	53%
2021	74%	36%	54%
2020	75%	38%	56%
2019	75%	38%	56%
2018	75%	38%	58%
2017	75%	38%	58%
2016	77%	39%	58%
2015	75%	40%	59%
2014	77%	41%	61%
2013	80%	42%	61%
2012	81%	42%	62%
2011	84%	42%	63%
2010	86%	44%	67%
2009	87%	44%	68%
2008	90%	44%	69%
2007	89%	45%	71%
2006	91%	47%	73%
2005	91%	48%	74%
2004	92%	48%	75%
2003	92%	49%	77%
2002	93%	50%	78%
2001	93%	52%	81%
2000	93%	53%	83%
1999	96%	54%	84%
1998	98%	56%	86%
1997	96%	57%	86%
1996	96%	57%	88%
1995	95%	58%	88%
1994	96%	59%	89%
1993	97%	60%	90%
1992	95%	61%	91%
1991	99%	65%	93%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	8%	4%	5%
2022	5%	4%	5%
2021	5%	4%	4%
2020	4%	3%	4%
2019	4%	3%	4%
2018	4%	3%	3%
2017	4%	3%	3%
2016	5%	3%	3%
2015	5%	2%	4%
2014	4%	2%	4%
2013	3%	2%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.49

0.66

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	0.49	0.65	0.62
2022	0.45	0.65	0.61
2021	0.42	0.66	0.60
2020	0.41	0.65	0.59
2019	0.41	0.65	0.59
2018	0.41	0.65	0.57
2017	0.41	0.65	0.57
2016	0.39	0.65	0.57
2015	0.41	0.64	0.55
2014	0.40	0.64	0.56
2013	0.36	0.64	0.55
2012	0.33	0.64	0.54
2011	0.29	0.65	0.54
2010	0.26	0.64	0.49
2009	0.23	0.64	0.48
2008	0.19	0.63	0.47
2007	0.20	0.63	0.46
2006	0.17	0.63	0.44
2005	0.16	0.62	0.42
2004	0.15	0.63	0.41
2003	0.15	0.63	0.38
2002	0.13	0.62	0.36
2001	0.13	0.62	0.33
2000	0.13	0.62	0.30
1999	0.08	0.60	0.28
1998	0.06	0.59	0.25
1997	0.08	0.58	0.24
1996	0.10	0.58	0.22
1995	0.13	0.58	0.22
1994	0.10	0.57	0.19
1993	0.08	0.56	0.18

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Eligible for

11%

40%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	11%	39%	26%
2022	9%	29%	17%
2021	12%	42%	32%
2020	8%	43%	28%
2019	8%	43%	28%
2018	11%	42%	30%
2017	11%	42%	30%
2016	6%	33%	25%
2015	11%	34%	29%
2014	4%	36%	7%
2013	21%	37%	25%
2012	15%	36%	28%
2011	14%	36%	26%
2010	10%	38%	25%
2009	6%	39%	23%
2008	7%	29%	22%
2007	5%	32%	21%
2006	4%	37%	19%
2005	5%	40%	22%
2004	4%	37%	21%
2003	5%	9%	15%

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Eligible for

10%

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2004-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District
2023	4%	7%	6%
2021	3%	9%	5%
2020	4%	7%	6%
2019	4%	7%	6%
2018	2%	9%	5%
2017	2%	9%	5%
2016	2%	11%	4%
2015	1%	5%	4%
2014	1%	14%	2%
2013	2%	10%	3%
2012	2%	11%	5%
2011	1%	10%	4%
2010	2%	8%	4%
2009	4%	10%	5%
2008	1%	9%	5%
2007	1%	9%	5%
2006	4%	8%	6%
2005	4%	8%	6%
2004	3%	8%	5%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Desert Shadows Elementary School's ranking?

Desert Shadows Elementary School is ranked #138 out of 1,956 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in Arizona.

What schools are Desert Shadows Elementary School often compared to?

Desert Shadows Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Liberty Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

63% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% AZ state average), while 68% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 40% AZ state average).

How many students attend Desert Shadows Elementary School?

479 students attend Desert Shadows Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

69% of Desert Shadows Elementary School students are White, 18% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are Asian, 2% of students are Black, and 1% of students are American Indian.

What is the student:teacher ratio of Desert Shadows Elementary School?

Desert Shadows Elementary School has a student ration of 14:1, which is lower than the Arizona state average of 17:1.

What grades does Desert Shadows Elementary School offer ?

Desert Shadows Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-6 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Desert Shadows Elementary School part of?

Desert Shadows Elementary School is part of Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) School District.

In what neighborhood is Desert Shadows Elementary School located?

Desert Shadows Elementary School is located in the Paradise Valley Village neighborhood of Scottsdale, AZ. There are 6 other public schools located in Paradise Valley Village.

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Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: Prekindergarten-6
Enrollment: 479 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 31%
: Top 10%
: 63% (Top 10%)
: 68% (Top 10%)
: 40-49% (Top 20%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education