Cave Creek Unified District (4244)

33016 N 60th St
Scottsdale, AZ 85266-5245
(District boundaries shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

Cave Creek Unified District (4244) ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Arizona for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 8 public schools serving 4,214 students in Cave Creek Unified District (4244). This district's average testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public schools in Arizona.
Public Schools in Cave Creek Unified District (4244) have an average math proficiency score of 58% (versus the Arizona public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 62% (versus the 41% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Arizona public school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (AZ)
# Schools
8 Schools
2,470 Schools
# Students
4,214 Students
1,123,267 Students
# Teachers
241 Teachers
50,033 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Cave Creek Unified District (4244), which is ranked within the top 20% of all 601 school districts in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 93% has decreased from 94% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (AZ)
#77 out of 618 school districts
(Top 20%)
58%
34%
62%
40%
40%
24%
93%
77%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.36
0.66
% American Indian
n/a
5%
% Asian
2%
3%
% Hispanic
14%
48%
% Black
1%
6%
% White
79%
34%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,148 is higher than the state median of $11,429. The school district revenue/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,616 is higher than the state median of $11,331. The school district spending/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
This School District
This State (AZ)
Total Revenue
$55 MM
$12,837 MM
Spending
$49 MM
$12,727 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,148
$11,429
Spending / Student
$11,616
$11,331

Best Cave Creek Unified District (4244) Public Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5405 E. Pinnacle Vista Drive
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 272-8500
Gr: PK-6 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #22.
Lone Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
5250 E. Montgomery Rd.
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 437-3000
Gr: PK-6 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #33.
Cactus Shadows High School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
5802 E. Dove Valley Rd.
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2400
Gr: 8-12 | 1,566 student Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #44.
Black Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
33606 N 60th St
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2100
Gr: PK-6 | 492 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #55.
Desert Willow Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4322 E Desert Willow Parkway
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2800
Gr: PK-6 | 397 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #66.
Sonoran Trails Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5555 East Pinnacle Vista Drive
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 272-8600
Gr: 6-8 | 639 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #77.
Desert Sun Academy
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
27880 N. 64th Street
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2900
Gr: PK-6 | 241 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #88.
Cave Creek Academy Of Excellence
(Math: <50% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
33016 N 60th St
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2042
Gr: K-12 | 18 students Minority enrollment: 33%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) manages 8 public schools serving 4,214 students.
What is the rank of Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) is ranked #78 out of 601 school districts in Arizona (top 20%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Arizona school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 20%), Highest math proficiency (Top 20%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%), Highest graduation rate (Top 5%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
79% of Cave Creek Unified District (4244) students are White, 14% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) has a student/teacher ratio of 17:1, which is lower than the Arizona state average of 18:1.
What is Cave Creek Unified District (4244)'s spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $11,616 is higher than the state median of $11,331. The school district spending/student has grown by 13% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 4,214 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 21%
  • : 93% (Top 5% in AZ)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 58% (Top 20%)
  • : 62% (Top 20%)
  • : 40% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

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