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 2026-27 school year, there are 8 public schools serving 3,821 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 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Arizona public school average of 67% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (AZ)
# Schools
8 Schools
2,470 Schools
# Students
3,821 Students
1,108,833 Students
# Teachers
215 Teachers
61,988 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Cave Creek Unified District (4244), which is ranked within the top 20% of all 599 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.
Overall District Rank
#77 out of 618 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Showing 2013–2023. View full 14-year historical data
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
34%
Showing 2013–2023. View full 14-year historical data
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
62%
40%
Showing 2012–2022. View full 13-year historical data
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
24%
Graduation Rate
93%
77.8%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 13-year historical data
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)25%
41.2%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.37
0.66
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% American Indian
n/a
5%
% Asian
2%
3%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 35-year historical data
% Hispanic
14%
49%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Black
1%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 24-year historical data
% White
78%
33%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
4%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 11-year historical data
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,591 is higher than the state median of $14,457. The school district revenue/student has grown by 42% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,439 is less than the state median of $13,869. The school district spending/student has grown by 40% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$60 MM
$16,030 MM
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Spending
$51 MM
$15,378 MM
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Revenue / Student
$15,591
$14,457
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Spending / Student
$13,439
$13,869
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Best Cave Creek Unified District (4244) Public Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
5405 E. Pinnacle Vista Drive
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 272-8500
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 272-8500
Gr: PK-6 | 424 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #22.
Lone Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5250 E. Montgomery Rd.
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 437-3000
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 437-3000
Gr: PK-6 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #33.
Cactus Shadows High School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5802 E. Dove Valley Rd.
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2400
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2400
Gr: 8-12 | 1,362 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #44.
Black Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
33606 N 60th St
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2100
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2100
Gr: PK-6 | 496 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #55.
Desert Willow Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4322 E Desert Willow Parkway
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2800
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2800
Gr: PK-6 | 338 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #66.
Sonoran Trails Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5555 East Pinnacle Vista Drive
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 272-8600
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 272-8600
Gr: 6-8 | 615 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #77.
Desert Sun Academy
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
27880 N. 64th Street
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2900
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2900
Gr: PK-6 | 191 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #88.
Cave Creek Academy Of Excellence
(Math: <50% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
33016 N 60th St
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2042
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2042
Gr: K-12 | 19 students Minority enrollment: 32%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) manages 8 public schools serving 3,821 students.
What is the rank of Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) is ranked #76 out of 599 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)?
78% of Cave Creek Unified District (4244) students are White, 14% of students are Hispanic, 5% 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 18:1, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 17:1.
What is Cave Creek Unified District (4244)'s spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $13,439 is less than the state median of $13,869. The school district spending/student has grown by 40% over four school years.
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