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Desert Shadows Elementary School

5902 E Sweetwater Ave
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

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Top 10%

Tel: (602) 449-6900

desertshadowses.pvschools.net

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Serving 554 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 16:1 is lower than the Arizona state level of 17:1.

Minority enrollment is 32% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 67% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-6
Enrollment: 554 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 32%
: Top 10% in AZ
: 63% (Top 10%)
: 68% (Top 10%)
: 40-49% (Top 20%)
: Desert Shadows Elementary School serves the southern part of Scottsdale, AZ, covering an area of approximately 2 square miles. Families within this zone can typically reach the school within 5 to 10 minutes, with the furthest edge located about 1.5 miles away.
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 554 students has grown by 22% over five school years.

The teacher population of 35 teachers has grown by 6% 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	14
Kind	64
1	71
2	82
3	85
4	56
5	89
6	93

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Total Students

554 students

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School
2025	554
2024	479
2023	464
2022	468
2021	454
2020	500
2019	470
2018	448
2017	478
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	556
1998	595
1997	591
1996	610
1995	600
1994	612
1993	579
1992	553
1991	585
1990	570
1989	637
1988	714
1987	744

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Total Classroom Teachers

35 teachers

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School
2025	35
2024	35
2023	35
2022	34
2021	33
2020	31
2019	28
2018	29
2017	30
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 Calendar

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School Motto

A Journey of Excellence

School Rankings

Desert Shadows Elementary School ranks within the top 10% of all 1,921 schools in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Desert Shadows Elementary School is 0.50, 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)

#131 out of 1921 schools
(Top 10%)

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Overall School Rank Trends (2010-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School
2023	#131
2022	#138
2021	#188
2019	#297
2018	#216
2017	#136
2016	#229
2015	#253
2014	#585
2013	#320
2012	#190
2011	#185
2010	#265

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63%

34%

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Math Proficiency Comparison (2010-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
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%
2011	80%	62%	70%
2010	76%	60%	68%

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68%

40%

View Data

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (2010-2022)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
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%
2010	89%	74%	82%

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40-49%

24%

Student-Teacher Ratio

16:1

17:1

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1987-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2025	16:1	17:1
2024	14:1	17:1
2023	13:1	17:1	15:1
2022	14:1	17:1	16:1
2021	14:1	17:1	16:1
2020	16:1	18:1	18:1
2019	17:1	19:1	18:1
2018	15:1	18:1	18:1
2017	16:1	19:1	18:1
2015	15:1	19:1	19:1
2014	17:1	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	17:1	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	19:1	19:1	20:1
1997	18:1	19:1	21:1
1996	18:1	19:1	20:1
1995	19:1	19:1	20:1
1994	17:1	19:1	20:1
1993	17:1	20:1	20:1
1992	16:1	20:1	20:1
1991	16:1	20:1	20:1
1990	17:1	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

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Showing 2011–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison (1990-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2025	1%	5%
2024	1%	5%
2023	1%	5%	1%
2022	1%	5%	1%
2017	1%	6%	1%
2015	1%	5%	2%
2014	1%	5%	1%
2013	1%	5%	1%
2012	1%	5%	1%
2011	1%	6%	2%
2010	1%	6%	2%
2009	1%	6%	1%
2008	1%	5%	2%
2007	1%	6%	1%
2006	1%	7%	1%
1995	1%	7%	1%
1993	1%	7%	1%
1990	1%	7%

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Asian

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2025	3%	3%
2024	3%	3%
2023	4%	3%	4%
2022	2%	3%	4%
2021	2%	3%	4%
2020	3%	3%	4%
2019	3%	3%	4%
2018	2%	3%	4%
2017	3%	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%
1998	1%	2%	2%
1997	1%	2%	2%
1996	1%	2%	3%
1995	2%	2%	2%
1994	2%	1%	2%
1993	1%	2%	2%
1992	1%	2%	1%
1991	1%	2%	1%
1989	1%	2%	2%
1988	1%	2%	2%

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Hispanic

19%

49%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2025	19%	49%
2024	18%	48%
2023	16%	47%	34%
2022	18%	47%	33%
2021	17%	46%	33%
2020	15%	45%	31%
2019	16%	45%	31%
2018	16%	45%	31%
2017	17%	45%	31%
2015	15%	45%	28%
2014	13%	44%	28%
2013	10%	43%	28%
2012	11%	43%	27%
2011	10%	42%	26%
2010	8%	41%	23%
2009	7%	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%	32%	12%
1999	3%	32%	10%
1998	3%	31%	9%
1997	3%	30%	9%
1996	4%	30%	8%
1995	4%	29%	7%
1994	4%	28%	6%
1993	4%	27%	6%
1992	3%	25%	5%
1991	2%	24%	4%
1990	1%	24%	4%
1989	2%	22%	3%
1988	1%	22%	3%

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Black

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2025	2%	6%
2024	2%	6%
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%
2015	2%	5%	3%
2014	1%	5%	3%
2013	2%	5%	3%
2012	1%	5%	3%
2011	1%	6%	3%
2010	2%	6%	4%
2009	2%	6%	4%
2008	1%	6%	3%
2007	1%	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%	5%	2%
1999	1%	4%	2%
1998	1%	4%	2%
1997	1%	4%	2%
1996	2%	4%	1%
1995	1%	4%	2%
1994	1%	4%	2%
1993	1%	4%	1%
1992	1%	5%	2%
1988	1%	5%	2%

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White

68%

33%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2025	68%	33%
2024	69%	34%
2023	69%	35%	52%
2022	72%	35%	53%
2021	74%	36%	54%
2020	74%	38%	56%
2019	75%	38%	56%
2018	77%	38%	58%
2017	74%	38%	58%
2015	75%	40%	59%
2014	77%	41%	61%
2013	80%	42%	61%
2012	81%	42%	62%
2011	84%	42%	63%
2010	87%	44%	67%
2009	88%	44%	68%
2008	90%	44%	69%
2007	90%	45%	71%
2006	91%	47%	73%
2005	92%	49%	74%
2004	92%	48%	75%
2003	92%	49%	77%
2002	93%	50%	78%
2001	93%	52%	81%
2000	93%	53%	83%
1999	95%	55%	84%
1998	95%	56%	86%
1997	95%	57%	86%
1996	93%	57%	88%
1995	92%	58%	88%
1994	93%	60%	89%
1993	93%	60%	90%
1992	95%	61%	91%
1991	97%	62%	93%
1990	98%	63%	91%
1989	97%	64%	94%
1988	97%	64%	93%

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Two or more races

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2011-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2025	7%	4%
2024	7%	4%
2023	8%	4%	5%
2022	5%	4%	5%
2021	5%	4%	4%
2020	6%	4%	4%
2019	4%	3%	4%
2018	4%	3%	3%
2017	4%	3%	3%
2015	5%	2%	4%
2014	5%	2%	4%
2013	4%	2%	4%
2012	4%	2%	3%
2011	3%	1%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

32%

67%

0.50

0.66

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2025	0.50	0.65
2024	0.49	0.65
2023	0.49	0.65	0.62
2022	0.45	0.65	0.61
2021	0.42	0.66	0.60
2020	0.43	0.65	0.59
2019	0.41	0.65	0.59
2018	0.38	0.65	0.57
2017	0.43	0.65	0.57
2015	0.42	0.64	0.55
2014	0.39	0.64	0.56
2013	0.35	0.64	0.55
2012	0.33	0.64	0.54
2011	0.29	0.65	0.54
2010	0.24	0.64	0.49
2009	0.22	0.64	0.48
2008	0.19	0.63	0.47
2007	0.19	0.63	0.46
2006	0.17	0.63	0.44
2005	0.15	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	0.61	0.30
1999	0.10	0.59	0.28
1998	0.10	0.59	0.25
1997	0.10	0.58	0.24
1996	0.13	0.58	0.22
1995	0.15	0.58	0.22
1994	0.13	0.56	0.19
1993	0.13	0.57	0.18
1992	0.10	0.56	0.18
1991	0.06	0.56	0.13
1990	0.04	0.54	0.14
1989	0.06	0.54	0.10
1988	0.06	0.54	0.10

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(22-23)

16.3%

41.2%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2023	16.3%	41.2%	38.2%
2021	7.6%	34.3%	21.9%

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Eligible for

10%

41%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 22-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (2004-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2025	10%	41%
2024	11%	40%
2023	11%	39%	26%
2022	9%	27%	17%
2021	12%	42%	32%
2020	10%	41%	28%
2019	8%	43%	28%
2018	8%	43%	30%
2017	11%	42%	30%
2015	12%	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%

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Eligible for

10%

View Data

Showing 2014–2025. Full 22-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (2004-2025)
Year	Desert Shadows Elementary School	Arizona	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
2025	2%	10%
2024	3%	10%
2023	4%	7%	6%
2021	3%	9%	5%
2020	4%	7%	6%
2019	4%	7%	6%
2018	4%	6%	5%
2017	3%	9%	5%
2015	2%	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

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)

Sports

Colors

Blue, Tan, Black, and White

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Desert Shadows Elementary School's ranking?

Desert Shadows Elementary School is ranked #131 out of 1,921 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?

554 students attend Desert Shadows Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

68% of Desert Shadows Elementary School students are White, 19% 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 16:1, 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).

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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October 07, 2026

Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know

Learn how combined-grade classrooms work, why public schools use them, potential benefits and challenges, and the questions parents should ask before enrolling their child in one today.

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-6
Enrollment: 554 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 32%
: Top 10%
: 63% (Top 10%)
: 68% (Top 10%)
: 40-49% (Top 20%)
: Desert Shadows Elementary School serves the southern part of Scottsdale, AZ, covering an area of approximately 2 square miles. Families within this zone can typically reach the school within 5 to 10 minutes, with the furthest edge located about 1.5 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

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