Home > Arizona > Maricopa County > Phoenix > Cartwright Elementary School

Manuel Pena Jr. School

2550 N 79th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85035

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Serving 730 students in grades Prekindergarten-6, Manuel Pena Jr. School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 19% (which is lower than the Arizona state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving is 23% (which is lower than the Arizona state average of 40%).

The student-teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the Arizona state level of 17:1.

Minority enrollment is 96% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Arizona state average of 66% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Prekindergarten-6
Enrollment: 730 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 96%
: Bottom 50% in AZ
: 19% (Btm 50%)
: 23% (Btm 50%)
: 15-19% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

School Overview

Manuel Pena Jr. School's student population of 730 students has grown by 6% over five school years.

The teacher population of 40 teachers has grown by 17% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-6
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Manuel Pena Jr. School
Pre-K	18
Kind	83
1	85
2	102
3	113
4	110
5	97
6	120
Not Listed	2

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Total Students

730 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (2005-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School
2023	749
2022	777
2021	749
2020	685
2019	685
2018	787
2017	787
2016	858
2015	923
2014	880
2013	939
2012	969
2011	927
2010	845
2009	840
2008	882
2007	895
2006	902
2005	1,059

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

40 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (2005-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School
2023	34
2022	37
2021	33
2020	34
2019	34
2018	36
2017	36
2016	34
2015	39
2014	40
2013	50
2012	57
2011	50
2010	42
2009	45
2008	47
2007	51
2006	47
2005	46

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School Calendar

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School Rankings

Manuel Pena Jr. School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,921 schools in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Manuel Pena Jr. School is 0.39, 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)

#1382 out of 1921 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School
2023	#1382
2022	#1424
2021	#1521
2019	#1404
2018	#1741
2017	#1501
2016	#1399
2015	#1562
2014	#913
2013	#862
2012	#948

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19%

34%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	19%	34%	19%
2022	17%	35%	15%
2021	9%	32%	8%
2019	33%	45%	29%
2018	23%	45%	27%
2017	25%	42%	28%
2016	23%	39%	24%
2015	21%	38%	22%
2014	64%	63%	57%
2013	67%	63%	59%
2012	61%	63%	56%

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23%

40%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2022	23%	40%	21%
2021	20%	39%	18%
2019	32%	45%	28%
2018	22%	44%	27%
2017	22%	42%	26%
2016	22%	40%	22%
2015	20%	38%	18%
2014	76%	79%	69%
2013	74%	78%	69%
2012	72%	77%	68%
2011	74%	77%	68%

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15-19%

24%

Student-Teacher Ratio

18:1

17:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (2005-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	22:1	17:1	23:1
2022	21:1	17:1	21:1
2021	23:1	17:1	20:1
2020	20:1	18:1	20:1
2019	20:1	18:1	20:1
2018	22:1	19:1	22:1
2017	22:1	19:1	22:1
2016	25:1	20:1	23:1
2015	24:1	20:1	21:1
2014	22:1	19:1	21:1
2013	19:1	19:1	20:1
2012	17:1	18:1	17:1
2011	19:1	19:1	18:1
2010	20:1	18:1	20:1
2009	19:1	18:1	18:1
2008	19:1	18:1	18:1
2007	18:1	18:1	18:1
2006	19:1	18:1	20:1
2005	23:1	19:1	20:1

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American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2005-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	3%	5%	2%
2022	2%	5%	1%
2021	2%	5%	1%
2020	1%	6%	1%
2019	1%	6%	1%
2018	1%	6%	2%
2017	1%	6%	2%
2016	1%	5%	1%
2015	3%	5%	2%
2014	1%	5%	1%
2013	1%	5%	2%
2012	1%	5%	2%
2011	2%	7%	2%
2010	2%	6%	2%
2009	2%	6%	2%
2008	2%	5%	2%
2007	2%	6%	1%
2006	3%	7%	1%
2005	2%	7%	1%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2005-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	1%	3%
2021	1%	3%
2016	1%	3%
2015	1%	3%
2014	1%	3%
2013	1%	3%
2011	1%	3%
2010	2%	3%
2009	1%	3%
2008	1%	3%
2007	1%	3%
2006	1%	2%	1%
2005	1%	2%	1%

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Hispanic

77%

48%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2005-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	79%	47%	89%
2022	77%	47%	89%
2021	77%	46%	89%
2020	76%	45%	89%
2019	76%	45%	89%
2018	82%	45%	90%
2017	82%	45%	90%
2016	80%	45%	90%
2015	79%	45%	87%
2014	84%	44%	90%
2013	86%	43%	89%
2012	85%	43%	89%
2011	85%	42%	89%
2010	87%	41%	90%
2009	86%	41%	90%
2008	86%	42%	90%
2007	87%	41%	90%
2006	83%	39%	88%
2005	83%	38%	85%

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Black

14%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2005-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	12%	6%	5%
2022	16%	6%	6%
2021	16%	6%	6%
2020	17%	5%	6%
2019	17%	5%	6%
2018	11%	5%	5%
2017	11%	5%	5%
2016	12%	5%	5%
2015	11%	5%	6%
2014	9%	5%	4%
2013	5%	5%	4%
2012	7%	5%	4%
2011	5%	5%	4%
2010	4%	6%	4%
2009	6%	6%	4%
2008	5%	6%	4%
2007	4%	5%	4%
2006	6%	5%	4%
2005	4%	5%	5%

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White

34%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2005-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	4%	35%	3%
2022	3%	35%	3%
2021	3%	36%	3%
2020	5%	38%	4%
2019	5%	38%	4%
2018	4%	38%	3%
2017	4%	38%	3%
2016	5%	39%	4%
2015	6%	40%	5%
2014	4%	41%	4%
2013	6%	42%	4%
2012	5%	42%	4%
2011	6%	42%	4%
2010	5%	44%	4%
2009	5%	44%	4%
2008	6%	44%	4%
2007	6%	45%	5%
2006	7%	47%	6%
2005	10%	48%	8%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	1%	4%	1%
2022	2%	4%	1%
2021	1%	4%	1%
2020	1%	3%
2019	1%	3%
2018	2%	3%
2017	2%	3%
2016	1%	3%
2013	1%	2%	1%
2012	1%	2%	1%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.39

0.66

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (2005-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	0.36	0.65	0.20
2022	0.38	0.65	0.21
2021	0.38	0.66	0.21
2020	0.39	0.65	0.21
2019	0.39	0.65	0.21
2018	0.32	0.65	0.18
2017	0.32	0.65	0.18
2016	0.35	0.65	0.19
2015	0.36	0.64	0.22
2014	0.30	0.64	0.20
2013	0.26	0.64	0.20
2012	0.27	0.64	0.21
2011	0.28	0.65	0.21
2010	0.25	0.64	0.18
2009	0.26	0.64	0.18
2008	0.26	0.63	0.18
2007	0.24	0.63	0.19
2006	0.30	0.63	0.23
2005	0.30	0.62	0.27

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Eligible for

100%

40%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2004-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	60%	39%	63%
2022	40%	29%	39%
2021	100%	42%	97%
2020	80%	43%	81%
2019	80%	43%	81%
2018	99%	42%	98%
2017	99%	42%	98%
2013	100%	37%	100%
2012	82%	36%	84%
2011	84%	36%	80%
2010	73%	38%	71%
2009	65%	39%	65%
2008	66%	29%	66%
2007	62%	32%	64%
2006	71%	37%	72%
2005	74%	40%	81%
2004	63%	37%	72%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2005-2023)
Year	Manuel Pena Jr. School	Arizona	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District
2023	8%	7%	11%
2020	7%	7%	6%
2019	7%	7%	6%
2016	99%	11%	95%
2014	100%	14%	100%
2012	8%	11%	5%
2011	6%	10%	4%
2010	7%	8%	5%
2009	8%	10%	8%
2008	10%	9%	11%
2007	12%	9%	12%
2006	12%	8%	12%
2005	13%	8%	12%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District

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

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Manuel Pena Jr. School's ranking?

Manuel Pena Jr. School is ranked #1382 out of 1,921 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Arizona.

What schools are Manuel Pena Jr. School often compared to?

Manuel Pena Jr. Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Holiday Park School by visitors of our site.

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

19% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% AZ state average), while 23% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 40% AZ state average).

How many students attend Manuel Pena Jr. School?

730 students attend Manuel Pena Jr. School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

77% of Manuel Pena Jr. School students are Hispanic, 14% of students are Black, 4% of students are White, 3% of students are American Indian, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Manuel Pena Jr. School?

Manuel Pena Jr. School has a student ration of 18:1, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 17:1.

What grades does Manuel Pena Jr. School offer ?

Manuel Pena Jr. School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-6 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Manuel Pena Jr. School part of?

Manuel Pena Jr. School is part of Cartwright Elementary District (4282) School District.

In what neighborhood is Manuel Pena Jr. School located?

Manuel Pena Jr. School is located in the Cartwright Elementary School neighborhood of Phoenix, AZ. There are 1 other public schools located in Cartwright Elementary School.

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Prekindergarten-6
Enrollment: 730 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 96%
: Bottom 50%
: 19% (Btm 50%)
: 23% (Btm 50%)
: 15-19% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education