As parents, you know how important an early education is for our children. The city of Phoenix has over 200 public schools in 16 different neighborhoods that stretch over 517 miles. There is much to be done and many factors to consider when deciding on a home and school. With so many options to choose from, you might be wondering which neighborhoods have some of the best public elementary schools in Phoenix.
As the parent of four children under the age of 12, I know that there are many factors that play a role in choosing the right school for your children. I constantly recommend my buyers to start with GreatSchools.org to do their first research. It ranks schools based on student progress rating or academic progress rating, equity rating, and test score rating. The top neighborhoods in Phoenix with excellent public schools rated by GreatSchools.org and my own personal experiences with clients include (from north to south):
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North Phoenix
The Desert Ridge neighborhoods offer plenty of dining, shopping, and entertainment and are within the Paradise Valley Unified School District. The district has some high performing schools, but the top-rated schools are Desert Trails and Fireside, both of which are next to each other in the Desert Ridge area, north of 101 and Tatum. Desert Trails is an A-rated school that focuses on social-emotional learning and has an open enrollment program which means you don’t have to live on the school line to attend. Fireside Elementary is also an A-rated school with a talented preschool program. Both schools offer positive behavior reinforcement and gifted cluster classes.
Parents love living in this area for its proximity to resort-style facilities, great hiking trails, and wading pools for the little ones. There are also many jobs near this area. The houses in these neighborhoods are newer and likely to be more energy efficient, mostly two-story houses on smaller lots. Be sure to visit the Desert Ridge and Wildcat Ridge neighborhoods.
Melisa Camp is a high-revenue Phoenix Realtor with HomeSmart Elite Group and a licensed instructor with Elite Education.
Biltmore and Uptown
For something a little more central, check out the Madison Elementary School District. Madison Traditional Academy or MTA is the top rated school with no actual boundaries, instead it offers open enrollment and a lottery system. Other notable schools are Madison Heights, where they offer English classes in the morning and Spanish in the afternoon with open enrollment, and Madison Simis, where they offer the International Baccalaureate curriculum, gifted cluster classes, and open enrollment.
The Biltmore and Uptown neighborhoods have an upscale historic feel. My favorite neighborhoods are Tonka Vista, Wrigley Terrace, and Wagon Wheel Circle. This area is well worth a visit as the most architecturally fascinating houses along Central Avenue are scattered on either side of Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street, and are located around Piestewa Peak. Most of the houses are over 70 years old, many have been converted or modernized and are usually single-story ranch houses with different plot sizes.
Alhambra
The Alhambra Traditional School is the only 10-rated public primary school in Phoenix, which speaks for its excellent reputation. Located off I-17 and Bethany Home Road, it has no boundaries, instead it offers open enrollment.
The best residential areas near the Alhambra Traditional are near the Christown Spectrum Mall, which is very easy to walk to. It’s close to the light rail and has a bit more urban flair with mostly single-story ranch houses or apartment buildings. Also nearby is the Palo Verde golf course, with houses in the area overlooking the green or the lake.
Arcadia
The Arcadia neighborhoods are on either side of Camelback Road from 40th Street to 68th Street and are within the Scottsdale Unified Boundaries. Hopi Elementary School is a premier public school with talented and after-school enrichment opportunities.
Arcadia features mostly luxury mid-century properties on large grassy lots and many properties with breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain.
South Phoenix
Located at the foot of the South Mountain, the Cyrene School District has 5 top grade elementary schools in Phoenix including Cyrene De Los Lagos, Cyrene Monte Vista, Cyrene de la Estrella, Cyrene de la Sierra and Cyrene de los Cerritos.
Ahwatukee Foothills Villages is a family-friendly neighborhood with plenty of hiking trails and outdoor recreational opportunities. It has easy freeway access and a mix of average and luxury homes to suit all budgets. The houses in this area will be a mix of old and new, varying heights and mostly two-story houses with a desert landscape and more Spanish-inspired design.
Culture from the best Phoenix schools
While looking at a school’s GreatSchools scorecard can be an excellent starting point, it is equally important to consider the school culture as well. The culture or campus attitude is determined by the school management, teachers, staff and parents. It is immaterial and impossible to measure online, but it is important nonetheless. The school culture can be experienced through guided tours, observations and / or discussions with parents.
When choosing the best school for your children, trust your gut instinct. The same goes for choosing a great neighborhood. We can’t really measure the value of great neighborhoods or the satisfaction that community bonding can bring, but they have meaningful value and make neighborhoods a great place to raise kids and grow old.
Melisa Camp is a high-revenue Phoenix Realtor with HomeSmart Elite Group and a licensed instructor with Elite Education. Camp has a Masters degree in Elementary Education and lives in the Royal Palm Neighborhood with her four children, ages 12, 9, 6 and 3. For more information, see http://greenhomesphoenix.com.
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