Desert Shadows Elementary School

5902 E SWEETWATER AVE
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85254

desertshadowses.pvschools.net/

464 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 6th

School Overview

Desert Shadows Elementary School is a prominent public school located in Scottsdale, Arizona, operating under the Paradise Valley Unified School District. Serving students from preschool through sixth grade, the school is well-regarded for its commitment to academic excellence and its focus on fostering a supportive, student-centered learning environment. The curriculum is designed to challenge students while encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and personal responsibility, ensuring they are well-prepared for the transition to middle school.

Beyond its academic rigor, Desert Shadows Elementary emphasizes the development of the "whole child" by offering a variety of extracurricular activities, enrichment programs, and community engagement opportunities. The school prides itself on its strong sense of community, maintained through active parent involvement and collaborative partnerships between teachers, staff, and local families. By providing a safe, inclusive, and technologically integrated campus, the school strives to inspire a lifelong passion for learning in every student.

464

Total Students

34.8

Full-Time Teachers

13.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Desert Shadows Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	319
Hispanic	74
Black	10
Asian	17
Two or More	38
American Indian	6

White
319 (68.8 %)
Hispanic
74 (15.9 %)
Two or More
38 (8.2 %)
Asian
17 (3.7 %)
Black
10 (2.2 %)
American Indian
6 (1.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
Phone:	(602)449-6900
Website:	http://desertshadowses.pvschools.net/
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 6th
Total Students:	464
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	34.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 29

Kindergarten 58

Grade 1 67

Grade 2 53

Grade 3 60

Grade 4 68

Grade 5 66

Grade 6 63