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with district
| Metric | Deer Valley Unified District | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 33,199 | 3,700 | ↑ Larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 41 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $9,331/yr | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Charter School District | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 8/10 — Good | — | Above average |
| District | Rating | Percentile | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Valley Unified District (this district) | 8/10 | 77th | 33,199 |
| Deer Valley Unified School District | 8/10 | 77th | 33,000 |
🔢 Show the math behind this rating
Ranked against 492 rated districts in AZ → 77th percentile → 8/10.
Source: Arizona Dept. of Education AASA/ACT/MSAA combined assessments, Percent Passing, 2025. Full methodology →
About Deer Valley Unified District
Families in zip code 85086 (Deer Valley, Arizona) are assigned to Deer Valley Unified District for public education through 8th. This overview covers the district’s funding levels, scale, rating, and what to expect from the enrollment process if you’re moving to or within this zip code.
Funding and Resources
Deer Valley Unified District spent $9,331 per student in the 2019–20 school year (U.S. Dept. of Education CCD finance data), 14% below Arizona’s statewide $10,800 estimate.
District Scale and Program Breadth
With 1 schools, Deer Valley Unified District operates as a small, community-focused district serving students from Kindergarten – 8th. Small districts often benefit from tighter community cohesion, more personalized teacher-student relationships, and stronger parental involvement. The trade-off is narrower program variety: fewer elective courses, specialized tracks, or extracurricular options than larger systems offer.
Understanding the 8/10 Rating
Deer Valley Unified District has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 9/10, placing it in the top-tier tier. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in Arizona’s AASA/ACT/MSAA combined assessments (2025 school year). We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Arizona is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
Deer Valley Unified District ranks among the highest-performing public school districts in Arizona on state assessments, with reading and math proficiency rates in roughly the top 10–20% statewide. Homes in and around zip code 85086 often carry a measurable premium relative to neighboring areas served by lower-rated districts. Families moving here for academic strength will find a district whose students test well above the state norm. Even within top-rated districts, individual school performance varies — confirm your specific school assignments directly with the district.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 85086
Children in zip code 85086 are assigned to Deer Valley Unified District for public school enrollment, covering grades Kindergarten – 8th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 85086, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Deer Valley Unified District at (623)465-4910 or visit www.steppingstonesacademy.org. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Arizona districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Deer Valley
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Deer Valley Unified District serves zip code 85086, homes in and around zip code 85086 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Arizona, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Deer Valley Unified District programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 85086.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Deer Valley Unified District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 85086 data.