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In addition to plenty of outdoor activities, festivals and sunny weather year-round, Tempe, AZ, has a lot to offer when it comes to its educational system, as well. And, if you’re a family of renters with kids or are planning on starting a family, one of your main priorities when searching for apartments in Tempe is checking for the top schools in the area. Fortunately, we did the legwork for you: We looked at GreatSchools.org rankings to put together a list of the best schools in Tempe for renters with children.
Best Elementary Schools
If you’re of the mindset that it’s never too early to start preparing your child for their college career, then consider Ward Traditional Academy, which is an educational gem. Here, after-school activities and a PACE (Promoting Actualization through Creativity and Excellence) program for gifted students are a testament to its emphasis on academics. Ward Traditional Academy has 422 students enrolled in grades K-8 and a rating of 8 out of 10.
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Meanwhile, Fuller Elementary School is part of the Tempe Elementary School District. With 592 students in grades K-5, it makes the list of top Tempe elementary schools with an overall rating of 7. At Fuller, 63% of students tested at or above the proficient level for math, and 64% scored at or above the same level for reading.
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Next, with a student-teacher ratio of 17:1 and an overall grade of 7 on GreatSchools.org, C.I. Waggoner is part of the Kyrene Elementary School District. Located near Waggoner Park, this school doesn’t focus solely on academics. Instead, its main objective is developing a learning environment where the students feel safe and are encouraged to reach their full potential.
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Best Middle & High Schools
James Madison Preparatory School has 181 students enrolled in grades 6-12 and one of the lowest student-teacher ratios: 9 to 1. Here, practical life skills are an essential part of the curriculum: Students learn how to pay taxes, balance a checkbook and do household chores, all while preparing for college. Plus, the average graduation rate of this school is 90%, and the overall grade on GreatSchools is 8.
Similarly, located in Tempe Union High School District, Corona del Sol scores a 7 out of 10. Home of the Aztecs, Corona del Sol has an impressive average graduation rate of 95.7% in the past five years, as well as more than 80 clubs and campus activities that keep their 2,762 students busy.
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 Finally, Tempe Preparatory Academy ranks 8 out of 10, and its test scores are far above the state average, with most students performing at or above grade level. Founded in 1996, this independently governed public charter school teaches kids in grades 6-12 a Great Books, core liberal arts curriculum. Here, 67% of students are proficient in math and 74% are proficient in reading, with many also participating in extracurriculars.
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Finding the best school in Tempe can be challenging for renters with children, especially for those looking for a school close to home. So, determine the best fit for you and then start browsing apartments for rent on RentCafe.
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Andreea Neculae
Andreea covers the data and trends behind the flexible workspace industry, from coworking pricing and market growth to the amenities, commute patterns, and shifts redefining where and how people work.
With an academic background in Language Arts, Andreea has built her career producing research-driven articles, market reports, and B2B content grounded in proprietary industry data. Her writing has been featured in The Business Journals, The New York Times and Forbes. She has a knack for turning dense datasets into stories that are clear, sharp, and genuinely useful to readers.
For Andreea, writing is a bigger part of her life than just work. Outside the office, she enjoys writing fiction, penning book reviews, and reading.
Drop her a line via email.
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