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Phoenix Elementary School District, Arizona
| Phoenix Elementary School District |
|---|
 |
| Maricopa County, Arizona |
| District details |
| Superintendent: Deborah Gonzalez |
| # of school board members: 5 |
| Website: Link |
Phoenix Elementary School District is a school district in Arizona.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district’s…
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
 |
This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
Dr. Deborah Gonzalez is the superintendent of the Phoenix Elementary School District. She was appointed interim superintendent on November 21, 2023 and as full superintendent on March 26, 2024. Her previous career experience includes serving as chief academic officer and assistant superintendent.[1][2]
Past superintendents
- Ibi Davila Haghighat was the superintendent of the Phoenix Elementary School District from July 2022 until November 21, 2023.[1]
- Larry Weeks was the superintendent of the Phoenix Elementary School District from 2012 until July 2022.[1] Weeks' previous career experience includes working as an assistant superintendent of business services.[3]
School board
The Phoenix Elementary School District Governing Board consists of five members elected to four-year terms. Board members are elected at large.[4]
| Office | Name | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Elementary School District, At-large | Erika De La Rosa | January 1, 2023 |
| Phoenix Elementary School District, At-large | Erika Ovalle | January 1, 2025 |
| Phoenix Elementary School District, At-large | Carmen Trujillo | 2019 |
| Phoenix Elementary School District, At-large | Alicia Vink | January 1, 2021 |
| Phoenix Elementary School District, At-large | Vacant |
Elections
Board members are elected on a staggered basis during even-numbered years.
Three seats on the Phoenix Elementary School District school board in Arizona were scheduled to be up for general election on November 5, 2024. The election was canceled due to a lack of opposition.[5] The filing deadline for this election was July 8, 2024.
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The Phoenix Elementary School District Governing Board maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[6]
| “ |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS All regular and special meetings of the Board shall be open to the public. The Board invites the viewpoints of citizens throughout the District, and considers the responsible presentation of these viewpoints vital to the efficient operation of the District. The Board also recognizes its responsibility for the proper governance of the schools and therefore the need to conduct its business in an orderly and efficient manner. The Board therefore establishes the following procedures to receive input from citizens of the District: A. Any individual desiring to address the Board shall complete a form (Request to Address Board) and give this form to the Superintendent prior to the start of the Board meeting. B. The Board President shall be responsible for recognizing speakers, maintaining proper order, and adhering to any time limit set. Questions requiring investigation shall be referred to the Superintendent for later report to the Board. Questions or comments on matters that are currently under legal review will not receive a response. C. If considered necessary, the President shall set a time limit on the length of the comment period. In order to ensure that each individual has an opportunity to address the Board, the President may also set a time limit for individual speakers. D. Personal attacks upon Board members, staff personnel, or other persons in attendance or absent by individuals who address the Board are discouraged. Policies KE, KEB, KEC, and KED are provided by the Board for disposition of legitimate complaints, including those involving individuals. Upon conclusion of the open call to the public, individual members of the Board may respond to any criticism made by an individual who has addressed the Board. E. Presentations for unsolicited services will not be permitted. Companies or businesses offering services of possible interest to the District should send information to the District Office for distribution to appropriate School District officials. The Superintendent shall ensure that a copy of this policy is posted at the entrance to the Board meeting room, and that an adequate supply of forms is available.[7] |
” |
School board meeting articles
The following articles were produced by Citizen Portal using artificial intelligence to analyze public meetings. Citizen Portal publishes articles based on the availability of meeting broadcasts, so the number of articles provided may vary by district. Although these articles are not produced or edited by Ballotpedia, they are included here as a supplemental resource for readers.
District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[8]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $20,596,000 | $3,798 | 23% |
| Local: | $50,995,000 | $9,403 | 57% |
| State: | $17,052,000 | $3,144 | 19% |
| Total: | $88,643,000 | $16,346 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $85,324,000 | $15,144 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $74,033,000 | $13,140 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $39,071,000 | $6,934 | 46% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $15,302,000 | $2,716 | 18% |
| Administration: | $6,759,000 | $1,199 | 8% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $12,901,000 | $2,289 | 15% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $8,790,000 | $1,560 | |
| Construction: | $4,617,000 | $819 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $0 | $0 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $2,399,000 | $425 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025[9] | $50,535 | $85,807 |
| 2023-2024[10] | $50,056 | - |
| 2019-2020[11] | $39,500 | $86,485 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[12]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 11 | 20-29 | 8 | 10 | 10-14 | 11-19 | 25-29 |
| 2018-2019 | 28 | 40-49 | 23 | 28 | 20-24 | 35-39 | 40-44 |
| 2017-2018 | 31 | 40-49 | 21 | 31 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 40-44 |
| 2016-2017 | 29 | 40-49 | 25 | 28 | 30-34 | 45-49 | |
| 2015-2016 | 25 | 25-29 | 20-24 | 25 | 25-29 | 35-39 | |
| 2014-2015 | 21 | 20-24 | 23 | 21 | 20-24 | 35-39 | |
| 2013-2014 | 47 | 45-49 | 41 | 47 | 40-44 | 60-64 | |
| 2012-2013 | 48 | 50-54 | 44 | 47 | 45-49 | 65-69 | |
| 2011-2012 | 52 | 45-49 | 51 | 51 | 45-49 | 70-74 | |
| 2010-2011 | 45 | 30-34 | 43 | 44 | 35-39 | 65-69 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 21 | 40-49 | 18 | 20 | 15-19 | 30-39 | 40-44 |
| 2018-2019 | 32 | 40-49 | 28 | 31 | 20-24 | 40-44 | 45-49 |
| 2017-2018 | 28 | 30-39 | 22 | 28 | 20-24 | 35-39 | 40-44 |
| 2016-2017 | 27 | 40-49 | 26 | 25 | 15-19 | 45-49 | |
| 2015-2016 | 26 | 25-29 | 25-29 | 25 | 15-19 | 40-44 | |
| 2014-2015 | 21 | 15-19 | 23 | 20 | 15-19 | 35-39 | |
| 2013-2014 | 64 | 50-54 | 61 | 63 | 60-64 | 75-79 | |
| 2012-2013 | 66 | 40-44 | 64 | 65 | 65-69 | 80-84 | |
| 2011-2012 | 66 | 35-39 | 68 | 66 | 70-74 | 75-79 | |
| 2010-2011 | 65 | 30-34 | 62 | 65 | 60-64 | 75-79 |
Ballotpedia has not located graduation data for this district.
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 5,249 | -3.2 |
| 2021-2022 | 5,415 | -4.0 |
| 2020-2021 | 5,634 | -10.7 |
| 2019-2020 | 6,239 | -4.8 |
| 2018-2019 | 6,540 | 0.8 |
| 2017-2018 | 6,487 | -2.4 |
| 2016-2017 | 6,645 | -4.3 |
| 2015-2016 | 6,933 | -3.7 |
| 2014-2015 | 7,187 | -1.7 |
| 2013-2014 | 7,307 | 1.6 |
| 2012-2013 | 7,189 | -3.7 |
| 2011-2012 | 7,457 | 4.6 |
| 2010-2011 | 7,117 | 0.6 |
| 2009-2010 | 7,073 | -16.0 |
| 2008-2009 | 8,204 | -1.0 |
| 2007-2008 | 8,288 | 0.5 |
| 2006-2007 | 8,250 | 4.7 |
| 2005-2006 | 7,865 | -4.4 |
| 2004-2005 | 8,212 | -1.6 |
| 2003-2004 | 8,340 | -3.0 |
| 2002-2003 | 8,588 | 2.0 |
| 2001-2002 | 8,414 | -1.7 |
| 2000-2001 | 8,553 | -3.7 |
| 1999-2000 | 8,866 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Phoenix Elementary School District (%) | Arizona K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 2.5 | 4.2 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.7 | 3.1 |
| Black | 10.2 | 5.7 |
| Hispanic | 77.7 | 47.6 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Two or More Races | 2.6 | 4.2 |
| White | 6.3 | 34.9 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2022-2023 school year, Phoenix Elementary School District had 307.51 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 17.07.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 6.75 |
| Kindergarten: | 17.00 |
| Elementary: | 283.76 |
| Secondary: | 0.00 |
| Total: | 307.51 |
Phoenix Elementary School District employed 14.00 district administrators and 28.00 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 14.00 |
| District Administrative Support: | 29.00 |
| School Administrators: | 28.00 |
| School Administrative Support: | 15.00 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 187.90 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 6.00 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 0.00 |
| Library/Media Support: | 0.00 |
| Student Support Services: | 151.62 |
| Other Support Services: | 102.15 |
Schools
Noteworthy events
2025: Recall effort starts against board member Jessica Bueno
An effort to recall Jessica Bueno from her position on the Phoenix Elementary School District Governing Board in Arizona began in February 2025.[13] Bueno resigned from the board in April 2025, before recall petition signatures had been turned in.[14]
Bueno was elected to the five-member board on November 3, 2020, receiving the most votes in an at-large election for three seats. When she ran for re-election in 2024, the election was canceled due to lack of opposition. Her term was scheduled to expire in 2028 before she resigned.[14]
Contact information
Phoenix Elementary School District
1817 North Seventh St.
Phoenix, AZ 85006
Phone: 602-257-3755
About school boards
Education legislation in Arizona
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| Arizona | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Phoenix Elementary School District
- Arizona School Boards Association
- Arizona Department of Education
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 ABC15, "Phoenix Elementary School District votes to cut ties with superintendent 16 months after hire," November 21, 2023
- ↑ Phoenix Elementary School District, "Superintendent Contract with Dr. Deborah Gonzalez Finalized," accessed April 18, 2025
- ↑ Phoenix Elementary School District, "CEO/Superintendent," accessed November 5, 2019
- ↑ Phoenix Elementary School District, "Members," accessed February 7, 2019
- ↑ Government website of Maricopa County, "Recommended Cancellations of 2024 School District Governing Board Elections," accessed August 14, 2024
- ↑ Arizona School Boards Association, "Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 Public Participation at Board Meetings," accessed April 18, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed June 17, 2024
- ↑ Phoenix Elementary School District, "Salaries & Qualifications," accessed April 18, 2025
- ↑ Phoenix Elementary School District, "Increased Salaries For 2023-2024," accessed February 6, 2024
- ↑ Phoenix Elementary School District, "Certified Stepless Salary Schedule," accessed May 18, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
- ↑ Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent, "Recall Elections," accessed March 4, 2025
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Arizona Republic, "Phoenix Elementary school board president resigns amid recall effort," April 24, 2025
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