John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Summary:

John & Carol Carlson Elementary is a high-performing public elementary school in Chandler, Arizona, serving 649 students in grades PK-6. As part of the Chandler Unified District #80, the school consistently ranks in the top 10% of Arizona elementary schools, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger in most years.

Academically, John & Carol Carlson Elementary outshines the district and state averages, with 72% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 55% for the district and 39% for the state. In mathematics, 80% of 3rd graders were proficient or better, far exceeding the district's 56% and the state's 43%. The school also boasts a lower student-teacher ratio of 16.2, compared to higher ratios at some nearby schools like American Leadership Academy Gilbert South K-6 and Jane D. Hull Elementary.

While John & Carol Carlson Elementary serves a relatively affluent community, with only 6.78% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, the school's student population is more racially diverse than nearby schools. In the 2022-2023 school year, the school had 64.56% White, 18.34% Hispanic, 5.7% Asian, and 4.16% African American students. This diversity may contribute to a more inclusive and enriching learning environment. Other high-performing schools in the area, such as Weinberg Gifted Academy and Charlotte Patterson Elementary, also demonstrate strong academic results and may offer valuable insights for John & Carol Carlson Elementary to consider.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

5400 S White Dr
Chandler, AZ 85249-5900

(480) 224-3800

District: Chandler Unified District #80

SchoolDigger Rank:
82^nd of 904 Arizona Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,861

Students who attend John & Carol Carlson Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Willie & Coy Payne Junior High
High:	Basha High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.2

Number of students: 649

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.6%

Hispanic:

18.3%

Two or more races:

7.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 6.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details John & Carol Carlson Elementary ranks better than 90.9% of elementary schools in Arizona. It also ranks 4^th among 29 ranked elementary schools in the Chandler Unified District #80. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 88.61. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (64.6%), Hispanic (18.3%), two or more races (7.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 6.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at John & Carol Carlson Elementary is 16.2, which is the 14^th best among 29 elementary schools in the Chandler Unified District #80. (See more...)

Compare John & Carol Carlson Elementary employs 40 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at John & Carol Carlson Elementary is $8,861, which is the 14^th highest among 29 elementary schools in the Chandler Unified District #80.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

John & Carol Carlson Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks John & Carol Carlson Elementary 82^nd of 904 Arizona public elementary schools. (See John & Carol Carlson Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Chandler Unified District #80:

SchoolDigger ranks Chandler Unified District #80 94^th of 288 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for John & Carol Carlson Elementary

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Rank History for all students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AZ State Percentile
2015	90.31	69^th	955	92.8%
2016	88.56	105^th	1079	90.3%
2017	87.27	128^th	1106	88.4%
2018	90.54	93^rd	1109	91.6%
2019	87.19	108^th	1039	89.6%
2021	92.69	80^th	1226	93.5%
2022	83.40	121^st	1000	87.9%
2023	91.54	89^th	1245	92.9%
2024	88.61	82^nd	904	90.9%

See the entire list of Arizona Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AZ State Percentile
2021	79.02	106^th	1027	89.7%
2022	69.22	99^th	444	77.7%
2023	63.90	144^th	617	76.7%

See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	80.13	39^th	417	90.6%
2021	73.17	123^rd	1201	89.8%
2022	38.81	117^th	145	19.3%
2023	66.21	168^th	820	79.5%

See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AZ State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	49.18	321^st	618	48.1%
2023	63.78	305^th	1116	72.7%

See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	91.67	64^th	1023	93.7%
2019	83.17	109^th	862	87.4%
2021	91.37	80^th	1219	93.4%
2022	80.68	103^rd	824	87.5%
2023	91.38	70^th	1219	94.3%
2024	85.15	51^st	593	91.4%

See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	86.76	125^th	1032	87.9%
2019	81.28	127^th	850	85.1%
2021	91.57	84^th	1220	93.1%
2022	78.59	132^nd	830	84.1%
2023	86.59	145^th	1216	88.1%
2024	73.56	134^th	609	78.0%

See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AZ State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	72.02	124^th	620	80.0%
2023	79.49	46^th	316	85.4%

See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AZ State Percentile
2021	76.94	73^rd	895	91.8%
2022	77.06	36^th	289	87.5%
2023	86.87	28^th	607	95.4%

See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	88.23	75^th	911	91.8%
2019	80.98	114^th	709	83.9%
2021	84.67	101^st	1198	91.6%
2022	67.99	220^th	716	69.3%
2023	85.88	103^rd	1170	91.2%
2024	93.54	21^st	472	95.6%

See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	82.30	99^th	720	86.3%
2019	72.51	128^th	595	78.5%
2021	84.91	99^th	1161	91.5%
2022	74.88	129^th	800	83.9%
2023	83.73	102^nd	1024	90.0%
2024	71.40	111^th	477	76.7%

See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Arizona Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Arizona Department of Education

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Enrollment information for John & Carol Carlson Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2013	350	15	37	57	3	0	4	466
2014	499	16	52	96	3	0	18	684
2015	544	8	59	93	3	0	19	726
2016	568	12	53	97	3	1	24	758
2017	584	23	43	91	4	0	33	778
2018	591	24	44	100	1	0	36	796
2019	586	21	43	116	1	0	41	808
2020	522	19	39	104	0	0	45	729
2021	440	24	32	124	1	0	37	658
2022	426	28	31	118	2	0	36	641
2023	419	27	37	119	0	0	47	649

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at John & Carol Carlson Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	466	27.0	17.2	8.4
2014	684	36.9	18.5	6.4
2015	726	39.0	18.6	8.4
2016	758	40.0	18.9	6.3
2017	778	42.0	18.5	6.9
2018	796	45.0	17.6	5.8
2019	808	44.0	18.3	5
2020	729	43.1	16.9	4.9
2021	658	41.5	15.8	n/a
2022	641	39.5	16.2	2
2023	649	40.0	16.2	6.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio John & Carol Carlson Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	466	27.0	17.2	8.4
2014	684	36.9	18.5	6.4
2015	726	39.0	18.6	8.4
2016	758	40.0	18.9	6.3
2017	778	42.0	18.5	6.9
2018	796	45.0	17.6	5.8
2019	808	44.0	18.3	5
2020	729	43.1	16.9	4.9
2021	658	41.5	15.8	n/a
2022	641	39.5	16.2	2
2023	649	40.0	16.2	6.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Year	Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Total Expenditures from Federal Funds	Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$6,676 (83.6%)	$673 (8.4%)	$14,024 (175.6%)	$299 (3.7%)	$340 (4.3%)	$640 (8.0%)	$7,988
2020	$42 (0.6%)	$02 (0.0%)	$87 (1.2%)	$6,525 (92.1%)	$515 (7.3%)	$7,040 (99.4%)	$7,084
2021	$24 (0.3%)	$45 (0.5%)	$94 (1.1%)	$7,319 (89.4%)	$796 (9.7%)	$8,115 (99.2%)	$8,184
2022	$731 (8.3%)	$88 (1.0%)	$1,550 (17.5%)	$7,804 (88.1%)	$238 (2.7%)	$8,042 (90.8%)	$8,860

Data source: Arizona Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on John & Carol Carlson Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 108^th of 1039 Elementary schools	Ranks 89^th of 1245 Elementary schools	3.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	808	649	19.7%
African American	21	27	28.6%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	43	37	14%
Hispanic	116	119	2.6%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	586	419	28.5%
Two or More Races	41	47	14.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	5%	6.8%	1.8%

Schools Near John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				AASA English Language Arts (2024)						AASA Mathematics (2024)						Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	AASA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	AASA English Language Arts 4th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 5th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 6th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 7th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 8th Grade	AASA Mathematics 3rd Grade	AASA Mathematics 4th Grade	AASA Mathematics 5th Grade	AASA Mathematics 6th Grade	AASA Mathematics 7th Grade	AASA Mathematics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
John & Carol Carlson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	5400 S White Dr	Chandler	85249	Maricopa County	Chandler Unified District #80	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 224-3800	649	40	16.2	6.8%	419 (64.6%)	27 (4.2%)	119 (18.3%)	37 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (7.2%)	88.6	82^nd of 904 public elementary schools	90.9%		91.5	89^th of 1245 public elementary schools	92.9%	7	72.0	70.0	65.0	70.0			80.0	66.0	62.0	53.0			$8,861	$731	$88	$1,550	$7,804	$238	$8,042
Audrey & Robert Ryan Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	4600 S Bright Angel Way	Chandler	85249	Maricopa County	Chandler Unified District #80	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 224-3200	612	35	17.4	10.9%	395 (64.5%)	15 (2.5%)	98 (16.0%)	54 (8.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (8.0%)	83.4	143^rd of 904 public elementary schools	84.2%		93	70^th of 1245 public elementary schools	94.4%	73	57.0	81.0	62.0	72.0			57.0	57.0	52.0	75.0			$8,753	$933	$79	$1,945	$7,457	$284	$7,741
Navarrete Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	6490 S Sun Groves Blvd	Chandler	85249	Maricopa County	Chandler Unified District #80	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 883-4800	461	29	15.7	22.8%	255 (55.3%)	25 (5.4%)	126 (27.3%)	10 (2.2%)	20 (4.3%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (5.2%)	61	320^th of 904 public elementary schools	64.6%		70.6	331^st of 1245 public elementary schools	73.4%	11	56.0	57.0	54.0	59.0			52.0	42.0	47.0	26.0			$10,007	$1,380	$108	$2,869	$8,259	$259	$8,518
American Leadership Academy Gilbert South K-6	Public, Charter	K-6	1750 E Riggs Rd	Gilbert	85298	Maricopa County	American Leadership Academy Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 420-2101	452				253 (56.0%)	28 (6.2%)	115 (25.4%)	15 (3.3%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (7.5%)	74.9	204^th of 904 public elementary schools	77.4%		81.8	218^th of 1245 public elementary schools	82.5%	14	61.0	71.0	56.0	60.0			70.0	52.0	48.0	40.0			$7,582	$50	$210	$310	$5,274	$2,049	$7,322
Jane D. Hull Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2424 E Maren Dr	Chandler	85249	Maricopa County	Chandler Unified District #80	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 883-4500	529	31	17.2	20.8%	288 (54.4%)	22 (4.2%)	123 (23.3%)	33 (6.2%)	22 (4.2%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (7.6%)	64.3	287^th of 904 public elementary schools	68.3%		74.5	295^th of 1245 public elementary schools	76.3%	8	47.0	61.0	54.0	60.0			56.0	35.0	46.0	49.0			$9,821	$1,010	$163	$2,184	$8,334	$313	$8,647
Robert J.C. Rice Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1290 E Ocotillo Rd	Gilbert	85298	Maricopa County	Chandler Unified District #80	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 424-8500	760	44	17.4	10.9%	500 (65.8%)	12 (1.6%)	144 (18.9%)	48 (6.3%)	9 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	46 (6.1%)	80.7	157^th of 904 public elementary schools	82.6%		88.2	142^nd of 1245 public elementary schools	88.6%	15	65.0	80.0	53.0	63.0			74.0	64.0	49.0	46.0			$8,523	$694	$147	$1,536	$7,420	$262	$7,682
Haley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	3401 S Layton Lakes Blvd	Chandler	85286	Maricopa County	Chandler Unified District #80	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 224-3500	765	45	17.1	10.8%	490 (64.1%)	23 (3.0%)	155 (20.3%)	42 (5.5%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	51 (6.7%)	78.7	175^th of 904 public elementary schools	80.6%		90	119^th of 1245 public elementary schools	90.4%	56	60.0	72.0	58.0	62.0			70.0	72.0	57.0	32.0			$7,286	$543	$78	$1,163	$6,459	$206	$6,665
Santan Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1550 E Chandler Heights Rd	Chandler	85249	Maricopa County	Chandler Unified District #80	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 883-4700	651	42	15.5	14.9%	384 (59.0%)	34 (5.2%)	110 (16.9%)	55 (8.4%)	16 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (8.0%)	79.8	164^th of 904 public elementary schools	81.9%		89.5	125^th of 1245 public elementary schools	90.0%	39	59.0	59.0	54.0	69.0			73.0	46.0	64.0	60.0			$9,109	$1,391	$104	$2,886	$7,387	$226	$7,614
Legacy Traditional School - Chandler	Public, Charter	K-8	3201 S Gilbert Rd Bldg B	Chandler	85286	Maricopa County	Legacy Traditional School - Chandler	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 270-5422	1,102			14.0%	432 (39.2%)	75 (6.8%)	240 (21.8%)	250 (22.7%)	7 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	97 (8.8%)	73.9	214^th of 904 public elementary schools	76.3%		86.9	157^th of 1245 public elementary schools	87.4%	57	59.0	65.0	62.0	64.0	66.0	63.0	60.0	44.0	53.0	44.0	53.0	48.0		$00			$00
Weinberg Gifted Academy	Public	PK, KG-6	5245 S Val Vista Dr	Gilbert	85298	Maricopa County	Chandler Unified District #80	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 812-6600	608	32	18.7	3.0%	364 (59.9%)	5 (0.8%)	50 (8.2%)	139 (22.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	49 (8.1%)	99.3	2^nd of 904 public elementary schools	99.8%		99.3	2^nd of 1245 public elementary schools	99.8%		95.0	94.0	89.0	92.0			90.0	94.0	84.0	89.0			$6,816	$588	$95	$1,271	$5,818	$314	$6,133

Frequently Asked Questions about John & Carol Carlson Elementary

Is John & Carol Carlson Elementary a good school?

Yes. John & Carol Carlson Elementary ranks in the top 9.1% of Arizona elementary schools.

What district is John & Carol Carlson Elementary in?

Chandler Unified District #80

What schools do graduates of John & Carol Carlson Elementary attend?

Students who attend John & Carol Carlson Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Willie & Coy Payne Junior High
High : Basha High School

What is the racial makeup of John & Carol Carlson Elementary?

Students at John & Carol Carlson Elementary are 65% White, 18% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 6% Asian, 4% African American.

How many students attend John & Carol Carlson Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 649 students attended John & Carol Carlson Elementary.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arizona Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.