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Whiteriver Elementary

Summary:

Whiteriver Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in Whiteriver, Arizona, with a student population of 397 that is predominantly Native American (98.24%). Despite spending significantly more per student than nearby schools, Whiteriver Elementary consistently ranks among the lowest-performing elementary schools in the state, with proficiency rates on standardized tests well below the state averages.

The school faces significant challenges, including extremely high poverty levels, with over 86% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Whiteriver Elementary's student-teacher ratio is relatively low compared to nearby schools, but its academic performance remains consistently poor, suggesting that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution. The school's racial homogeneity also raises questions about its ability to address the unique needs and challenges of its student population.

While Whiteriver Elementary and the other schools in the Whiteriver Unified District share similar demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, there are some differences in academic performance and other metrics. This indicates that there may be opportunities to learn from the more successful schools within the district, such as McNary Elementary School, John F. Kennedy Day School, Cradleboard School, and Seven Mile School, and implement best practices to improve outcomes at Whiteriver Elementary.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 1 North 1st Avenue
       Whiteriver, AZ  85941

(928) 358-5660

District: Whiteriver Unified District


Student/teacher ratio:  12.8 Help
Number of students:  398

Racial breakdown:

American Indian:
98.2%
Hispanic:
0.8%
Asian:
0.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  86.6% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Whiteriver Elementary is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 10.7. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: American Indian (98.2%), Hispanic (0.8%), Asian (0.5%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Whiteriver Elementary is 12.8, which is the lowest among 3 elementary schools in the Whiteriver Unified District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Whiteriver Elementary employs 31 full-time teachers.
Finance
Schooldigger Rankings:

Whiteriver Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.



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Rank History for Whiteriver Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Whiteriver Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 4.97 1044th 1062 1.7%
2010 10.72 1041st 1090 4.5%
2011 9.22 1025th 1075 4.7%
2012 13.03 1093rd 1141 4.2%
2013 19.65 1046th 1158 9.7%
2014 8.35 1035th 1079 4.1%
2015 7.18 947th 955 0.8%
2016 13.21 993rd 1079 8.0%
2017 8.14 1084th 1106 2.0%
2018 7.59 1085th 1109 2.2%
2019 5.57 1033rd 1039 0.6%
2021 10.99 1189th 1226 3.0%
2022 10.28 939th 1000 6.1%
2023 10.70 1205th 1245 3.2%
See the entire list of Arizona Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Whiteriver Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 13.44 1017th 1027 1.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Whiteriver Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 38.56 940th 975 3.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Whiteriver Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 25.34 1023rd 1201 14.8%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Whiteriver Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.67 800th 820 2.4%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Whiteriver Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 6.16 1016th 1023 0.7%
2021 12.89 1158th 1219 5.0%
2023 12.78 1152nd 1219 5.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Whiteriver Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.17 993rd 1032 3.8%
2021 10.85 1198th 1220 1.8%
2023 10.28 1190th 1216 2.1%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Whiteriver Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.87 48th 62 22.6%
2019 19.96 17th 20 15.0%
2021 34.12 449th 654 31.3%
2023 11.68 208th 219 5.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Native American 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.

Whiteriver Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: Arizona Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Whiteriver Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 24 0 0 0 731 n/a n/a 0 755
1989 19 0 1 1 788 n/a n/a -57 752
1990 10 n/a 3 n/a 767 n/a n/a 12 792
1991 8 0 4 1 807 n/a n/a -29 791
1992 10 1 5 1 844 n/a n/a 1 862
1993 7 2 0 1 888 n/a n/a 0 898
1994 5 1 0 1 879 n/a n/a 0 886
1995 13 0 0 0 881 n/a n/a 0 894
1996 13 0 0 0 881 n/a n/a 0 894
1997 11 0 0 0 938 n/a n/a 0 949
1998 10 0 0 3 957 n/a n/a 0 970
1999 7 0 0 3 670 n/a n/a 0 680
2000 6 0 0 1 571 n/a n/a 0 578
2001 1 0 0 1 489 n/a n/a 0 491
2002 7 0 0 2 586 n/a n/a 0 595
2003 7 0 0 2 586 n/a n/a 0 595
2004 3 0 0 1 518 n/a n/a 0 522
2005 2 0 0 0 510 n/a n/a 0 512
2006 3 0 0 0 454 n/a n/a 0 457
2007 6 0 1 1 409 n/a n/a 0 417
2008 5 0 4 0 450 n/a n/a 0 459
2009 8 0 6 0 446 n/a n/a 0 460
2010 6 0 5 0 501 n/a n/a 0 512
2011 6 0 5 4 512 1 4 0 532
2012 3 0 2 7 546 1 8 0 567
2013 2 0 2 8 569 1 6 0 588
2014 2 2 1 2 547 1 4 0 559
2015 2 0 6 3 558 0 6 0 575
2016 0 1 2 4 522 0 2 0 531
2017 1 2 1 2 517 0 1 0 524
2018 0 0 2 1 483 0 1 0 487
2019 0 1 3 1 450 0 0 0 455
2020 0 1 2 1 423 0 3 0 430
2021 0 2 1 0 354 0 0 0 357
2022 0 1 2 1 359 0 0 0 363
2023 2 1 2 1 390 1 0 0 397
2024 0 1 2 3 391 1 0 0 398

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 Whiteriver Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 755 39.0 19.3 n/a
1989 752 39.0 19.2 n/a
1990 792 40.5 19.5 n/a
1991 791 48.0 16.4 n/a
1992 862 47.0 18.3 n/a
1993 898 50.0 18.0 n/a
1994 886 47.0 18.9 n/a
1995 894 49.3 18.1 n/a
1996 894 49.3 18.1 n/a
1997 949 48.3 19.6 n/a
1998 970 47.5 20.4 n/a
1999 680 44.0 15.5 n/a
2000 578 43.0 13.4 n/a
2001 491 38.0 12.9 n/a
2002 595 42.0 14.2 n/a
2003 595 42.0 14.2 n/a
2004 522 40.0 13.1 83.7
2005 512 38.3 13.4 93.9
2006 457 36.3 12.6 99.3
2007 417 32.3 12.9 89.4
2008 459 34.0 13.5 87.1
2009 460 31.0 14.8 87.8
2010 512 34.6 14.8 99.4
2011 532 35.0 15.2 99.4
2012 567 31.0 18.2 99.5
2013 588 34.9 16.8 99.5
2014 559 32.4 17.2 99.5
2015 575 34.0 16.9 0
2016 531 35.0 15.1 0.9
2017 524 30.0 17.4 99.8
2018 487 30.0 16.2 87.7
2019 455 26.0 17.5 87.7
2020 430 28.0 15.3 86.7
2021 357 26.0 13.7 n/a
2022 363 30.0 12.1 86.8
2023 397 27.0 14.7 86.6
2024 398 31.0 12.8 n/a

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 Whiteriver Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 755 39.0 19.3 n/a
1989 752 39.0 19.2 n/a
1990 792 40.5 19.5 n/a
1991 791 48.0 16.4 n/a
1992 862 47.0 18.3 n/a
1993 898 50.0 18.0 n/a
1994 886 47.0 18.9 n/a
1995 894 49.3 18.1 n/a
1996 894 49.3 18.1 n/a
1997 949 48.3 19.6 n/a
1998 970 47.5 20.4 n/a
1999 680 44.0 15.5 n/a
2000 578 43.0 13.4 n/a
2001 491 38.0 12.9 n/a
2002 595 42.0 14.2 n/a
2003 595 42.0 14.2 n/a
2004 522 40.0 13.1 83.7
2005 512 38.3 13.4 93.9
2006 457 36.3 12.6 99.3
2007 417 32.3 12.9 89.4
2008 459 34.0 13.5 87.1
2009 460 31.0 14.8 87.8
2010 512 34.6 14.8 99.4
2011 532 35.0 15.2 99.4
2012 567 31.0 18.2 99.5
2013 588 34.9 16.8 99.5
2014 559 32.4 17.2 99.5
2015 575 34.0 16.9 0
2016 531 35.0 15.1 0.9
2017 524 30.0 17.4 99.8
2018 487 30.0 16.2 87.7
2019 455 26.0 17.5 87.7
2020 430 28.0 15.3 86.7
2021 357 26.0 13.7 n/a
2022 363 30.0 12.1 86.8
2023 397 27.0 14.7 86.6
2024 398 31.0 12.8 n/a

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 Whiteriver Elementary

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,459 (11.9%) $425 (3.5%) $3,342 (27.2%) $8,130 (66.1%) $2,288 (18.6%) $10,418 (84.7%) $12,302
2020 $4,250 (28.0%) $2,675 (17.6%) $11,176 (73.6%) $7,183 (47.3%) $1,073 (7.1%) $8,256 (54.4%) $15,181

Data source: Arizona Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Whiteriver 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 1033rd of 1039 Elementary schoolsRanks 1205th of 1245 Elementary schools
 2.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students455397
 12.7%
African American11
American Indian450390
 13.3%
Asian32
 33.3%
Hispanic11
Pacific Islander01
White02
Two or More Races00
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients87.7%86.6%
 1%

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Frequently Asked Questions about Whiteriver Elementary

Students at Whiteriver Elementary are 98% American Indian.

In the 2023-24 school year, 398 students attended Whiteriver 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.




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