Tatum Ranch Schools

Cave Creek Unified School District (CCUSD93)

Tatum Ranch (Cave Creek, AZ 85331) sits inside the Cave Creek Unified School District, CCUSD93. The district runs three elementary schools that all feed into one middle school, Sonoran Trails, which feeds into one high school, Cactus Shadows. The exact elementary attendance zone for a specific Tatum Ranch address is not published in a single clean map online; use the CCUSD boundary map tool or call the district directly to confirm which of the three elementary schools a given address is zoned to.

• Feeder pattern: Desert Willow, Black Mountain, or Horseshoe Trails Elementary (PK-6) leads to Sonoran Trails Middle School (6-8), which leads to Cactus Shadows High School (9-12).
• Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) serves adjacent North Phoenix areas but is not the assigned district for Tatum Ranch addresses.

CCUSD93 official site

Source: ccusd93.org; apartments.com Azure Creek at Tatum Ranch listing; Wikipedia Cave Creek Unified School District

Cactus Shadows High School (assigned high school)

5802 E Dove Valley Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85266. Grades 9-12. GreatSchools rating: 10/10. U.S. News score: 85.47/100, ranked #42 in Arizona high schools; math proficiency around 57%, reading around 71%. Enrollment is reported around 1,361 to 1,566 depending on the source.

Cactus Shadows High School official site

Source: usnews.com; greatschools.org; nces.ed.gov; cshs.ccusd93.org

Sonoran Trails Middle School (assigned middle school)

5555 E Pinnacle Vista Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85085 (some listings show 85054; confirm with the district). Grades 6-8. GreatSchools rating: 4/10. U.S. News score: 75.74/100, ranked #156 in Arizona middle schools; math proficiency 50%, reading 56%. Enrollment reported around 613 to 639. This rating is reported honestly rather than spun: it sits between a strong elementary tier and a strong high school outcome at Cactus Shadows.

Sonoran Trails Middle School official site

Source: stms.ccusd93.org; usnews.com; greatschools.org

Desert Willow Elementary School

4322 E Desert Willow Pkwy, Cave Creek, AZ 85331. Grades PK-6. GreatSchools rating: 8/10. U.S. News score: 77.09/100, ranked #234 in Arizona elementary schools; math proficiency 58%, reading 66%. Enrollment reported around 337 to 397.

Desert Willow Elementary official site

Source: dwes.ccusd93.org; usnews.com; greatschools.org; nces.ed.gov

Black Mountain Elementary School

33606 N 60th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85266. Grades PK-6. GreatSchools rating: 8/10. U.S. News score: 77.38/100, ranked #230 in Arizona elementary schools; math proficiency 67%, reading 60%. Enrollment reported around 492 to 495.

Black Mountain Elementary official site

Source: bmes.ccusd93.org; usnews.com; greatschools.org; nces.ed.gov

Horseshoe Trails Elementary School

5405 E Pinnacle Vista Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85085. Grades PK-6. GreatSchools rating: 8/10. U.S. News score: 87.61/100, ranked #127 in Arizona elementary schools, the highest-ranked of the three CCUSD elementaries; math proficiency 70%, reading 69%. Enrollment reported around 416 to 424.

CCUSD93 official site

Source: usnews.com; greatschools.org; nces.ed.gov

Charter and private alternatives families in the area consider

These are open-enrollment charter and private options, not assigned schools; charters use enrollment lotteries. They sit a real drive from Tatum Ranch, roughly 10 to 20-plus minutes toward central and North Phoenix.

• Great Hearts Archway North Phoenix (charter, classical liberal arts): 14100 N 32nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85032. Niche A+, around #33 elementary in Arizona; around 730 students.
• BASIS Phoenix (charter, STEM college prep): 13231 N 22nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85022. Grades 6-12.
• BASIS Phoenix Primary (charter): 11850 N 32nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85028. Grades K-5.
• BASIS Phoenix North (charter): 44111 N 43rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Grades K-6.
• Annunciation Catholic School (private, faith-based): Cave Creek, AZ 85331 area. Grades roughly PK-8; confirm current details directly with the school.
• Quality Interactive Montessori at Spur Cross (private, Montessori): Cave Creek, AZ 85331; confirm current address, grade span, and operating status directly with the school.

Source: archwaynorthphoenix.greatheartsamerica.org; enrollbasis.com; usnews.com; niche.com

How Arizona's A-F letter grades work, and how they differ from GreatSchools

Arizona runs its own state accountability system, separate from GreatSchools and U.S. News. Every public school gets an A through F letter grade developed by the Arizona Department of Education and finalized by the State Board of Education, based on statewide test proficiency and growth, English learner progress, readiness for high school or for college and career, attendance, and (for high schools) graduation rate. New grades are published every year by November 1st for the prior school year, with an appeal window through November 15th. Because GreatSchools, U.S. News, and Arizona's own letter grade all measure different things, checking a school's current state grade alongside the ratings above gives a fuller picture than either alone.

Look up a school's current Arizona letter grade

Source: azsbe.az.gov A-F School and LEA Letter Grades

Why confirming the exact boundary matters before you write an offer

The elementary attendance zone is the one piece of this page that is not settled from a desk search. CCUSD publishes a boundary map, but the cleanest way to confirm which of the three elementary schools a specific address feeds into is the district's own boundary tool or a direct call to the district office. Buyers ask about the assigned elementary school by name, not just the district, so getting the exact answer before listing a home or writing an offer avoids a surprise mid-transaction.

Source: ccusd93.org/about-ccusd/boundary-maps

Frequently asked questions