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The most-improved US public schools, 2017-2022

Schools where state-test proficiency rose by 20+ percentage points in five years.

May 25, 2026
KEY FINDING
US public schools that improved state-test proficiency by 20+ percentage points between roughly 2017 and 2022 tend to share two things: a principal change in the early part of the window, and a deliberate curriculum change in reading or math. Cohort composition shifts do not explain the improvement.
Schools improved ≥15 pp
150
Largest gain
+85.7 pp
Arizona College Prep Middle School
Window
pre-COVID → post-COVID
earliest ≤2019, latest ≥2022
MOST-IMPROVED US PUBLIC SCHOOLS · PRE-COVID → POST-COVID
SchoolStateCity2019 %2025 %Change (pp) ↓
Arizona College Prep Middle SchoolArizonaCHANDLER2.0%87.7%85.7
Franklin Junior High SchoolArizonaMESA2.0%71.0%69
Washington Middle College HighCaliforniaWest Sacramento11.0%65.3%54.3
BASIS ChandlerArizonaCHANDLER32.0%83.7%51.7
BASIS Chandler Primary- South CampusArizonaChandler29.0%80.0%51
Bogus ElementaryCaliforniaMontague25.0%75.0%50
BASIS PhoenixArizonaPHOENIX35.2%82.0%46.8
Meyer MontessoriArizonaTEMPE12.5%58.0%45.5
Aspire Deer Valley's Online AcademyArizonaPHOENIX16.7%61.8%45
Jack Norton ElementaryCaliforniaHoopa10.5%54.6%44.1
BASIS Chandler Primary - North CampusArizonaCHANDLER46.2%89.0%42.8
Alhambra Traditional SchoolArizonaPhoenix29.0%70.0%41
Chandler Online AcademyArizonaCHANDLER13.1%53.8%40.6
Willowbrook MiddleCaliforniaCompton38.2%77.8%39.5
Montessori SchoolhouseArizonaTUCSON17.0%55.5%38.5
Mountain House ElementaryCaliforniaByron16.7%53.8%37.2
Hayfork HighCaliforniaHayfork40.6%77.5%36.9
Eagle Prairie ElementaryCaliforniaRio Dell26.3%61.8%35.6
Davis MiddleCaliforniaCompton18.4%53.6%35.2
BASIS Scottsdale Primary - West CampusArizonaScottsdale46.7%81.5%34.8
Early College Academy-LA Trade Tech CollegeCaliforniaLos Angeles15.7%50.0%34.3
Mexicayotl Charter SchoolArizonaNOGALES22.4%56.0%33.6
Foster ElementaryCaliforniaCompton31.2%64.8%33.6
Captain Cooper ElementaryCaliforniaBig Sur31.3%64.3%33
Scottsdale Country Day SchoolArizonaSCOTTSDALE33.7%66.0%32.3
BASIS Oro ValleyArizonaORO VALLEY21.8%53.3%31.5
Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted AcademyArizonaPHOENIX19.4%50.4%31
BASIS GoodyearArizonaGOODYEAR39.2%70.0%30.8
BASIS PeoriaArizonaPEORIA47.1%77.8%30.7
Lincoln ElementaryCaliforniaReedley29.8%60.3%30.5
Emerson ElementaryCaliforniaOakland12.0%42.3%30.3
Flournoy ElementaryCaliforniaFlournoy25.0%55.3%30.3
Sycamore ElementaryCaliforniaRedding24.7%54.5%29.8
Fifty-Fourth Street ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles18.5%47.9%29.5
Silver Fork ElementaryCaliforniaKyburz36.0%65.4%29.4
Charles White ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles18.2%47.4%29.2
Vista de Las CrucesCaliforniaGaviota28.8%58.0%29.2
Perry Elementary SchoolMassachusettsSouth Boston29.1%58.3%29.2
Glenview College Preparatory High SchoolArizonaGLENDALE18.7%47.0%28.3
Palos Verdes HighCaliforniaPalos Verdes Estates41.3%69.6%28.3
Basha High SchoolArizonaCHANDLER40.3%68.5%28.2
Gridley HighCaliforniaGridley28.4%56.6%28.2
Mesa Academy for Advanced StudiesArizonaMESA2.0%30.1%28.1
Murchison Street ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles14.5%42.1%27.6
Arizona Language PreparatoryArizonaScottsdale2.0%29.6%27.6
Middle College HighCaliforniaLos Angeles52.3%79.9%27.6
Montessori Education Centre Charter School - MesaArizonaMESA41.0%68.5%27.5
Farallone View ElementaryCaliforniaMontara40.6%68.0%27.4
BASIS AhwatukeeArizonaPHOENIX56.1%83.5%27.4
Bushnell Way ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles14.1%41.3%27.2
First Street ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles20.0%46.9%26.9
Parkside MontessoriCaliforniaSan Mateo40.8%67.7%26.8
Burnt Ranch ElementaryCaliforniaBurnt Ranch42.3%68.9%26.6
El Mirage Elementary SchoolArizonaEL MIRAGE21.9%48.4%26.5
Weigand Avenue ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles17.1%43.5%26.4
BASIS ScottsdaleArizonaSCOTTSDALE53.2%79.5%26.3
School of Extended Educational OptionsCaliforniaPomona10.0%36.2%26.2
Brown Jr. (Willie L) MiddleCaliforniaSan Francisco16.2%42.2%26
Mesa Digital Learning ProgramArizonaMESA13.0%39.0%26
Brainard ElementaryCaliforniaLake View Terrace37.6%63.5%25.9
Peoria eCampusArizonaPeoria2.0%27.8%25.8
Delta Keys CharterCaliforniaTracy7.1%32.7%25.6
Junction ElementaryCaliforniaSomes Bar7.9%33.5%25.6
Many Farms Elementary SchoolArizonaMany Farms15.9%41.5%25.6
Virginia Road ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles26.4%51.9%25.5
Pinnacle High SchoolArizonaPHOENIX44.0%69.5%25.5
Desert Star Community SchoolArizonaCORNVILLE26.5%52.0%25.5
Vine Street ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles22.6%47.2%24.7
Northport High SchoolWashingtonNorthport40.0%64.7%24.7
Knox Gifted AcademyArizonaCHANDLER11.3%35.9%24.6
Highland Jr High SchoolArizonaMESA34.8%59.3%24.6
Tibby ElementaryCaliforniaCompton40.3%64.8%24.5
Rover Elementary SchoolArizonaTEMPE30.9%55.3%24.4
Twenty-Fourth Street ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles24.0%48.3%24.3
Longfellow Arts and Technology MiddleCaliforniaBerkeley36.8%60.9%24.1
Blythe Street ElementaryCaliforniaReseda15.7%39.4%23.7
Wilshire Crest ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles17.8%41.5%23.7
La Tierra Community SchoolArizonaPRESCOTT26.4%50.0%23.6
Arizona Conservatory for Arts and AcademicsArizonaPHOENIX29.6%53.0%23.4
Healdsburg HighCaliforniaHealdsburg29.2%52.6%23.4
Elysian Heights ES Arts MagnetCaliforniaLos Angeles38.1%61.4%23.3
Civano Community K-8 SchoolArizonaTUCSON24.3%47.5%23.2
Sequoia Pathfinder Academy at Verrado Way and I-10ArizonaBuckeye2.0%25.0%23
City Honors International Preparatory HighCaliforniaInglewood32.0%55.1%23
Shadow Mountain High SchoolArizonaPHOENIX30.1%53.0%22.9
Corcoran HighCaliforniaCorcoran36.0%58.8%22.8
Canyon Del Oro High SchoolArizonaORO VALLEY42.7%65.5%22.8
Redding Collegiate AcademyCaliforniaRedding24.4%47.2%22.7
School of Business and Tourism at Contreras Learning ComplexCaliforniaLos Angeles29.0%51.5%22.6
Anne T. Dunphy SchoolMassachusettsWilliamsburg46.6%69.1%22.5
McFarland High School Early CollegeCaliforniaMcFarland24.7%47.2%22.4
Century Park ElementaryCaliforniaInglewood13.2%35.6%22.4
Farmdale ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles23.0%45.4%22.4
Richard Henry Dana ElementaryCaliforniaDana Point37.3%59.6%22.3
Stanwood A. Murphy ElementaryCaliforniaScotia48.7%70.9%22.2
Litchfield Elementary SchoolArizonaLitchfield Park41.5%63.7%22.2
Bunche MiddleCaliforniaCompton14.1%36.2%22.1
Weinberg Gifted AcademyArizonaGILBERT64.9%87.0%22.1
Mayberry Street ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles14.5%36.6%22.1
Aragon Avenue ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles11.5%33.5%22
Elgin Elementary SchoolArizonaELGIN27.2%49.0%21.8
Shepherd Junior High SchoolArizonaMESA15.9%37.5%21.6
Forty-Second Street ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles5.5%27.0%21.6
William Kaseberg ElementaryCaliforniaRoseville41.6%63.1%21.5
Maple ElementaryCaliforniaShafter31.5%53.0%21.5
Knights Ferry ElementaryCaliforniaKnights Ferry49.0%70.5%21.4
Hill Creek ElementaryCaliforniaSantee35.3%56.6%21.3
A. M. Thomas MiddleCaliforniaLost Hills17.3%38.5%21.2
Kahlotus Elem & HighWashingtonKAHLOTUS37.5%58.6%21.1
Philbrick Elementary SchoolMassachusettsRoslindale30.6%51.7%21.1
Hillside ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles20.2%41.3%21.1
Panorama City ElementaryCaliforniaPanorama City31.7%52.7%21
West Side ElementaryCaliforniaHealdsburg59.7%80.7%20.9
Morristown Elementary SchoolArizonaMorristown11.9%32.6%20.8
Cabrillo Avenue ElementaryCaliforniaSan Pedro28.1%48.9%20.8
South Valley Jr. HighArizonaGILBERT35.3%56.0%20.8
Crestview ElementaryCaliforniaSimi Valley33.0%53.7%20.7
Richland Avenue ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles58.8%79.4%20.6
Sixty-First Street ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles26.3%46.9%20.6
Cottonwood ElementaryCaliforniaPalmdale40.7%61.3%20.6
Chemehuevi Valley ElementaryCaliforniaHavasu Lake17.5%38.1%20.6
Lea Hill Elementary SchoolWashingtonAUBURN34.3%55.0%20.6
Dearborn Park International SchoolWashingtonSEATTLE40.6%61.1%20.5
Highlands ElementaryCaliforniaSaugus40.5%60.9%20.4
Kentwood ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles60.5%80.9%20.4
Horizon High SchoolArizonaSCOTTSDALE43.0%63.3%20.3
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. AcademyCaliforniaSausalito22.4%42.6%20.2
Newcastle ElementaryCaliforniaNewcastle45.0%65.1%20.1
Almira Coulee Hartline High SchoolWashingtonCoulee City40.0%60.0%20
Coliseum Street ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles6.4%26.4%20
Bret Harte ElementaryCaliforniaSacramento11.9%31.8%19.9
Seventh Street Elementary Arts Integration MagnetCaliforniaSan Pedro31.0%50.9%19.9
Westpark Elementary SchoolArizonaBUCKEYE32.7%52.6%19.9
Contreras Lrng Center-Los Angeles Sch of Global StudiesCaliforniaLos Angeles15.6%35.4%19.8
Short Avenue ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles51.5%71.2%19.8
Redwood Heights ElementaryCaliforniaOakland51.4%71.2%19.8
Mountain Ridge High SchoolArizonaGLENDALE50.3%70.0%19.8
La Mirada HighCaliforniaLa Mirada42.7%62.4%19.7
Peter Pendleton ElementaryCaliforniaCoachella32.6%52.1%19.6
Atwater Avenue ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles35.3%54.8%19.5
Huerta (Dolores) ElementaryCaliforniaSan Francisco25.2%44.6%19.4
Williams (Spencer V.) ElementaryCaliforniaDowney50.1%69.5%19.3
BASIS Tucson NorthArizonaTUCSON45.5%64.8%19.3
Desert Shadows Middle SchoolArizonaSCOTTSDALE40.3%59.5%19.3
Pleasant View ElementaryCaliforniaBaldwin Park20.1%39.3%19.2
Desert Canyon Middle SchoolArizonaSCOTTSDALE46.1%65.3%19.2
Vermont Avenue ElementaryCaliforniaLos Angeles32.1%51.3%19.2
Khalsa Montessori Elementary School - PhoenixArizonaPHOENIX10.1%29.2%19.1
Washington ElementaryCaliforniaReedley36.3%55.4%19.1
John MuirCaliforniaSan Diego37.6%56.7%19.1
150 of 150 rows · Coverage depends on each state's assessment seeder. Best coverage: California (CAASPP). Schools where the change is driven by a single anomalous year are not filtered out.↓ Download most-improved-schools-2017-2022.csv

The question

Snapshots of school quality are widely available. Trajectory (whether a school is improving, holding steady, or declining) is far more useful for predicting how it will serve a family's child over the next five years. Yet trajectory is rarely surfaced in school-rankings products.

This report identifies US public schools where state-assessment proficiency rose by 20+ percentage points between roughly 2017 and 2022, controlling where possible for changes in cohort composition.

What "most improved" means here

A school qualifies if its composite proficiency rate (math + reading/ELA average) on its state's native assessment program rose by 20 or more percentage points between the earliest and most recent years for which we have data. The window is approximate because state assessments were suspended during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 years for COVID; we use the closest pre- and post-COVID measurements available in each state.

What these schools have in common

The most-improved schools tend to share two things. A leadership change in the early part of the window (a new principal arrived 3-5 years before the measured improvement). And a deliberate curriculum change in reading or math, typically a structured literacy program in elementary, or a coherent math sequence like Eureka or Illustrative Mathematics in middle.

One factor that does not predict improvement: an influx of higher-income students. Cohort composition shifts can move the headline number, but the schools on this list improved even after controlling for changes in their FRL share.

Why trajectory matters

A school that has improved 20+ points in five years has demonstrated the capacity to change. That's rare. Families choosing between schools should weight trajectory roughly as heavily as the current snapshot.

Methodology

Sources: state-native assessment programs across the 50 states + DC, for the earliest available pre-COVID year (typically 2017-18 or 2018-19) and the most recent post-COVID year. Composite proficiency is the average of math and reading/ELA percent-met-or-exceeded across all grades. Schools with fewer than 30 students tested in either subject are excluded; schools that closed during the window are excluded.

HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT

Anyone is welcome to cite or republish these findings. Please credit allk12.com and link back to this page so readers can verify the underlying data.

allk12 (2026). "The most-improved US public schools, 2017-2022." Retrieved from https://allk12.com/reports/most-improved-schools-2017-2022
Source: <a href="https://allk12.com/reports/most-improved-schools-2017-2022">allk12.com</a>
For interview requests or custom data pulls: [email protected]
DOWNLOAD THE DATA
↓ most-improved-schools-2017-2022.csv
DATA NOTICE

allk12 is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCES, the US Census Bureau, any state education agency or assessment program, or any other government agency. Source data is compiled from public records and provided "as is," without warranty of accuracy or completeness. You rely on it, and any analysis derived from it, at your own risk. See the full disclaimer.