For the 2026 school year, there are 9 public schools serving 3,828 students in Cave Creek, AZ (there are 6 private schools, serving 742 private students). 89% of all K-12 students in Cave Creek, AZ are educated in public schools (compared to the AZ state average of 94%). Cave Creek has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Arizona.
The top-ranked public schools in Cave Creek, AZ are Horseshoe Trails Elementary School, Lone Mountain Elementary School and Cactus Shadows High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Cave Creek, AZ public schools have an average math proficiency score of 58% (versus the Arizona public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 62% (versus the 41% statewide average). Schools in Cave Creek have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 5% of Arizona public schools.
Minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Arizona public school average of 67% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Cave Creek, AZ (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
5405 E. Pinnacle Vista Drive
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 272-8500
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 272-8500
Gr: PK-6 | 424 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #22.
Lone Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5250 E. Montgomery Rd.
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 437-3000
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 437-3000
Gr: PK-6 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #33.
Cactus Shadows High School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5802 E. Dove Valley Rd.
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2400
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2400
Gr: 8-12 | 1,362 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #44.
Black Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
33606 N 60th St
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2100
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2100
Gr: PK-6 | 496 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #55.
Desert Willow Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4322 E Desert Willow Parkway
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2800
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2800
Gr: PK-6 | 338 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #66.
Sonoran Trails Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5555 East Pinnacle Vista Drive
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 272-8600
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 272-8600
Gr: 6-8 | 615 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #77.
Desert Sun Academy
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
27880 N. 64th Street
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2900
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2900
Gr: PK-6 | 191 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #88.
Cave Creek Academy Of Excellence
(Math: <50% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
33016 N 60th St
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2042
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
(480) 575-2042
Gr: K-12 | 19 students Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: n/an/a
Evit Cactus Shadows High School
Vocational School
5802 E Dove Road
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
(480) 575-2400
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
(480) 575-2400
Gr: 10-12 | 7 students Minority enrollment: 71%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Cave Creek, AZ?
The top-ranked public schools in Cave Creek, AZ include Horseshoe Trails Elementary School, Lone Mountain Elementary School and Cactus Shadows High School. Cave Creek has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Arizona.
How many public schools are located in Cave Creek?
9 public schools are located in Cave Creek.
What percentage of students in Cave Creek go to public school?
89% of all K-12 students in Cave Creek are educated in public schools (compared to the AZ state average of 94%).
What is the racial composition of students in Cave Creek?
Cave Creek public schools minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Arizona public schools average of 67% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Cave Creek are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Cave Creek include: Black Mountain Elementary School vs. Lone Mountain Elementary School, Desert Willow Elementary School vs. Lone Mountain Elementary School, Lone Mountain Elementary School vs. Black Mountain Elementary School
Recent Articles
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.