Manuel Pena Jr. School

2550 N 79th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85035
(School attendance zone shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 749 students in grades Prekindergarten-6, Manuel Pena Jr. School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 17% (which is lower than the Arizona state average of 35%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 23% (which is lower than the Arizona state average of 40%).
The student:teacher ratio of 22:1 is higher than the Arizona state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 96% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Arizona state average of 65% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 749 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 22:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 96%
  • : Bottom 50% in AZ
  • : 17% (Btm 50%)
  • : 23% (Btm 50%)
  • : 15-19% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

School Overview

Manuel Pena Jr. School's student population of 749 students has grown by 9% over five school years.
The teacher population of 34 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-6
Total Students
749 students
This chart displays total students of Manuel Pena Jr. School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Manuel Pena Jr. School
Total Classroom Teachers
34 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Manuel Pena Jr. School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Manuel Pena Jr. School by grade.

School Rankings

Manuel Pena Jr. School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,956 schools in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Manuel Pena Jr. School is 0.36, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.66. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (AZ)
#1424 out of 1956 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Manuel Pena Jr. School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
17%
35%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Manuel Pena Jr. School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
23%
40%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Manuel Pena Jr. School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
15-19%
24%
Student : Teacher Ratio
22:1
17:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Manuel Pena Jr. School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
3%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Manuel Pena Jr. School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Asian
1%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Manuel Pena Jr. School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hispanic
79%
47%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Manuel Pena Jr. School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
12%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Manuel Pena Jr. School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
4%
35%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Manuel Pena Jr. School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
1%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Manuel Pena Jr. School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Manuel Pena Jr. School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in Arizona.
0.36
This chart displays the diversity score of Manuel Pena Jr. School and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Free Lunch
60%
39%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Manuel Pena Jr. School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
8%
7%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Manuel Pena Jr. School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Manuel Pena Jr. School's ranking?
Manuel Pena Jr. School is ranked #1424 out of 1,956 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Arizona.
What schools are Manuel Pena Jr. School often compared to?
Manuel Pena Jr. Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Holiday Park School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
17% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 35% AZ state average), while 23% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 40% AZ state average).
How many students attend Manuel Pena Jr. School?
749 students attend Manuel Pena Jr. School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
79% of Manuel Pena Jr. School students are Hispanic, 12% of students are Black, 4% of students are White, 3% of students are American Indian, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Manuel Pena Jr. School?
Manuel Pena Jr. School has a student ration of 22:1, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 17:1.
What grades does Manuel Pena Jr. School offer ?
Manuel Pena Jr. School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-6
What school district is Manuel Pena Jr. School part of?
In what neighborhood is Manuel Pena Jr. School located?
Manuel Pena Jr. School is located in the Cartwright Elementary School neighborhood of Phoenix, AZ. There are 1 other public schools located in Cartwright Elementary School.

School Calendar

View the Manuel Pena Jr. School yearly calendar below.

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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 749 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 22:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 96%
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 17% (Btm 50%)
  • : 23% (Btm 50%)
  • : 15-19% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

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