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Excellent

#269 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Top 13% in state

Desert Mountain High School

High School · Scottsdale Unified District (4240) · Scottsdale, AZ

A Scottsdale Unified District (4240) high school where students score 31 points above what's typical for similar communities.

12575 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale, AZ 85259

  • Math 81% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 77% proficient (2022)
  • 96.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.0Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.45 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.8Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency81% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency77% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency79% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)48% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+31.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile97th
College Readiness9.0Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate96%
AP Participation19.3%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment5.7Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20.9:1
District spending per student$11,306
Chronic Absenteeism39.1%

Students at Desert Mountain High School score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. AZ average.

Math Proficiency81%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency77%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 14-year record (2009–2022), then recovered 7 points since 2019, reaching 79% in 2022.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
89%
ELA
96%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
93%
2011
Math
90%
ELA
96%
2012
Math
86%
ELA
96%
2013
Math
89%
ELA
97%
2014
Math
76%
ELA
66%
2015
Math
28%
ELA
49%
2016
Math
70%
ELA
54%
2017
Math
74%
ELA
68%
2018
Math
78%
ELA
67%
2019
Math
78%
ELA
67%
2020*
Math
49%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
49%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
81%
ELA
77%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 73% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 73% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 28 test records from AZ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Desert Mountain High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Phoenix map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 6Car-Dependent
  • Transit 0Minimal Transit
  • Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,031/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Scottsdale), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$145,574

Median home value

$956,300

Median rent

$1,769/mo

College educated

68.6%

Homeownership

77.5%

Poverty rate

3.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 85259; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offeredIB Programme
19.3% participation·State avg: 2.8 AP courses·297 IB enrolled·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics1sport offered
0 boys'·1 girls'·37 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Basis ScottsdaleCharter · enrollment unverified8.84–120.5 mi981Compare →
Az Aspire AcademyPrivate · tuition7.4privateK–122.8 mi286Compare →
The United School of AutismPrivate · tuition6.7private1–113.8 mi71Compare →
Sierra Academy of ScottsdalePrivate · tuition6.2private2–124.4 mi41Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Scottsdale Unified District (4240)

Schools in district
30
Rank in district
#14 of 30
District spending per student
$11,306NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
5.6%Census SAIPE · 2024

Desert Mountain High School is listed in Scottsdale Unified District (4240); a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Desert Mountain High School

Desert Mountain High School is a public high school in Scottsdale, AZ, part of Scottsdale Unified District (4240), serving approximately 1,940 students in grades 9th-12th with a 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #269 of 2,006 schools in AZ. State assessment records show 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

What's said publicly about Desert Mountain High School

Sources:School's websiteWikipediaWayback Machine

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.Reviewed for accuracy.

Desert Mountain High School is a public high school located in northeast Scottsdale, Arizona, operating within the Scottsdale Unified School District. It opened in the fall of 1995 and is the newest of five high schools in the district 3. The school marked its 30th year during the 2024-25 school year 2. Facilities include four computer labs, a media studio, a theater, a college/career center, yearbook and newspaper production labs, a child development department, and off-campus medical education facilities 3. The school also features a business-regulated curriculum and extensive athletic facilities 3. In partnership with HonorHealth Sports Medicine and the Scottsdale Charros Foundation, the school received a new automated external defibrillator to support student safety at athletic events 1. The district is launching strategic action teams, including the SPARK Team, to strengthen signature programs such as IB, AVID, and Dual Language Immersion 1.
Sources (3)
  1. desertmountain.susd.org
  2. web.archive.org
  3. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source.Report inaccuracy

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Desert Mountain High School

What grades does Desert Mountain High School serve?

Desert Mountain High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Desert Mountain High School?

Desert Mountain High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,940 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Mountain High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Desert Mountain High School is 20.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Desert Mountain High School rank in AZ?

Desert Mountain High School ranks #269 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Desert Mountain High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Desert Mountain High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Desert Mountain High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Mountain High School has 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Desert Mountain High School a charter school?

No, Desert Mountain High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Desert Mountain High School a Title I school?

No, Desert Mountain High School is not currently a Title I school.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,940
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
93
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Maricopa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
39.1%
4-Year Graduation
96.0%
Area population (ZIP 85259)
22,156
Area average commute
24.7 min
Area median age
52
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 85259; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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