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#1193 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Desert Ridge Jr. High

Middle School · Gilbert Unified District (4239) · Mesa, AZ

A Gilbert Unified District (4239) middle school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.

10211 E MADERO AVE, Mesa, AZ 85209

  • Math 33% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 45% proficient (2022)
  • 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.4Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.87 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.7Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency33% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency45% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency39% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)48% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-8.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile52th
Resources & Environment6.8Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.4:1
District spending per student$10,928
Chronic Absenteeism33.3%

Students at Desert Ridge Jr. High score 39% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. AZ average.

Math Proficiency33%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency45%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 6 points since 2019, to 39% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
69%
ELA
86%
2010
Math
68%
ELA
84%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
89%
2012
Math
73%
ELA
88%
2013
Math
75%
ELA
85%
2014
Math
45%
ELA
49%
2015
Math
41%
ELA
46%
2016
Math
40%
ELA
49%
2017
Math
43%
ELA
55%
2018
Math
38%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
38%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
28%
ELA
43%
2021*
Math
28%
ELA
43%
2022
Math
33%
ELA
45%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 62% (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 Ridge Jr. High 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 13Car-Dependent
  • Transit 0Minimal Transit
  • Bike 53Bikeable
  • City Safety: High1,955/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Mesa), 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

$80,498

Median home value

$363,800

Median rent

$1,798/mo

College educated

33.2%

Homeownership

73.9%

Poverty rate

6.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 85209; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

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
Imagine East Mesa MiddleCharter · enrollment unverified7.77–81.6 mi140Compare →
Basis MesaCharter · enrollment unverified8.2K–123.2 mi867Compare →
Imagine Superstition MiddleCharter · enrollment unverified5.66–83.3 mi148Compare →
Leading Edge Academy at East MesaCharter · enrollment unverified4.9K–123.5 mi266Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

Gilbert Unified District (4239)

Schools in district
38
Rank in district
#36 of 38
District spending per student
$10,928NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
5.9%Census SAIPE · 2024

Desert Ridge Jr. High is listed in Gilbert Unified District (4239); a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Desert Ridge Jr. High

Desert Ridge Jr. High is a public middle school in Mesa, AZ, part of Gilbert Unified District (4239), serving approximately 950 students in grades 7th-8th with a 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,193 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

State assessment records show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Desert Ridge Jr. High

What grades does Desert Ridge Jr. High serve?

Desert Ridge Jr. High serves students in grades 7th through 8th.

How many students attend Desert Ridge Jr. High?

Desert Ridge Jr. High has an enrollment of approximately 950 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Ridge Jr. High?

The student-teacher ratio at Desert Ridge Jr. High is 19.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Desert Ridge Jr. High rank in AZ?

Desert Ridge Jr. High ranks #1,193 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Desert Ridge Jr. High's MySchoolScout rating?

Desert Ridge Jr. High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 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 Ridge Jr. High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Ridge Jr. High has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Desert Ridge Jr. High a charter school?

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

Is Desert Ridge Jr. High a Title I school?

No, Desert Ridge Jr. High is not currently a Title I school.

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

Grades
7th – 8th
Enrollment
950
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
49
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Maricopa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
33.3%
Area population (ZIP 85209)
42,171
Area average commute
26 min
Area median age
45.9
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 85209; 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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