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Below Average

#222 of 225 private schools in AZ

Desert Shadows Montessori

Elementary School

6709 E UNIVERSITY DR, Mesa, AZ 85205

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 8 schools in Mesa. Learn more

Enrollment

35

Student-Teacher

35:1

Score

4.0

Grades

Pre-K – Kindergarten

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Mesa

#10 of 11

public schools

Arizona elementary schools

#116 of 118

Academic performance

7.2 / 10

Strong

About Desert Shadows Montessori

Desert Shadows Montessori is a small public elementary school located in Mesa, Arizona, within a large suburban area. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through kindergarten and has an enrollment of just 35 students. With only one full-time equivalent teacher on staff, the student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Montessori stands at 35:1.

While academic performance data is not available, the MySchoolScout rating places the school at 5.1 out of 10 and ranks it as #225 out of 225 schools in Arizona, suggesting there's room for improvement in its current educational offerings. Despite this, Desert Shadows Montessori continues to focus on nurturing young learners through a Montessori curriculum. The school is situated in an expansive suburban setting that offers a variety of community resources and activities for families with young children.

While neighborhood details are limited, the area around Desert Shadows Montessori provides a supportive environment for students and their families.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 35 students, Desert Shadows Montessori is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

The student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Montessori is 35:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.

As a private school, Desert Shadows Montessori operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Desert Shadows Montessori compares to 100 public schools serving similar grades in Mesa, AZ

Student-Teacher Ratio
35:1
This School
vs
16.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
35
This School
vs
523
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
4.0
This School
vs
6.0
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 80% vs 0%
Black 20% vs 0%
Desert Shadows Montessori Mesa Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Desert Shadows Montessori (this school) 4.0
Jefferson Elementary School 6.8
Salk Elementary School 5.9
Mendoza Elementary School 6.1
Falcon Hill Elementary School 5.5
Madison Elementary School 4.7
O'Connor Elementary School 4.2
Wilson Elementary School 4.0
Bush Elementary 7.9
Franklin Accelerated Academy - Brimhall Campus 8.3
Noah Webster Schools- Mesa 5.5
Pathfinder Academy 7.2
Self Development Charter School 6.5
Self Development Online Academy
Entz Elementary School 8.2
Las Sendas Elementary School 6.3
Cambridge Academy East 5.9
Astravo Online Academy 7.6
Astravo Online Academy 5.9
Superstition Springs Elementary 8.8
Stevenson Elementary School 3.5

Showing 20 of 100 schools. View all schools in Mesa

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in AZ.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
D 1.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 35:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A+ 9.6 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,505
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B- 5.0 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 32%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C 2.6 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 35
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in AZ

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 80.0%
Black 20.0%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

6709 E UNIVERSITY DR, Mesa, AZ 85205

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Desert Shadows Montessori may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Bush Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Pathfinder Academy (rated 7.2/10, 3.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Jefferson Elementary School (rated 6.8/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Mesa, see our Mesa schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Fremont Junior High School Mesa 0.7 mi 6.2
Jefferson Elementary School Mesa 0.8 mi 6.8
Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies Mesa 1.0 mi 7.6
Salk Elementary School Mesa 1.0 mi 5.9
East Valley High School Mesa 1.0 mi 5.1
Red Mountain High School Mesa 1.2 mi 6.6
EVIT - Red Mountain High School Mesa 1.2 mi
Shepherd Junior High School Mesa 1.7 mi 6.0
Mendoza Elementary School Mesa 1.8 mi 6.1
Falcon Hill Elementary School Mesa 1.8 mi 5.5
MESA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Mesa 1.6 mi 6.8
Madison Elementary School Mesa 2.1 mi 4.7
Wilson Elementary School Mesa 2.6 mi 4.0
O'Connor Elementary School Mesa 2.3 mi 4.2
A PLACE 4 EVERYONE LEARNING CENTER Mesa 3.0 mi 6.7
Bush Elementary Mesa 2.7 mi 7.9
LUMOS ARTS ACADEMY Mesa 3.1 mi 6.6
Noah Webster Schools- Mesa Mesa 3.1 mi 5.5
Pathfinder Academy Mesa 3.2 mi 7.2
Franklin Junior High School Mesa 3.0 mi 6.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85205 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$71,294

Median Home Value

$301,200

Median Rent

$1,363/mo

Population

44,704

College Educated

29.5%

Homeownership

72.1%

Avg Commute

24 min

Poverty Rate

9.7%

Median Age

49.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding Desert Shadows Montessori has a median household income of $71,294. It is an area where 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $301,200, with a median rent of $1,363/month. The local poverty rate of 9.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Mohave Valley Connections Academy Mohave Valley, AZ 3.8
Bouse Elementary School Bouse, AZ 4.7
Dzil Libei Elementary School Tuba City, AZ 4.8
IMMANUEL MISSION SCHOOL Teec Nos Pos, AZ 4.8
DESERT JEWISH ACADEMY Chandler, AZ 5.1
GRACEPOINTE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Tucson, AZ 5.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Desert Shadows Montessori

What grades does Desert Shadows Montessori serve?

Desert Shadows Montessori serves students in grades Pre-K through Kindergarten.

How many students attend Desert Shadows Montessori?

Desert Shadows Montessori has an enrollment of approximately 35 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Montessori?

The student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Montessori is 35:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Desert Shadows Montessori rank in AZ?

Desert Shadows Montessori is ranked #222 out of 225 private schools in AZ.

What is Desert Shadows Montessori's MySchoolScout rating?

Desert Shadows Montessori has a composite rating of 4.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Desert Shadows Montessori a private school?

Yes, Desert Shadows Montessori is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Desert Shadows Montessori a religious school?

No, Desert Shadows Montessori is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (1,955/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Mesa). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – Kindergarten
Enrollment
35
Gender Split
6% M / 94% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
35:1
Teachers (FTE)
1
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
215 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
MARICOPA
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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