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Needs Improvement

#1938 of 2,006 schools in AZ

Sierra 2-8 School

Middle School · Sunnyside Unified District (4407)

5801 S DEL MORAL BLVD, Tucson, AZ 85706

Enrollment

699

Student-Teacher

17.9:1

Score

3.3

Grades

2nd – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arizona schools

#1,938 of 2,006

In Tucson

#249 of 257

public schools

In district

#17 of 21

Sunnyside Unified District (4407)

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Sierra 2-8 School

3.3/10

Middle School in Tucson · grades 2nd – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Ocotillo Early Learning Elementary School

8.9/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Pcjted - Sunnyside High School

Nearby

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Sierra 2-8 School

Sierra 2-8 School is a public middle school in Tucson, AZ, part of Sunnyside Unified District (4407). Sierra 2-8 School serves approximately 699 students, and covers grades 2nd-8th, and has a 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Sierra 2-8 School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,938 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

Structured state assessment records for Sierra 2-8 School show 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.7 pts below district
  • This school 3.3 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 4.0
  • AZ avg 5.6

What Parents Should Know

91% of students at Sierra 2-8 School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.0Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.95 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics2.6Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency4% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency11% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency8% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)25% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-17.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile8th
Resources & Environment3.0Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,153
Chronic Absenteeism91.1%

Sierra 2-8 School — Students at Sierra 2-8 School score 8% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 25%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 20.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 33.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from AZ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
36%
ELA
70%
2010
Math
36%
ELA
70%
2011
Math
33%
ELA
64%
2012
Math
32%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
38%
ELA
66%
2014
Math
12%
ELA
12%
2015
Math
16%
ELA
17%
2016
Math
18%
ELA
17%
2017
Math
22%
ELA
23%
2018
Math
17%
ELA
20%
2019
Math
17%
ELA
20%
2020*
Math
5%
ELA
10%
2021*
Math
5%
ELA
10%
2022
Math
4%
ELA
11%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.0/10.

How Sierra 2-8 School Compares

See how Sierra 2-8 School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.3/10
3th percentile in AZ
Academic
2.6/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
4.0/10
Below Average
Environment
3.0/10
Needs Improvement
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
39 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
91.1%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

5801 S DEL MORAL BLVD, Tucson, AZ 85706

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sierra 2-8 School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Apollo Middle School (rated 4.2/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Challenger Middle School (rated 3.4/10, 1.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Tucson, see our Tucson schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Ocotillo Early Learning Elementary School Tucson 0.2 mi 8.9
PCJTED - Sunnyside High School Tucson 0.3 mi
Sunnyside High School Tucson 0.3 mi 5.3
Los Amigos Elementary School Tucson 0.5 mi 6.3
Rivera Elementary Tucson 0.8 mi 4.9
Drexel Elementary School Tucson 0.8 mi 4.1
Esperanza Elementary School Tucson 0.9 mi 3.5
Alta Vista High School Tucson 1.0 mi 5.8
PPEP TEC - Celestino Fernandez Learning Center Tucson 1.5 mi 3.8
Liberty Elementary School Tucson 1.5 mi 3.1
Apollo Middle School Tucson 1.6 mi 4.2
Van Buskirk Elementary School Tucson 1.8 mi 8.0
Pima County JTED - Star Tucson 1.7 mi
STAR Academic High School Tucson 1.7 mi 4.3
Pima Vocational High School Tucson 1.7 mi 7.5
Challenger Middle School Tucson 1.9 mi 3.4
SAN MIGUEL HIGH SCHOOL Tucson 1.8 mi 5.5
Toltecali High School Tucson 1.8 mi 5.7
Elvira Elementary School Tucson 2.0 mi 6.8
La Paloma Academy-South Tucson 1.9 mi 4.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85706 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$49,072

Median Home Value

$169,600

Median Rent

$981/mo

Population

56,022

College Educated

9.6%

Homeownership

57.9%

Avg Commute

22.3 min

Poverty Rate

23.1%

Median Age

29.3

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Amphitheater Middle School Tucson, AZ 3.3
Villago Middle School Casa Grande, AZ 3.3
Cactus Canyon Junior High Apache Junction, AZ 3.2
Rhodes Junior High School Mesa, AZ 3.2
Wade Carpenter Middle School Nogales, AZ 3.2
Challenger Middle School Tucson, AZ 3.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sierra 2-8 School

What grades does Sierra 2-8 School serve?

Sierra 2-8 School serves students in grades 2nd through 8th.

How many students attend Sierra 2-8 School?

Sierra 2-8 School has an enrollment of approximately 699 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sierra 2-8 School?

The student-teacher ratio at Sierra 2-8 School is 17.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sierra 2-8 School rank in AZ?

Sierra 2-8 School ranks #1,938 of 2,006 schools in AZ.

What is Sierra 2-8 School's MySchoolScout rating?

Sierra 2-8 School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 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 Sierra 2-8 School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sierra 2-8 School has 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Sierra 2-8 School a charter school?

No, Sierra 2-8 School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Sierra 2-8 School a Title I school?

No, Sierra 2-8 School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
36 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
30 Some Transit
Bike Score
53 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
2nd – 8th
Enrollment
699
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Pima County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
91.1%

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