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Excellent

#242 of 2,000 schools in AZ

Top 12% in state

Westwood High School

High School · Mesa Unified District (4235)

945 W RIO SALADO PKWY, Mesa, AZ 85201

Enrollment

3,397

Student-Teacher

19.6:1

Score

8.0

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Mesa

#8 of 119

public schools

Arizona high schools

#40 of 429

In district

#3 of 76

Mesa Unified District (4235)

Academic growth

7.6 / 10

Very strong

About Westwood High School

Westwood High School serves 3,397 students in grades 9-12 in Mesa, Arizona, making it one of the larger high schools in the state. With 173 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 19.6:1, providing reasonable class sizes for a comprehensive high school environment. Academically, Westwood High School ranks #693 out of 2,029 Arizona high schools, placing it in the 66th percentile statewide with a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10.

The school shows solid performance across core subjects, with 43% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and reading, while 39% reach proficiency in mathematics. These results reflect a school with room for academic growth while serving a diverse student population. The school draws from a community where the median household income is $57,684 and median home values reach $251,800.

About 25% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the area maintains a 16.9% poverty rate among its 51,840 residents in the 85201 ZIP code area. Located on West Rio Salado Parkway, Westwood High School sits within Mesa's large city environment, providing students with access to urban amenities while serving families in this established Arizona community.

What's said publicly about Westwood High School

Sources: School's website Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

Westwood High School is a public four-year high school located in the western part of Mesa, Arizona, under the jurisdiction of Mesa Public Schools 2 . The school opened in 1962 with Elias Brimhall serving as the founding principal 2 . It was designated as a Blue Ribbon school during the 1983–84 school year 2 . In 2018, the Arizona Department of Education reclassified the school as an "A" school within its accountability system 2 . Academically, Westwood is the only school in Arizona's largest school district authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program 1 . The school also provides AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, which include dual enrollment opportunities with community colleges 1 . Approximately 900 ninth-grade students are organized into six Academy Teams, each supported by multiple educators 1 . Additionally, the school participates in MPS Service Learning, allowing students to earn an Honor for Excellence in Service Learning on their diplomas for community service involvement 1 .
Sources (2)
  1. www.mpsaz.org
  2. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

Westwood High School is a large school with 3,397 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.6Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-1.85 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics7.6Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency39%
Reading/ELA Proficiency43%
Overall Proficiency41%
Expected (poverty-adj.)37%
vs. Expected+4.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile65th
College Readiness9.7Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation5.3%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment6.5Above Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,160

Westwood High School — Students at Westwood High School score 41% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AZ EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 34.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 37.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from AZ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
44%
ELA
44%
2021*
Math
21%
ELA
24%
2022
Math
39%
ELA
43%

* 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: 7.6/10.

How Westwood High School Compares

See how Westwood High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.0/10
88th percentile in AZ
Academic
7.6/10
7.6/10
Growth
7.6/10
Above average
Environment
6.5/10
Above average

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs IB Programme
5.3% participation·380 IB enrolled·CRDC 2020-21

Data as of 2020-21 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

945 W RIO SALADO PKWY, Mesa, AZ 85201

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Westwood High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. East Valley Academy (rated 6.8/10, 2.0 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Heritage Academy (rated 5.8/10, 1.5 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Mesa, see our Mesa schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Carson Junior High School Mesa 0.3 mi 4.7
Emerson Elementary School Mesa 0.4 mi 4.7
Mesa Distance Learning Program Mesa 0.7 mi 7.3
Concordia Charter School Mesa 0.8 mi 4.8
Whittier Elementary School Mesa 0.8 mi 4.2
Early Education Center Mesa 1.0 mi 6.1
QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Mesa 1.2 mi 5.4
STEP UP SCHOOL Mesa 1.2 mi 5.5
EVIT - East Valley Institute of Technology Mesa 1.4 mi
Guerrero Elementary School Mesa 1.6 mi 5.9
Webster Elementary School Mesa 1.4 mi 6.5
Heritage Academy Mesa 1.5 mi 5.8
Whitman Elementary School Mesa 1.7 mi 5.0
Eisenhower Center for Innovation Mesa 1.5 mi 5.2
Kerr Center for Agriscience Mesa 1.6 mi 5.4
Franklin Accelerated Academy - Downtown Campus Mesa 1.8 mi 6.7
Mesa Arts Academy Mesa 1.9 mi 3.9
East Valley Academy Mesa 2.0 mi 6.8
HEARTWOOD MONTESSORI Mesa 1.8 mi 8.3
Adams Elementary School Mesa 2.1 mi 4.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 85201 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,725

Median Home Value

$292,600

Median Rent

$1,349/mo

Population

52,484

College Educated

26.5%

Homeownership

39%

Avg Commute

24 min

Poverty Rate

15.5%

Median Age

32.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Westwood High School has a median household income of $63,725. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $292,600, with a median rent of $1,349/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.5%. 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
Sunnyslope High School Phoenix, AZ 8.0
Higley High School Gilbert, AZ 8.1
West Point High School Tolleson, AZ 7.9
Millennium High School Goodyear, AZ 8.2
Basha High School Chandler, AZ 8.3
Hamilton High School Chandler, AZ 8.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Westwood High School

What grades does Westwood High School serve?

Westwood High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Westwood High School?

Westwood High School has an enrollment of approximately 3,397 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Westwood High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Westwood High School is 19.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Westwood High School rank in AZ?

Westwood High School is ranked #242 out of 2,000 schools in AZ.

What is Westwood High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Westwood High School has a composite rating of 8.0 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.

What are the test scores at Westwood High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Westwood High School has 34.7% math proficiency and 37.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Westwood High School a charter school?

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

Is Westwood High School a Title I school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
41 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
39 Some Transit
Bike Score
67 Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,955/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
3,397
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
173
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Maricopa County
Data Year
2023–2024

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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