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Schools in Mesa · Tempe Union High School District, Mesa Unified District

Mesa’s public schools outscore 64% of Arizona districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Mesa, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arizona, not nationally.

#48of 139 Arizona townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arizona state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency

39%

▼ 1 pts vs AZ 40%

2021–22

Math proficiency

35%

▲ 0 pts vs AZ 35%

2021–22

Graduate on time

81%

▲ 3 pts vs AZ 78%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$12.1K

▼ 2% vs AZ $12.3K

FY2024 · Mesa Unified District

Students per teacher

18.5

AZ 17.2 · larger classes

Schools in town

145

52,064 students on the public path

In brief

Mesa’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 109 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Mesa’s, its schools beat 72%, higher than their 64% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 39% and math 35% across both districts in spring 2022, against 40% and 35% statewide; 81% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Tempe Union High spends $12,138 per student and Mesa Unified District $12,066, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Mesa Arts Academy, Step Up School, Heritage Academy, Montessori Education Centre Charter School - Mesa, Montessori Education Centre Charter School - North Campus, International Commerce High School MCG, American Leadership Academy Mesa K-6, American Leadership Academy of Applied Technologies, American Leadership Academy Mesa North K-12, New Horizon School for the Performing Arts, Cambridge Academy East, Burke Basic School, Self Development Charter School, Sequoia Charter School, Academy with Community Partners, Noah Webster Schools- Mesa, Sun Valley High School, Learning Foundation, East Valley High School, Imagine East Mesa Elementary, Imagine East Mesa Middle, Pathfinder Academy, Sequoia Lehi Charter School, Sequoia Pathfinder Academy at Eastmark, Concordia Charter School, Kaizen Education Foundation dba Vista Grove Preparatory Acad, Liberty Arts Academy, ASU Preparatory Academy-Polytechnic Elementary, ASU Preparatory Academy-Polytechnic High School, ASU Preparatory Academy-Polytechnic Middle School, BASIS Mesa, EAGLE College Preparatory School- Mesa, Leman Academy of Excellence East Mesa, Legacy Traditional School - East Mesa, Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center Inc. - Mesa, Legacy Traditional School - Mesa, Heartwood AZ, Paul Revere Academy, Lexington Life Academy (private), Ignite Learning Academy (private), Queen of Peace Catholic School (private), Christ the King School (private), St. Timothy Catholic School (private), Tempe Montessori School LTD (private), Lumos Arts Academy (private), Dobson-Montessori School (private), Redeemer Christian School (private), Montessori International SCHL - Brown Road Campus (private), Lehi Montessori (private), Pilgrim Lutheran School (private), Serenity Learning Center (private), Noahs Ark Preschool and Kindergarten (private), Montessori International School (private), Empower Academy (private) and A Place 4 Everyone Learning Center (private) are in town. American Leadership Academy Virtual, Sequoia Choice School Arizona Distance Learning School, AAEC Online, Mesa Digital Learning Program and Virtual Preparation Academy of Arizona, online schools, are based here too; they aren’t counted as local schools. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Mesa’s grade

B Test scoresB⁻ Graduation

B: better than 64% of Arizona school districts, #48 of 139 Arizona towns. Graduation is above the Arizona average; test scores are below it.

Arizona school districts we grade (577)Better than 64%

Lower resultsHigher results

Arizona towns with similar household incomes (109)Better than 72%

A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 31,785 test results and a graduating class of 4,551 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Mesa’s students in the tested grades sat them (32,012 in math, 31,559 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Mesa, with each school’s own grade.

51 schools teach K in Mesa’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from D− to A+, so check the specific school.

Town	Schools	Main districts
Mesa	B	Mesa Unified District PK–12 · Tempe Union High 9–12
Gilbert	A⁻	Gilbert Unified District PK–12 · Higley Unified District PK–12 · Chandler Unified District PK–12
Tempe	B	Tempe PK–8 · Kyrene Elementary District PK–8 · Tempe Union High 9–12
Chandler	A⁻	Chandler Unified District PK–12 · Tempe Union High 9–12
Apache Junction	C⁺	Apache Junction Unified District
Queen Creek	A⁻	Queen Creek Unified District PK–12 · J. O. Combs Unified PK–12

Mesa’s public schools outscore 64% of Arizona districts

Mesa’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Above the state in math, below in reading

Spending and class size

Choice beyond the district

What’s behind Mesa’s grade

Where will my kid go?

Two districts serve Mesa

Close to the state in reading

Mesa vs. its neighbors

Every school in Mesa

Questions about Mesa’s schools

Parents talk