Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Mescal

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
SSW 9641 Mescal AZ June 1993xRP - Flickr - drewj1946Photo: Drew Jacksich from San Jose, CA, The Republic of California · CC BY 2.0
B+
Schools in Mescal · Benson Unified School District

Mescal’s public schools outscore 72% of Arizona districts

The four-year graduation rate in Mescal’s district is 92%, above the Arizona average (78%). The grade covers the public school district serving Mescal, 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.

K–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
44%
▲ 4 pts vs AZ 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
39%
▲ 4 pts vs AZ 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 12–16 pts vs AZ 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.5K
▼ 6% vs AZ $12.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.2
AZ 17.2
Schools in town
0
1,195 students on the public path
In brief

Mescal’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 157 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Mescal’s, its schools beat 91%, higher than their 72% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 44% and math 39% in spring 2022, against 40% and 35% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,519 per student, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Benson Middle School, then Benson High School. Enrollment is up 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

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 Mescal’s grade

B+ Test scoresA− Graduation

B+: better than 72% of Arizona school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the Arizona average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Arizona school districts we grade (577)Better than 72%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arizona towns with similar household incomes (157)Better than 91%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 670 test results and a graduating class of 127 could put Mescal anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Mescal’s students in the tested grades sat them (673 in math, 666 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Benson Primary Schoolin BensonB
6–8Benson Middle Schoolin BensonB
9–12Benson High Schoolin BensonB−

Mescal’s public schools are run by Benson Unified School District, which also serves Benson. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Benson Unified School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 1,287 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 17.2 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$11,519AZ $12,318 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading44%
State average 40.4% · 666 students tested
Math39%
State average 34.8% · 673 students tested

Mescal vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Mescal’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
MescalB+Benson Unified

Every school in Mescal

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Arizona’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Mescalin other towns
Benson Primary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Benson
B
507 students19:1Rate it →
Benson Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Benson
B
286 students22:1Rate it →
Benson High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Benson
B−
402 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Mescal’s schools

Are Mescal’s schools good?

By Arizona’s own tests, yes: the public schools Mescal children attend outscore 72% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 91%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Mescal in?

Benson Unified School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,287 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Mescal kids go to high school?

Benson High School in Benson, with 402 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Mescal’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Benson Unified School District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.

How much does Mescal spend per student?

$11,519 in Benson Unified School District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Mescal families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Mescal → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Arizona. Stars are from neighbors.