Mesa High School

Summary:

Mesa High School is a public high school serving 3,475 students in grades 9-12 in Mesa, Arizona, which is part of the Mesa Unified District. While the school has a significantly higher Hispanic student population (69.53%) compared to the state average, its academic performance consistently falls below state and district averages in standardized test scores, with only 24% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 21% in mathematics.

Mesa High School's graduation rate of 80.1% and dropout rate of 5.9% in the 2022-2023 school year are also lower and higher, respectively, than state and district averages. The school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with Asian and Native American students performing better than the school average, while Hispanic, African American, and low socioeconomic status students perform significantly worse. When compared to nearby schools, such as Mountain View High School and Heritage Academy, Mesa High School performs significantly worse across various metrics, including test scores, graduation rates, and overall statewide rankings.

The high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients (58.99% in 2022-2023) at Mesa High School suggests that socioeconomic factors may be contributing to the school's academic challenges. The school's declining performance and underperformance compared to the state, district, and nearby schools highlight the need for targeted interventions and support to address the unique needs of its diverse student population.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1630 E Southern Ave
       Mesa, AZ  85204-5220


(480) 472-5900

District: Mesa Unified District

SchoolDigger Rank:
196th of 259 Arizona High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,532 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  20.8 Help
Number of students:  3,475

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
69.5%
White:
21.4%
African American:
4.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  59% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Mesa High School ranks worse than 75.7% of high schools in Arizona. It also ranks 3rd among 6 ranked high schools in the Mesa Unified District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 21.48. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Mesa High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (69.5%), White (21.4%), African American (4.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 59% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Mesa High School is 20.8. 4 high schools in the Mesa Unified District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Mesa High School employs 166.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Mesa High School is $6,532. 4 high schools in the Mesa Unified District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Mesa High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Mesa High School 196th of 259 Arizona public high schools. (See Mesa High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Mesa Unified District:

SchoolDigger ranks Mesa Unified District 179th of 288 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Mesa High School

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Rank History for all students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 73.16 113th 395 71.4%
2010 70.83 128th 403 68.2%
2011 68.77 133rd 397 66.5%
2012 66.52 163rd 471 65.4%
2013 61.27 204th 491 58.5%
2014 59.95 177th 394 55.1%
2015 30.50 170th 261 34.9%
2016 35.98 209th 406 48.5%
2017 30.07 242nd 416 41.8%
2018 31.93 237th 420 43.6%
2019 25.72 205th 285 28.1%
2021 44.29 231st 509 54.6%
2022 33.06 236th 464 49.1%
2023 30.32 302nd 469 35.6%
2024 21.48 196th 259 24.3%
See the entire list of Arizona High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.14 61st 76 19.7%
2021 36.04 222nd 374 40.6%
2022 11.68 231st 282 18.1%
2023 12.88 189th 199 5.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.18 42nd 45 6.7%
2021 63.15 16th 312 94.9%
2022 41.67 53rd 258 79.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.01 89th 155 42.6%
2019 27.35 2nd 3 33.3%
2021 46.83 162nd 422 61.6%
2022 40.90 157th 380 58.7%
2023 21.37 160th 172 7.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.13 174th 253 31.2%
2022 23.63 132nd 168 21.4%
2023 26.67 255th 347 26.5%
2024 20.94 133rd 168 20.8%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Migrant students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 94.04 2nd 23 91.3%
2022 61.42 11th 44 75.0%
2023 67.18 3rd 10 70.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 43.95 59th 168 64.9%
2022 28.02 72nd 150 52.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.60 241st 354 31.9%
2019 22.53 189th 247 23.5%
2021 49.75 200th 492 59.3%
2022 33.24 247th 456 45.8%
2023 25.58 297th 406 26.8%
2024 19.20 159th 193 17.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Foster Care students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 34.65 38th 130 70.8%
2022 30.47 48th 116 58.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Foster Care Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 83.76 16th 102 84.3%
2022 80.10 22nd 125 82.4%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.51 225th 370 39.2%
2019 27.01 166th 238 30.3%
2021 38.73 261st 492 47.0%
2022 28.94 275th 455 39.6%
2023 27.84 291st 429 32.2%
2024 16.80 166th 207 19.8%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.82 78th 83 6.0%
2021 56.15 98th 231 57.6%
2022 72.53 63rd 238 73.5%
2023 43.16 90th 146 38.4%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.01 110th 122 9.8%
2021 42.18 148th 306 51.6%
2022 42.00 139th 301 53.8%
2023 19.82 173rd 201 13.9%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.16 216th 311 30.5%
2019 22.28 149th 183 18.6%
2021 36.64 268th 479 44.1%
2022 26.66 299th 441 32.2%
2023 23.87 299th 379 21.1%
2024 15.98 141st 164 14.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.67 26th 68 61.8%
2021 47.12 84th 256 67.2%
2022 62.15 61st 255 76.1%
2023 23.62 90th 128 29.7%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 90.82 8th 94 91.5%
2022 94.02 1st 129 99.2%
2023 20.65 36th 41 12.2%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for White students at Mesa High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.84 147th 291 49.5%
2019 41.00 115th 217 47.0%
2021 63.90 142nd 448 68.3%
2022 47.48 184th 409 55.0%
2023 34.80 243rd 371 34.5%
2024 32.38 120th 174 31.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Arizona Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Mesa High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Arizona Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

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Enrollment information for Mesa High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 2605 60 33 381 25 n/a n/a -213 2891
1989 2568 60 40 388 41 n/a n/a -632 2465
1990 2187 69 40 348 26 n/a n/a -273 2397
1991 2060 68 52 389 25 n/a n/a -148 2446
1992 1963 57 52 401 25 n/a n/a 0 2498
1993 1966 57 63 444 22 n/a n/a 0 2552
1994 2056 61 61 447 27 n/a n/a 0 2652
1995 2069 71 49 537 31 n/a n/a 0 2757
1996 2069 71 49 537 31 n/a n/a 0 2757
1997 2034 75 52 530 23 n/a n/a 0 2714
1998 1993 80 56 578 20 n/a n/a 0 2727
1999 1930 79 60 656 26 n/a n/a 0 2751
2000 1911 91 55 662 34 n/a n/a 0 2753
2001 1853 84 56 703 23 n/a n/a 0 2719
2002 1679 85 68 774 25 n/a n/a 0 2631
2003 1679 85 68 774 25 n/a n/a 0 2631
2004 1649 78 67 874 39 n/a n/a 0 2707
2005 1584 87 69 971 39 n/a n/a 0 2750
2006 1473 99 58 1000 42 n/a n/a 0 2672
2007 1294 97 60 1062 44 n/a n/a 0 2557
2008 1252 89 52 1186 36 n/a n/a 0 2615
2009 1161 97 68 1162 34 n/a n/a 0 2522
2010 1124 113 61 1267 41 n/a n/a 0 2606
2011 1126 120 62 1318 42 4 5 0 2677
2012 1293 150 79 1833 46 3 7 0 3411
2013 1160 140 73 1823 57 4 12 0 3269
2014 1109 127 69 1943 60 3 19 0 3330
2015 1071 135 78 2031 71 2 18 0 3406
2016 1013 142 50 2145 77 27 26 0 3480
2017 987 128 51 2230 80 23 36 0 3535
2018 920 139 61 2245 81 28 34 0 3508
2019 914 156 36 2241 67 23 40 0 3477
2020 859 149 27 2295 70 18 49 0 3467
2021 829 145 29 2316 73 23 45 0 3460
2022 783 142 23 2293 57 23 49 0 3370
2023 745 142 16 2416 68 21 67 0 3475

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Mesa High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2891 128.8 22.4 n/a
1989 2465 113.3 21.7 n/a
1990 2397 106.1 22.5 n/a
1991 2446 107.8 22.6 n/a
1992 2498 115.4 21.6 n/a
1993 2552 117.2 21.8 n/a
1994 2652 122.3 21.7 n/a
1995 2757 130.0 21.2 n/a
1996 2757 130.0 21.2 n/a
1997 2714 131.5 20.6 n/a
1998 2727 124.5 21.9 n/a
1999 2751 130.6 21.1 n/a
2000 2753 124.0 22.2 n/a
2001 2719 126.2 21.5 n/a
2002 2631 124.6 21.1 33
2003 2631 124.6 21.1 33
2004 2707 130.5 20.7 39.8
2005 2750 132.8 20.7 41.9
2006 2672 133.1 20.1 43.5
2007 2557 129.9 19.7 41.1
2008 2615 130.1 20.1 45.3
2009 2522 119.2 21.2 42.7
2010 2606 109.8 23.7 56.3
2011 2677 118.6 22.5 54.3
2012 3411 139.4 24.4 61.6
2013 3269 146.0 22.3 63.8
2014 3330 146.6 22.7 64.7
2015 3406 155.0 21.9 60.2
2016 3480 156.0 22.3 68.2
2017 3535 155.7 22.7 68.5
2018 3508 166.8 21.0 65
2019 3477 172.8 20.1 62
2020 3467 165.4 20.9 64
2021 3460 168.2 20.5 n/a
2022 3370 165.6 20.3 20.2
2023 3475 166.4 20.8 59

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Mesa High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2891 128.8 22.4 n/a
1989 2465 113.3 21.7 n/a
1990 2397 106.1 22.5 n/a
1991 2446 107.8 22.6 n/a
1992 2498 115.4 21.6 n/a
1993 2552 117.2 21.8 n/a
1994 2652 122.3 21.7 n/a
1995 2757 130.0 21.2 n/a
1996 2757 130.0 21.2 n/a
1997 2714 131.5 20.6 n/a
1998 2727 124.5 21.9 n/a
1999 2751 130.6 21.1 n/a
2000 2753 124.0 22.2 n/a
2001 2719 126.2 21.5 n/a
2002 2631 124.6 21.1 33
2003 2631 124.6 21.1 33
2004 2707 130.5 20.7 39.8
2005 2750 132.8 20.7 41.9
2006 2672 133.1 20.1 43.5
2007 2557 129.9 19.7 41.1
2008 2615 130.1 20.1 45.3
2009 2522 119.2 21.2 42.7
2010 2606 109.8 23.7 56.3
2011 2677 118.6 22.5 54.3
2012 3411 139.4 24.4 61.6
2013 3269 146.0 22.3 63.8
2014 3330 146.6 22.7 64.7
2015 3406 155.0 21.9 60.2
2016 3480 156.0 22.3 68.2
2017 3535 155.7 22.7 68.5
2018 3508 166.8 21.0 65
2019 3477 172.8 20.1 62
2020 3467 165.4 20.9 64
2021 3460 168.2 20.5 n/a
2022 3370 165.6 20.3 20.2
2023 3475 166.4 20.8 59

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Mesa High School

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $156 (1.6%) $40 (0.4%) $351 (3.7%) $6,331 (66.9%) $2,934 (31.0%) $9,265 (97.9%) $9,461
2020 $148 (2.7%) $239 (4.3%) $536 (9.7%) $5,026 (91.1%) $105 (1.9%) $5,131 (93.0%) $5,519
2021 $1,057 (16.7%) $40 (0.6%) $2,154 (33.9%) $4,666 (73.5%) $585 (9.2%) $5,250 (82.7%) $6,348
2022 $88 (1.3%) $32 (0.5%) $209 (3.2%) $5,967 (91.4%) $444 (6.8%) $6,411 (98.1%) $6,532

Data source: Arizona Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Mesa High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 205th of 285 High schoolsRanks 302nd of 469 High schools
 7.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students34773475
 0.1%
African American156142
 9%
American Indian6768
 1.5%
Asian3616
 55.6%
Hispanic22412416
 7.8%
Pacific Islander2321
 8.7%
White914745
 18.5%
Two or More Races4067
 67.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients62%59%
 3%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Mesa High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 3,475 students attended Mesa High School.

Mesa High School ranks in the bottom 24.3% of Arizona high schools.

Students at Mesa High School are 70% Hispanic, 21% White, 4% African American, 2% American Indian, 2% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arizona Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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