Public School Review - Established 2003

Desert Ridge Jr. High School vs. Highland Jr High School

Should you attend Desert Ridge Jr. High School or Highland Jr High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Desert Ridge Jr. High School
10211 E Madero Ave
Mesa, AZ 85209
: 
7/
10
Top 50%
Highland Jr High School
6915 E Guadalupe Rd
Mesa, AZ 85212
: 
8/
10
Top 30%
Overview
Serving 973 students in grades 7-8, Desert Ridge Jr. High School ranks in the top 50% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 33% (which is lower than the Arizona state average of 35%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 45% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).
The student:teacher ratio of 20:1 is higher than the Arizona state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Serving 979 students in grades 6-8, Highland Jr High School ranks in the top 30% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 45% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 35%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 54% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).
The student:teacher ratio of 21:1 is higher than the Arizona state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 36% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Grades Offered
7-8
6-8
Total Students
973 students
979 students
This chart displays total students of Desert Ridge Jr. High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Highland Jr High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
52% | 48%
51% | 49%
This chart displays gender of Desert Ridge Jr. High School
This chart displays gender of Highland Jr High School
Total Classroom Teachers
48 teachers
47 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Desert Ridge Jr. High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Highland Jr High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
20:1
21:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Highland Jr High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#776 out of 1956 schools in AZ
(Top 50%)
#524 out of 1956 schools in AZ
(Top 30%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Desert Ridge Jr. High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Highland Jr High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
33%
(Top 50% in AZ)
45%
(Top 30% in AZ)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Highland Jr High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
45%
(Top 50% in AZ)
54%
(Top 30% in AZ)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Highland Jr High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
26%
(Top 50% in AZ)
35%
(Top 30% in AZ)

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Desert Ridge Jr. High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Highland Jr High School by grade.
Grade 7 Students
461
483
Grade 8 Students
512
496

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
2%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Desert Ridge Jr. High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Highland Jr High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Asian
2%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Highland Jr High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
27%
21%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Highland Jr High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
4%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Highland Jr High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
60%
64%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Highland Jr High School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
7%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Highland Jr High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.57
0.55
This chart displays the diversity score of Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Highland Jr High School and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
19%
22%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Highland Jr High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
7%
8%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Desert Ridge Jr. High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Highland Jr High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
 
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