Public School Review - Established 2003

Highland High School vs. Desert Ridge High School

Should you attend Highland High School or Desert Ridge 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
Highland High School
4301 E Guadalupe Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85296
: 
10/
10
Top 10%
Desert Ridge High School
10045 E Madero Ave
Mesa, AZ 85209
: 
9/
10
Top 20%
Top Rankings

Highland High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Most improved public schools
Most improved public schools (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)

Desert Ridge High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Most improved public schools
Most improved public schools (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Overview
Serving 3,027 students in grades 8-12, Highland High School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 68% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 35%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 63% (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 32% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 66% (majority Hispanic).
Serving 2,222 students in grades 8-12, Desert Ridge High School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 58% (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 20:1 is higher than the Arizona state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 66% (majority Hispanic).
Blue Ribbon Schools
Yes
-
Grades Offered
8-12
8-12
Total Students
3,027 students
2,222 students
This chart displays total students of Highland High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Desert Ridge High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
52% | 48%
51% | 49%
This chart displays gender of Highland High School
This chart displays gender of Desert Ridge High School
Total Classroom Teachers
146 teachers
111 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Highland High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Desert Ridge High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
21:1
20:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Highland 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 Desert Ridge High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#168 out of 1956 schools in AZ
(Top 10%)
#319 out of 1956 schools in AZ
(Top 20%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Highland High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Desert Ridge High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
68%
(Top 10% in AZ)
58%
(Top 20% in AZ)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Highland 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 Desert Ridge 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.
63%
(Top 20% 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 Highland 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 Desert Ridge 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.
31%
(Top 50% in AZ)
14%
(Bottom 50% in AZ)
91%
(Top 30% in AZ)
91%
(Top 30% in AZ)
This chart displays graduation rate of Highland High School and public school graduation rate of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Desert Ridge High School and public school graduation rate of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Highland High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Desert Ridge High School by grade.
Grade 9 Students
714
544
Grade 10 Students
755
534
Grade 11 Students
793
562
Grade 12 Students
765
582

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Highland High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Desert Ridge High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Asian
3%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Highland 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 Desert Ridge High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
20%
30%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Highland 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 Desert Ridge High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
2%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Highland 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 Desert Ridge High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
68%
58%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Highland 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 Desert Ridge High School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Highland 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 Desert Ridge 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.
0.50
0.57
This chart displays the diversity score of Highland 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 Desert Ridge 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
12%
23%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Highland 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 Desert Ridge 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
5%
8%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Highland 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 Desert Ridge 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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