Public School Review - Established 2003

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

Should you attend Highland Jr High School or Desert Ridge 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
Highland Jr High School
6915 E Guadalupe Rd
Mesa, AZ 85212
: 
8/
10
Top 30%
Desert Ridge Jr. High School
10211 E Madero Ave
Mesa, AZ 85209
: 
7/
10
Top 50%
Overview
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).
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).
Grades Offered
6-8
7-8
Total Students
979 students
973 students
This chart displays total students of Highland Jr High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Desert Ridge Jr. High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
51% | 49%
52% | 48%
This chart displays gender of Highland Jr High School
This chart displays gender of Desert Ridge Jr. High School
Total Classroom Teachers
47 teachers
48 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Highland Jr High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Desert Ridge Jr. 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 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 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.

Test Scores

#524 out of 1956 schools in AZ
(Top 30%)
#776 out of 1956 schools in AZ
(Top 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Highland Jr High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Desert Ridge Jr. High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
45%
(Top 30% in AZ)
33%
(Top 50% in AZ)
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.
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.
54%
(Top 30% in AZ)
45%
(Top 50% in AZ)
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.
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.
35%
(Top 30% in AZ)
26%
(Top 50% in AZ)

Students by Grade

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

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
2%
n/a
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.
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.
% Asian
4%
2%
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.
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.
% Hispanic
21%
27%
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.
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.
% Black
2%
4%
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.
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.
% White
64%
60%
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.
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.
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
7%
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.
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.
0.55
0.57
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.
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.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
22%
19%
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.
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.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
8%
7%
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.
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.
 
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