Desert Vista High School
16440 S 32nd St, Phoenix, AZ, 85044-7807 -  Map
tel: (480)706-7900
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School Overview:
Definition of Terms Desert Vista High School
School Level High school
Grades Offered Grades 9 - 12
County Maricopa County, AZ
Students & Faculty
Total Students 2935 students
% Male / % Female 50%  /  50%
Total Classroom Teachers 128 teachers
Students by Grade
Grade 9 - 786 students
Grade 10 - 752 students
Grade 11 - 707 students
Grade 12 - 690 students
This School (AZ) School Average
Teacher : Student Ratio 1:23 1:18
Students by Ethnicity
This School (AZ) School Average
% American Indian 1% 6%
% Asian 8% 2%
% Hispanic 8% 41%
% Black 6% 5%
% White 78% 44%
Additional Student Information
This School (AZ) School Average
% Eligible for Free Lunch n/a 41%
% Eligible for Reduced Lunch n/a 8%
% Migrant Students Enrolled n/a n/a
School Performance:
(AZ) Statewide Testing Performance
School Statewide Performance View Education Department Test Scores
School District:
School District Name Tempe Union High School District
This School's Agency (AZ) District Average
Number of Schools Managed 7 1
Number of Students Managed 13,701 students 306 students
District Total Revenue $127,406,000 $1,828,000
District Expenditure $101,162,000 $1,582,000
District Revenue / Student $9,299 $12,954
District Expenditure / Student $7,384 $12,507
District Graduation Rates 84% 78%
School Notes:
  • Desert Vista High School is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and was established in 1996 and is a part of the Tempe Union High School District.
  • Desert Vista is a closed boundary school that does not permit any outside students to attend due to overpopulation.
  • Activities: The school has many clubs and activities, including a marching band, a speech and debate team, a yearbook club and several others.
  • Desert Vista has a large music program, and 38% of all students admitted into the North-Central ABODA/AMEA All-Region band were from Desert Vista. It also has an upcoming trip for its wind ensemble to New York, which has caused some controversy within the district as expenses are estimated at over $2000 per student. The school also has a Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Orchestra.
  • Desert Vista's Speech and Debate team, "The Thunder Speech, Theatre and Debate company" (TSTDC) has been highly recognized in the state of Arizona as one of the top Speech and Debate schools in the state. Desert Vista has been known statewide to win nearly every single Speech and Debate competition it takes part in. Including the Sandra Day O'Connor Invitational, and as well as winning first place in the 2006 California State Long Beach Invitational. Desert Vista was most recently defeated on March 3rd, 2007 by Dobson High School (their "Speech and Debate" rival school, located in Mesa, Arizona) at Central High School's 8th annual "Bobcat Bonanza". The Thunder struck back with a huge win at the 5A State tournament at Hamilton High School beating Dobson by nearly 200 points. DV walked away with 1st place champions in almost every event, 3 of the 4 top spots in LD debate, and 2nd in policy debate with the team of Dane Kulpa and Dean Karras. Desert Vista's Thunder Speech, Theatre, and Debate Company (TSTDC) has a history of putting on two major plays per year (Which are performed in the school's auditorium), and several minor plays (Which are held in the Art Building's "Black Box").
  • Their rival school is Mountain Pointe High School, also in the Ahwatukee area.
  • Academics: Desert Vista has some of the best grades and test scores in the state of Arizona. The number of students that receive double 800s on the SAT has been slowly rising over the years. The school also has one of the most extensive and successful foreign language departments, especially regarding the amount of Spanish courses offered. It is also possible to receive dual enrollment credits through the Maricopa Community College System.
  • Controversies: The administration's actions at Devert Vista have often created public controversy. Scandals such as the firing of a popular Assistant Principal without giving a reason, coercion of students who have already passed the AIMS standardized testing to re-take it (it is illegal for schools in Arizona to force students to retake the AIMS test when they have already passed), and the mistreatment and alleged institutionalized racist and discriminatory treatment of the school's minority student population (with the Federal Government eventually intervening in the furor) have done much to tarnish the school's reputation.
  • Notable alumni: Max Crumm, winner of Grease: You're the One That I Want.
  • Zach Miller, football player.
  • Bobby Wade, football player.
  • Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL
  • Add information about this school (e.g., awards, news stories, notable alumni, fun facts)
 
School Zip Code:
About This Zip Code (85044)
School Zip (85044) (AZ) State Average
Population (Approximate) 39,892 people 5,005,418 people
% (age 25+) w/College Degree 54% 25%
Population Average Age 34 years old 32 years old
Average Household size 2.4 persons 2.5 persons
Median Household Income $60,095 $40,312
Avg. # of Rooms in Household 5.3 rooms 4.9 rooms
Median Age of Housing Structure 19 years old 30 years old
View current housing listings in this area
Median Value of Housing Unit
Zipcode (85044)



What's a Zindex?
Subject to Zillow Terms of Use
% Owning / % Renting 63% / 37% 63% / 37%
School Map:
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  Nearby Schools:

1. Mountain Pointe High School - 2501 students - view location
2. Skyline West High School - 200 students - view location
3. Intelli-school High School - 55 students - view location
4. Arizona Agribusiness & Equine High School - 257 students - view location
5. South Pointe High School - 699 students - view location
View all schools in: Phoenix Town, Maricopa County, Zip 85044 
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Note: Data has been gathered from several government and commercial data sources. School data reflects years 2002-04 statistics (most recent years available). Area and demographic data reflects year 2000 statistics. Public School Review does not ensure the timeliness or accuracy of the information on this site.

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