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Desert Vista High School

16440 S 32nd St
Phoenix, AZ 85048

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10/

Top 5%

Tel: (480) 706-7900

www.tempeunion.org

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Desert Vista High School is a public high school located in the Ahwatukee area of Phoenix, Arizona. Opened in 1996, it is the second Tempe Union High School District school in Ahwatukee and serves approximately 3,000 students.

Serving 2,802 students in grades 9-12, Desert Vista High School ranks in the top 5% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 5%, and reading proficiency is top 5%).

The percentage of students achieving is 74% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 35%). The percentage of students achieving is 74% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).

The student:teacher ratio of 22:1 is higher than the Arizona state level of 17:1.

Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 66% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 2,802 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 22:1
Minority Enrollment: 50%
: 94% (Top 20% in AZ)
: Top 5%
: 74% (Top 5%)
: 74% (Top 5%)
: 40% (Top 30%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

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

School Overview

Desert Vista High School's student population of 2,802 students has declined by 5% over five school years.

The teacher population of 129 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades 9-12
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Desert Vista High School
9	685
10	712
11	723
12	682

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Total Students

2,802 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School
2023	2,964
2022	3,032
2021	2,779
2020	2,979
2019	2,979
2018	3,092
2017	3,092
2016	3,046
2015	3,037
2014	3,064
2013	3,014
2012	2,974
2011	2,923
2010	2,884
2009	2,917
2008	2,933
2007	2,927
2006	2,935
2005	2,876
2004	2,836
2003	2,737
2002	2,643
2001	2,493
2000	2,330
1999	2,131

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

129 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School
2023	127
2022	125
2021	126
2020	130
2019	130
2018	130
2017	130
2016	127
2015	131
2014	133
2013	129
2012	124
2011	122
2010	122
2009	128
2008	126
2007	127
2006	128
2005	128
2004	126
2003	122
2002	113
2001	114
2000	103
1999	99

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Year Founded

1996

Colors

Navy Blue, Gold, Midnight blue, Vegas Gold

School Calendar

View School Calendar

School Rankings

Desert Vista High School ranks within the top 5% of all 1,956 schools in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Desert Vista High School is 0.67, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.66. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (AZ)

#64 out of 1956 schools
(Top 5%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Desert Vista High School
2022	#64
2021	#334
2019	#157
2018	#124
2017	#190
2016	#539
2015	#184
2014	#50
2013	#44
2012	#36
2011	#39

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74%

35%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2022	74%	35%	53%
2021	49%	32%	31%
2019	75%	45%	57%
2018	76%	45%	59%
2017	69%	42%	48%
2016	37%	39%	26%
2015	72%	38%	56%
2014	89%	63%	76%
2013	90%	63%	76%
2012	91%	63%	75%
2011	90%	62%	74%

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74%

40%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2022	74%	40%	53%
2021	55%	39%	39%
2019	70%	45%	56%
2018	72%	44%	59%
2017	65%	42%	46%
2016	61%	40%	43%
2015	55%	38%	45%
2014	97%	79%	92%
2013	96%	78%	90%
2012	96%	77%	88%
2011	96%	77%	86%

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40%

24%

Student : Teacher Ratio

22:1

17:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2023	23:1	17:1	21:1
2022	24:1	17:1	21:1
2021	22:1	17:1	21:1
2020	23:1	18:1	21:1
2019	23:1	18:1	21:1
2018	24:1	19:1	22:1
2017	24:1	19:1	22:1
2016	24:1	20:1	22:1
2015	23:1	20:1	22:1
2014	23:1	19:1	22:1
2013	23:1	19:1	21:1
2012	24:1	18:1	22:1
2011	24:1	19:1	22:1
2010	24:1	18:1	22:1
2009	23:1	18:1	20:1
2008	23:1	18:1	21:1
2007	23:1	18:1	22:1
2006	23:1	18:1	21:1
2005	22:1	19:1	20:1
2004	23:1	19:1	21:1
2003	22:1	19:1	21:1
2002	23:1	19:1	21:1
2001	22:1	19:1	21:1
2000	23:1	19:1	21:1
1999	22:1	19:1	20:1

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American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2023	2%	5%	5%
2022	2%	5%	4%
2021	2%	5%	4%
2020	1%	6%	4%
2019	1%	6%	4%
2018	1%	6%	4%
2017	1%	6%	4%
2016	1%	5%	5%
2015	1%	5%	5%
2014	1%	5%	4%
2013	1%	5%	5%
2012	1%	5%	5%
2011	2%	7%	5%
2010	2%	6%	4%
2009	1%	6%	4%
2008	1%	5%	5%
2007	1%	6%	4%
2006	1%	7%	4%
2005	1%	7%	4%
2004	1%	8%	4%
2003	1%	8%	4%
2002	1%	8%	4%
2001	1%	8%	4%
2000	1%	8%	3%
1997	1%	7%	3%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2023	7%	3%	4%
2022	6%	3%	4%
2021	6%	3%	4%
2020	8%	3%	5%
2019	8%	3%	5%
2018	9%	3%	5%
2017	9%	3%	5%
2016	9%	3%	5%
2015	9%	3%	5%
2014	9%	3%	6%
2013	10%	3%	6%
2012	9%	3%	6%
2011	9%	3%	7%
2010	8%	3%	6%
2009	8%	3%	7%
2008	8%	3%	6%
2007	8%	3%	7%
2006	8%	2%	6%
2005	8%	2%	6%
2004	7%	2%	6%
2003	7%	2%	6%
2002	6%	2%	5%
2001	5%	2%	5%
2000	5%	2%	5%
1999	5%	2%	5%

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Hispanic

26%

48%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2023	25%	47%	41%
2022	23%	47%	40%
2021	21%	46%	38%
2020	20%	45%	37%
2019	20%	45%	37%
2018	17%	45%	35%
2017	17%	45%	35%
2016	16%	45%	34%
2015	16%	45%	33%
2014	15%	44%	32%
2013	13%	43%	30%
2012	12%	43%	29%
2011	10%	42%	27%
2010	9%	41%	26%
2009	8%	41%	24%
2008	8%	42%	23%
2007	8%	41%	22%
2006	8%	39%	21%
2005	8%	38%	21%
2004	8%	37%	21%
2003	8%	36%	20%
2002	8%	35%	19%
2001	8%	33%	19%
2000	8%	33%	21%
1999	8%	32%	18%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2023	7%	6%	11%
2022	7%	6%	12%
2021	7%	6%	12%
2020	5%	5%	12%
2019	5%	5%	12%
2018	6%	5%	12%
2017	6%	5%	12%
2016	7%	5%	11%
2015	6%	5%	11%
2014	7%	5%	10%
2013	7%	5%	11%
2012	6%	5%	11%
2011	7%	5%	12%
2010	7%	6%	11%
2009	6%	6%	10%
2008	6%	6%	9%
2007	6%	5%	9%
2006	6%	5%	9%
2005	5%	5%	9%
2004	6%	5%	8%
2003	5%	5%	8%
2002	5%	5%	8%
2001	6%	5%	7%
2000	6%	4%	8%
1999	6%	5%	7%

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White

50%

34%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2023	52%	35%	33%
2022	55%	35%	34%
2021	58%	36%	36%
2020	61%	38%	38%
2019	61%	38%	38%
2018	62%	38%	40%
2017	62%	38%	40%
2016	63%	39%	42%
2015	64%	40%	43%
2014	63%	41%	44%
2013	66%	42%	46%
2012	70%	42%	48%
2011	72%	42%	49%
2010	74%	44%	53%
2009	77%	44%	55%
2008	77%	44%	57%
2007	77%	45%	58%
2006	77%	47%	60%
2005	78%	48%	60%
2004	78%	48%	61%
2003	79%	49%	62%
2002	80%	50%	64%
2001	80%	52%	65%
2000	80%	53%	63%
1999	81%	54%	67%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2023	7%	4%	5%
2022	7%	4%	5%
2021	6%	4%	5%
2020	5%	3%	3%
2019	5%	3%	3%
2018	5%	3%	4%
2017	5%	3%	4%
2016	4%	3%	3%
2015	4%	2%	3%
2014	5%	2%	4%
2013	3%	2%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.67

0.66

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2023	0.66	0.65	0.71
2022	0.64	0.65	0.71
2021	0.61	0.66	0.71
2020	0.58	0.65	0.71
2019	0.58	0.65	0.71
2018	0.58	0.65	0.70
2017	0.58	0.65	0.70
2016	0.57	0.65	0.70
2015	0.56	0.64	0.69
2014	0.57	0.64	0.70
2013	0.54	0.64	0.69
2012	0.49	0.64	0.68
2011	0.46	0.65	0.67
2010	0.44	0.64	0.65
2009	0.39	0.64	0.63
2008	0.39	0.63	0.61
2007	0.39	0.63	0.61
2006	0.39	0.63	0.59
2005	0.37	0.62	0.58
2004	0.38	0.63	0.57
2003	0.37	0.63	0.56
2002	0.35	0.62	0.54
2001	0.34	0.62	0.54
2000	0.34	0.62	0.56
1999	0.33	0.60	0.51

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94%

77%

View Data

Graduation Rate Comparison Over Years (2012-2022)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2022	94%	77%	86%
2021	95%	76%	85%
2020	95%	76%	89%
2019	96%	78%	89%
2018	96%	78%	88%
2017	94%	78%	89%
2016	93%	80%	88%
2015	93%	79%	85%
2014	90%	77%	76%
2013	95%	76%	84%
2012	96%	78%	88%

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Eligible for

39%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2004-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2023	7%	39%	21%
2022	6%	29%	15%
2020	8%	43%	26%
2019	8%	43%	26%
2012	4%	36%	11%
2011	5%	36%	17%
2010	7%	38%	18%
2009	6%	39%	21%
2008	2%	29%	9%
2004	1%	37%	4%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Desert Vista High School	Arizona	Tempe Union High School District (4287)
2023	3%	7%	5%
2020	1%	7%	3%
2019	1%	7%	3%
2012	2%	11%	3%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Tempe Union High School District (4287)

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

School Notes

School Mascot: Thunder

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Desert Vista High School's ranking?

Desert Vista High School is ranked #64 out of 1,956 schools, which ranks it among the top 5% of public schools in Arizona.

What schools are Desert Vista High School often compared to?

Desert Vista High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Mountain Pointe High School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

74% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 35% AZ state average), while 74% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 40% AZ state average).

What is the graduation rate of Desert Vista High School?

The graduation rate of Desert Vista High School is 94%, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 77%.

How many students attend Desert Vista High School?

2,802 students attend Desert Vista High School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

50% of Desert Vista High School students are White, 26% of students are Hispanic, 8% of students are Two or more races, 7% of students are Asian, 7% of students are Black, and 2% of students are American Indian.

What is the student:teacher ratio of Desert Vista High School?

Desert Vista High School has a student ration of 22:1, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 17:1.

What grades does Desert Vista High School offer ?

Desert Vista High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Desert Vista High School part of?

Desert Vista High School is part of Tempe Union High School District (4287).

In what neighborhood is Desert Vista High School located?

Desert Vista High School is located in the South Mountain Village neighborhood of Phoenix, AZ. There are 45 other public schools located in South Mountain Village.

School Reviews

5 3/28/2011

By far the best high school in Arizona.

- Posted by Parent - themo

Review Desert Vista High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities

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Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 2,802 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 22:1
Minority Enrollment: 50%
: 94% (Top 20%)
: Top 5%
: 74% (Top 5%)
: 74% (Top 5%)
: 40% (Top 30%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education