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Desert Willow Elementary School

9400 E Esmond Loop
Tucson, AZ 85747

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Top 10%

Tel: (520) 879-2302

dwe.vailschooldistrict.org

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Serving 811 students in grades Kindergarten-5, Desert Willow Elementary School ranks in the top 10% 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 68% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving is 62% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).

The student-teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the Arizona state level of 17:1.

Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 67% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 811 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 63%
: Top 10% in AZ
: 68% (Top 5%)
: 62% (Top 20%)
: 50-54% (Top 10%)
: Desert Willow Elementary School serves the northwest part of Tucson, AZ, covering an area of approximately 13.2 square miles. Parents can typically expect a drive of 5 to 10 minutes to reach the school, with the furthest edge of the attendance zone being about 5 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Desert Willow Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:

School Overview

Desert Willow Elementary School's student population of 811 students has grown by 9% over five school years.

The teacher population of 46 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Desert Willow Elementary School
Kind	116
1	131
2	132
3	142
4	137
5	146
Not Listed	7

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Total Students

811 students

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1997-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School
2025	811
2024	759
2023	712
2022	784
2021	741
2020	817
2019	821
2018	814
2017	865
2015	803
2014	828
2013	817
2012	823
2011	839
2010	773
2009	708
2008	797
2007	797
2006	790
2005	782
2004	717
2003	687
2002	596
2001	859
2000	812
1999	907
1998	797
1997	669

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Total Classroom Teachers

46 teachers

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1997-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School
2025	46
2024	44
2023	43
2022	41
2021	45
2020	44
2019	47
2018	49
2017	47
2015	39
2014	41
2013	38
2012	39
2011	41
2010	45
2009	38
2008	45
2007	46
2006	42
2005	50
2004	42
2003	39
2002	38
2001	52
2000	45
1999	48
1998	44
1997	41

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School Calendar

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School Motto

Committed to Excellence in all that We Do

School Rankings

Desert Willow Elementary School ranks within the top 10% of all 1,921 schools in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Desert Willow Elementary School is 0.64, which is less 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)

#160 out of 1921 schools
(Top 10%)

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Overall School Rank Trends (2010-2023)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School
2023	#160
2022	#163
2021	#292
2019	#217
2018	#241
2017	#238
2016	#187
2015	#342
2014	#206
2013	#296
2012	#250
2011	#104
2010	#154

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68%

34%

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Math Proficiency Comparison (2010-2023)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2023	68%	34%	61%
2022	71%	35%	62%
2021	50%	32%	52%
2019	73%	45%	71%
2018	73%	45%	73%
2017	69%	42%	70%
2016	67%	39%	64%
2015	64%	38%	60%
2014	83%	63%	84%
2013	81%	63%	84%
2012	82%	63%	84%
2011	87%	62%	85%
2010	85%	60%	84%

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62%

40%

View Data

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (2010-2022)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2022	62%	40%	62%
2021	55%	39%	57%
2019	66%	45%	68%
2018	64%	44%	73%
2017	61%	42%	64%
2016	61%	40%	60%
2015	49%	38%	51%
2014	92%	79%	92%
2013	89%	78%	92%
2012	89%	77%	92%
2011	92%	77%	92%
2010	90%	74%	92%

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50-54%

24%

Student-Teacher Ratio

18:1

17:1

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1997-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2025	18:1	17:1
2024	17:1	17:1
2023	17:1	17:1	18:1
2022	19:1	17:1	20:1
2021	16:1	17:1	20:1
2020	19:1	18:1	19:1
2019	17:1	19:1	19:1
2018	17:1	18:1	22:1
2017	18:1	19:1	22:1
2015	21:1	19:1	24:1
2014	20:1	19:1	24:1
2013	22:1	19:1	24:1
2012	21:1	18:1	20:1
2011	20:1	19:1	21:1
2010	17:1	18:1	18:1
2009	19:1	17:1	17:1
2008	18:1	18:1	19:1
2007	17:1	18:1	20:1
2006	19:1	18:1	19:1
2005	16:1	19:1	16:1
2004	17:1	19:1	19:1
2003	18:1	19:1	17:1
2002	16:1	19:1	17:1
2001	17:1	19:1	18:1
2000	18:1	19:1	18:1
1999	19:1	19:1	18:1
1998	18:1	19:1	17:1
1997	16:1	19:1	16:1

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Asian

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1997-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2025	1%	3%
2024	1%	3%
2023	1%	3%	2%
2022	1%	3%	2%
2021	1%	3%	3%
2020	1%	3%	2%
2019	1%	3%	2%
2018	2%	3%	3%
2017	2%	3%	3%
2015	3%	3%	2%
2014	4%	3%	3%
2013	4%	3%	3%
2012	5%	3%	3%
2011	4%	3%	4%
2010	4%	3%	4%
2009	5%	3%	4%
2008	3%	3%	3%
2007	3%	3%	3%
2006	3%	2%	2%
2005	2%	2%	2%
2004	2%	2%	2%
2003	3%	2%	2%
2002	3%	2%	2%
2001	3%	2%	4%
2000	3%	2%	3%
1999	3%	2%	1%
1998	3%	2%	2%
1997	4%	2%	3%

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Hispanic

47%

49%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1997-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2025	47%	49%
2024	47%	48%
2023	48%	47%	38%
2022	45%	47%	37%
2021	43%	46%	36%
2020	43%	45%	34%
2019	44%	45%	34%
2018	42%	45%	33%
2017	42%	45%	33%
2015	39%	45%	32%
2014	35%	44%	29%
2013	34%	43%	28%
2012	32%	43%	26%
2011	30%	42%	25%
2010	27%	41%	23%
2009	23%	41%	23%
2008	22%	42%	22%
2007	21%	41%	21%
2006	19%	39%	20%
2005	19%	38%	19%
2004	18%	37%	18%
2003	18%	36%	19%
2002	17%	35%	18%
2001	18%	33%	17%
2000	18%	32%	16%
1999	15%	32%	14%
1998	12%	31%	12%
1997	14%	30%	13%

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Black

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1997-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2025	7%	6%
2024	6%	6%
2023	6%	6%	4%
2022	6%	6%	4%
2021	4%	6%	4%
2020	4%	5%	4%
2019	3%	5%	4%
2018	4%	5%	4%
2017	4%	5%	4%
2015	4%	5%	5%
2014	6%	5%	5%
2013	8%	5%	5%
2012	7%	5%	5%
2011	7%	6%	6%
2010	6%	6%	6%
2009	7%	6%	6%
2008	5%	6%	5%
2007	5%	5%	5%
2006	4%	5%	5%
2005	4%	5%	5%
2004	4%	5%	5%
2003	7%	5%	6%
2002	7%	5%	5%
2001	7%	5%	4%
2000	5%	5%	4%
1999	6%	4%	4%
1998	8%	4%	4%
1997	7%	4%	3%

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White

37%

33%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1997-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2025	37%	33%
2024	38%	34%
2023	39%	35%	49%
2022	41%	35%	50%
2021	44%	36%	51%
2020	42%	38%	54%
2019	43%	38%	54%
2018	45%	38%	56%
2017	46%	38%	56%
2015	48%	40%	58%
2014	51%	41%	60%
2013	52%	42%	61%
2012	55%	42%	64%
2011	57%	42%	64%
2010	62%	44%	66%
2009	65%	44%	66%
2008	69%	44%	69%
2007	71%	45%	70%
2006	73%	47%	72%
2005	74%	49%	73%
2004	75%	48%	74%
2003	71%	49%	72%
2002	72%	50%	74%
2001	71%	52%	75%
2000	73%	53%	77%
1999	75%	55%	79%
1998	76%	56%	80%
1997	74%	57%	79%

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Two or more races

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2011-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2025	8%	4%
2024	8%	4%
2023	6%	4%	7%
2022	7%	4%	7%
2021	7%	4%	6%
2020	9%	4%	6%
2019	8%	3%	6%
2018	6%	3%	4%
2017	6%	3%	4%
2015	5%	2%	3%
2014	3%	2%	2%
2013	2%	2%	2%
2012	1%	2%	1%
2011	1%	1%

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All Ethnic Groups

63%

67%

0.64

0.66

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 29-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1997-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2025	0.64	0.65
2024	0.63	0.65
2023	0.62	0.65	0.61
2022	0.63	0.65	0.61
2021	0.62	0.66	0.61
2020	0.64	0.65	0.60
2019	0.62	0.65	0.60
2018	0.62	0.65	0.58
2017	0.61	0.65	0.58
2015	0.62	0.64	0.56
2014	0.62	0.64	0.55
2013	0.61	0.64	0.55
2012	0.59	0.64	0.53
2011	0.58	0.65	0.52
2010	0.54	0.64	0.50
2009	0.52	0.64	0.50
2008	0.48	0.63	0.48
2007	0.45	0.63	0.46
2006	0.43	0.63	0.44
2005	0.42	0.62	0.43
2004	0.41	0.63	0.42
2003	0.46	0.63	0.44
2002	0.45	0.62	0.43
2001	0.46	0.62	0.40
2000	0.44	0.61	0.38
1999	0.41	0.59	0.35
1998	0.40	0.59	0.34
1997	0.43	0.58	0.35

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(22-23)

29.6%

41.2%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2023	29.6%	41.2%	36%
2022	37.2%	46.9%	37.6%
2021	18%	34.3%	10.9%

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Eligible for

27%

41%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 22-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (2004-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2025	27%	41%
2024	29%	40%
2023	26%	39%	17%
2022	16%	27%	10%
2021	30%	42%	17%
2020	25%	41%	16%
2019	24%	43%	16%
2018	23%	43%	17%
2017	25%	42%	17%
2015	23%	34%	17%
2014	22%	36%	17%
2013	22%	37%	18%
2012	17%	36%	15%
2011	18%	36%	15%
2010	15%	38%	14%
2009	11%	39%	10%
2008	10%	29%	10%
2007	10%	32%	10%
2006	9%	37%	9%
2004	7%	37%	11%

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Eligible for

10%

View Data

Showing 2014–2025. Full 22-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (2004-2025)
Year	Desert Willow Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413)
2025	9%	10%
2024	9%	10%
2023	8%	7%	5%
2021	9%	9%	5%
2020	9%	7%	7%
2019	10%	7%	7%
2018	11%	6%	5%
2017	8%	9%	5%
2015	8%	5%	6%
2014	7%	14%	6%
2013	9%	10%	7%
2012	6%	11%	7%
2011	5%	10%	6%
2010	8%	8%	6%
2009	7%	10%	5%
2008	7%	9%	6%
2007	7%	9%	6%
2006	5%	8%	6%
2004	8%	8%	8%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Vail Unified District (4413)

Sports

Colors

purple and teal

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Desert Willow Elementary School's ranking?

Desert Willow Elementary School is ranked #160 out of 1,921 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in Arizona.

What schools are Desert Willow Elementary School often compared to?

Desert Willow Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Mesquite Elementary School, Cottonwood Elementary School by visitors of our site.

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

68% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% AZ state average), while 62% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 40% AZ state average).

How many students attend Desert Willow Elementary School?

811 students attend Desert Willow Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

47% of Desert Willow Elementary School students are Hispanic, 37% of students are White, 8% of students are Two or more races, 7% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Asian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Desert Willow Elementary School?

Desert Willow Elementary School has a student ration of 18:1, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 17:1.

What grades does Desert Willow Elementary School offer ?

Desert Willow Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Desert Willow Elementary School part of?

Desert Willow Elementary School is part of Vail Unified District (4413).

In what neighborhood is Desert Willow Elementary School located?

Desert Willow Elementary School is located in the Rita Ranch neighborhood of Tucson, AZ. There are 10 other public schools located in Rita Ranch.

School Reviews

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 811 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 63%
: Top 10%
: 68% (Top 5%)
: 62% (Top 20%)
: 50-54% (Top 10%)
: Desert Willow Elementary School serves the northwest part of Tucson, AZ, covering an area of approximately 13.2 square miles. Parents can typically expect a drive of 5 to 10 minutes to reach the school, with the furthest edge of the attendance zone being about 5 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education