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Mesquite Elementary School

9455 E Rita Rd
Tucson, AZ 85747

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10/

Top 5%

Tel: (520) 879-2102

mes.vailschooldistrict.org

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Serving 677 students in grades Kindergarten-5, Mesquite Elementary 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 72% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving is 71% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).

The student:teacher ratio of 17:1 is equal to 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 66% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 677 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 17:1
Minority Enrollment: 63%
: Top 5% in AZ
: 72% (Top 5%)
: 71% (Top 5%)
: 60-64% (Top 5%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

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

School Overview

Mesquite Elementary School's student population of 677 students has grown by 8% over five school years.

The teacher population of 39 teachers has grown by 8% over five school years.

Awards

Blue Ribbon School - Selected in 2014, 2021

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Mesquite Elementary School
Kind	91
1	110
2	129
3	104
4	135
5	106
Not Listed	2

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Total Students

677 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School
2023	736
2022	716
2021	629
2020	622
2019	622
2018	673
2017	673
2016	644
2015	667
2014	676
2013	597
2011	608
2010	595
2009	607
2008	638
2007	631
2006	630
2005	570
2004	564
2003	661
2002	645

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

39 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (2001-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School
2023	33
2022	33
2021	31
2020	36
2019	36
2012	30
2011	30
2010	33
2009	35
2008	38
2007	28
2006	36
2005	35
2004	27
2003	36
2002	37
2001	45

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Year Founded

1905

First Day of School

Fri. Aug 15, 2025

Last Day of School

Mon. May 25, 2026

Campus Size

School Motto

Truth and Honor

School Mascot

Wild Boars

School Rankings

Mesquite Elementary School ranks within the top 5% of all 1,921 schools in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Mesquite Elementary 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)

#71 out of 1921 schools
(Top 5%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School
2023	#71
2022	#68
2021	#70
2019	#67
2018	#77
2017	#90
2016	#94
2015	#146
2014	#80
2013	#81
2012	#130

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72%

34%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2023	72%	34%	61%
2022	80%	35%	62%
2021	70%	32%	52%
2019	83%	45%	71%
2018	83%	45%	73%
2017	81%	42%	70%
2016	76%	39%	64%
2015	76%	38%	60%
2014	91%	63%	84%
2013	90%	63%	84%
2012	91%	63%	84%

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71%

40%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2022	71%	40%	62%
2021	72%	39%	57%
2019	78%	45%	68%
2018	75%	44%	73%
2017	71%	42%	64%
2016	69%	40%	60%
2015	57%	38%	51%
2014	95%	79%	92%
2013	94%	78%	92%
2012	91%	77%	92%
2011	93%	77%	92%

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60-64%

24%

Student : Teacher Ratio

17:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (2000-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2023	22:1	17:1	18:1
2022	22:1	17:1	20:1
2021	20:1	17:1	20:1
2020	17:1	18:1	19:1
2019	17:1	18:1	19:1
2011	20:1	19:1	21:1
2010	18:1	18:1	18:1
2009	18:1	18:1	17:1
2008	17:1	18:1	19:1
2007	23:1	18:1	20:1
2006	18:1	18:1	19:1
2005	16:1	19:1	16:1
2004	21:1	19:1	19:1
2003	18:1	19:1	17:1
2002	17:1	19:1	17:1
2001	19:1	19:1	18:1
2000	19:1	19:1	18:1

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American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2001-2014)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2014	1%	5%	1%
2010	1%	6%	1%
2009	1%	6%	1%
2008	1%	5%	1%
2007	1%	6%	1%
2006	1%	7%	1%
2005	1%	7%	1%
2004	1%	8%	1%
2003	1%	8%	1%
2002	3%	8%	1%
2001	1%	8%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2023	4%	3%	2%
2022	4%	3%	2%
2021	3%	3%	3%
2020	3%	3%	2%
2019	3%	3%	2%
2018	2%	3%	3%
2017	2%	3%	3%
2016	2%	3%	2%
2015	3%	3%	2%
2014	4%	3%	3%
2013	6%	3%	3%
2011	5%	3%	4%
2010	5%	3%	4%
2009	4%	3%	4%
2008	4%	3%	3%
2007	4%	3%	3%
2006	6%	2%	2%
2005	5%	2%	2%
2004	4%	2%	2%
2003	3%	2%	2%
2002	3%	2%	2%

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Hispanic

42%

48%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2023	42%	47%	38%
2022	42%	47%	37%
2021	43%	46%	36%
2020	44%	45%	34%
2019	44%	45%	34%
2018	44%	45%	33%
2017	44%	45%	33%
2016	42%	45%	33%
2015	38%	45%	32%
2014	36%	44%	29%
2013	34%	43%	28%
2011	30%	42%	25%
2010	27%	41%	23%
2009	27%	41%	23%
2008	27%	42%	22%
2007	25%	41%	21%
2006	24%	39%	20%
2005	21%	38%	19%
2004	21%	37%	18%
2003	25%	36%	19%
2002	22%	35%	18%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2023	4%	6%	4%
2022	3%	6%	4%
2021	3%	6%	4%
2020	2%	5%	4%
2019	2%	5%	4%
2018	3%	5%	4%
2017	3%	5%	4%
2016	3%	5%	4%
2015	5%	5%	5%
2014	5%	5%	5%
2013	6%	5%	5%
2011	6%	5%	6%
2010	6%	6%	6%
2009	7%	6%	6%
2008	6%	6%	5%
2007	5%	5%	5%
2006	7%	5%	5%
2005	4%	5%	5%
2004	7%	5%	5%
2003	5%	5%	6%
2002	5%	5%	5%

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White

37%

34%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2023	39%	35%	49%
2022	40%	35%	50%
2021	41%	36%	51%
2020	41%	38%	54%
2019	41%	38%	54%
2018	45%	38%	56%
2017	45%	38%	56%
2016	47%	39%	57%
2015	49%	40%	58%
2014	51%	41%	60%
2013	52%	42%	61%
2011	59%	42%	64%
2010	61%	44%	66%
2009	61%	44%	66%
2008	62%	44%	69%
2007	65%	45%	70%
2006	62%	47%	72%
2005	69%	48%	73%
2004	67%	48%	74%
2003	66%	49%	72%
2002	67%	50%	74%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

12%

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2023	11%	4%	7%
2022	10%	4%	7%
2021	9%	4%	6%
2020	9%	3%	6%
2019	9%	3%	6%
2018	6%	3%	4%
2017	6%	3%	4%
2016	6%	3%	4%
2015	5%	2%	3%
2014	3%	2%	2%
2013	2%	2%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.67

0.66

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2023	0.66	0.65	0.61
2022	0.66	0.65	0.61
2021	0.64	0.66	0.61
2020	0.64	0.65	0.60
2019	0.64	0.65	0.60
2018	0.61	0.65	0.58
2017	0.61	0.65	0.58
2016	0.60	0.65	0.57
2015	0.62	0.64	0.56
2014	0.61	0.64	0.55
2013	0.61	0.64	0.55
2011	0.56	0.65	0.52
2010	0.55	0.64	0.50
2009	0.55	0.64	0.50
2008	0.54	0.63	0.48
2007	0.52	0.63	0.46
2006	0.55	0.63	0.44
2005	0.48	0.62	0.43
2004	0.50	0.63	0.42
2003	0.50	0.63	0.44
2002	0.50	0.62	0.43

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Eligible for

22%

40%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2023	19%	39%	17%
2022	12%	29%	10%
2021	24%	42%	17%
2020	18%	43%	16%
2019	18%	43%	16%
2018	22%	42%	17%
2017	22%	42%	17%
2016	1%	33%
2015	21%	34%	17%
2014	20%	36%	17%
2013	19%	37%	18%
2011	13%	36%	15%
2010	14%	38%	14%
2009	14%	39%	10%
2008	9%	29%	10%
2007	10%	32%	10%
2006	9%	37%	9%
2004	11%	37%	11%
2003	12%	9%	10%

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Eligible for

10%

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	Mesquite Elementary School	Arizona	Vail Unified District (4413) School District
2023	4%	7%	5%
2021	5%	9%	5%
2020	4%	7%	7%
2019	4%	7%	7%
2018	4%	9%	5%
2017	4%	9%	5%
2015	8%	5%	6%
2014	7%	14%	6%
2013	7%	10%	7%
2011	5%	10%	6%
2010	4%	8%	6%
2009	4%	10%	5%
2008	5%	9%	6%
2007	6%	9%	6%
2006	8%	8%	6%
2004	9%	8%	8%
2003	7%	3%	6%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Vail Unified District (4413) School District

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

School Notes

School Mascot: Wild Boars

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mesquite Elementary School's ranking?

Mesquite Elementary School is ranked #71 out of 1,921 schools, which ranks it among the top 5% of public schools in Arizona.

What schools are Mesquite Elementary School often compared to?

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

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

72% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% AZ state average), while 71% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 40% AZ state average).

How many students attend Mesquite Elementary School?

677 students attend Mesquite Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

42% of Mesquite Elementary School students are Hispanic, 37% of students are White, 12% of students are Two or more races, 5% of students are Black, and 4% of students are Asian.

What is the student:teacher ratio of Mesquite Elementary School?

Mesquite Elementary School has a student ration of 17:1, which is equal to the Arizona state average of 17:1.

What grades does Mesquite Elementary School offer ?

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

What school district is Mesquite Elementary School part of?

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

In what neighborhood is Mesquite Elementary School located?

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

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Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 677 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 17:1
Minority Enrollment: 63%
: Top 5%
: 72% (Top 5%)
: 71% (Top 5%)
: 60-64% (Top 5%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education