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Taft Elementary School

Q: Is Taft Elementary School a good school?

Taft Elementary School ranks 546 th of 909 Arizona elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

546^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 909 Arizona Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of Arizona elementary schools

Summary

Taft Elementary School is a public elementary school in Mesa, Arizona, serving 506 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Mesa Unified District, which is ranked 177 out of 289 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. Taft Elementary has received a 2-3 star rating from SchoolDigger over the past several years, indicating it is performing below average compared to other elementary schools in Arizona.

Taft Elementary consistently underperforms the district and state averages in standardized test scores across grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, Taft's 5th grade science proficiency rate was 22% compared to the district's 33% and the state's 34%. The school also struggles to support certain student subgroups, ranking in the bottom 10% of Arizona elementary schools for African American students and English Language Learners in 2020-2021. Additionally, Taft has seen a significant increase in the percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, rising from 32.95% in 2021-2022 to 68.83% in 2022-2023, suggesting a growing population of economically disadvantaged students.

When comparing Taft Elementary to other nearby schools in the Mesa Unified District, it becomes clear that Taft is one of the lower-performing schools in the area. For instance, Zaharis Elementary, located just 2 miles away, consistently outperforms Taft in academic measures and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Taft Elementary's statewide ranking has also steadily declined over the past several years, dropping from the 433rd best elementary school in Arizona in 2014-2015 to the 546th best in 2024-2025, suggesting the school is struggling to keep pace with improvements in other schools across the state.

491

Students ?

14.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,372

Per pupil spending ?

68.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9800 E Quarterline Rd
Mesa, AZ 85207-6228

(480) 472-9100

District: Mesa Unified District

Students who attend Taft Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Smith Junior High School
High:	Skyline High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

64.4%

White:

27.7%

Two or more races:

3.7%

See top rated Arizona elementary schools

Compare Taft Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 55th percentile in 2015 → 40th in 2025

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 15 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Science scores 12 pts below the Arizona average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school34%

District avg38%

Arizona avg38%

546^th of 909

Arizona public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▼ down 15 pts since 2015

From top 45% (2015) to bottom 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arizona Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

25^th of 51Elementary Schools in the Mesa Unified District

177^th of 289Mesa Unified District among Arizona districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	31.7	546 of 909	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.4	540 of 912	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.5	560 of 1245	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.4	560 of 1000	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.0	544 of 1226	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.3	483 of 1039	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.1	414 of 1109	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	62.0	400 of 1106	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	51.4	471 of 1079	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	47.9	433 of 955	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	53.0	518 of 1079	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	48.0	625 of 1158	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	62.6	421 of 1141	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	55.0	470 of 1075	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	49.6	544 of 1090	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	48.8	559 of 1062	47.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	22.6	805 of 895	10.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	39.3	545 of 975	44.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	33.9	381 of 589	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.9	461 of 602	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	48.5	543 of 1219	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.2	506 of 824	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.5	486 of 1219	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.0	402 of 862	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.8	408 of 1023	60.1%	★★★☆☆

Foster Care

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	30.3	218 of 306	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	41.9	260 of 496	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.2	252 of 486	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.8	591 of 1170	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.8	518 of 716	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	47.3	550 of 1198	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.5	304 of 709	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.7	302 of 911	66.8%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	31.9	324 of 423	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	45.1	259 of 549	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.4	261 of 556	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.6	456 of 1116	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	34.3	426 of 618	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	72.0	169 of 820	79.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	28.2	435 of 626	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.3	463 of 628	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	50.3	537 of 1216	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	31.6	561 of 830	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.0	610 of 1220	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.3	513 of 850	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.9	372 of 1032	64.0%	★★★☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	72.2	4 of 7	42.9%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	15.6	582 of 617	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.7	436 of 444	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	55.1	384 of 1027	62.6%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	49.3	342 of 820	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.7	538 of 1201	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.0	92 of 417	77.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2024	20.8	418 of 486	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.5	574 of 1024	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.6	525 of 800	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.2	592 of 1161	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.4	464 of 595	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	47.1	408 of 720	43.3%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2023)58th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)53rd percentile+13 vs school

Hispanic (2025)48th percentile+8 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)44th percentile-12 vs school

Migrant (2022)43rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)35th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2025)31st percentile-9 vs school

Foster Care (2021)29th percentile-27 vs school

Homeless (2021)23rd percentile-32 vs school

White (2024)14th percentile-27 vs school

African American (2021)10th percentile-46 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)6th percentile-49 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics36%~ state avg

English Language Arts34%-6 vs state

Science22%-12 vs state

2.5

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, July 21, 2010

This school has given my children great opportunities to learn using a variety of programs. I feel that their education is in good hands with the teachers and administrators at this school. Close Quote

Schools Near Taft Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				AASA English Language Arts (2025)				AASA Mathematics (2025)				AzSCI Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	AASA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	AASA English Language Arts 4th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 5th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 6th Grade	AASA Mathematics 3rd Grade	AASA Mathematics 4th Grade	AASA Mathematics 5th Grade	AASA Mathematics 6th Grade	AzSCI Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Taft Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	9800 E Quarterline Rd	Mesa	85207	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 472-9100	491	33	14.8		136 (27.7%)	15 (3.1%)	316 (64.4%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.7%)	31.7	546^th of 909 public elementary schools	39.9%		33.4	540^th of 912 public elementary schools	40.8%	6	24.0	40.0	28.0	45.0	47.0	43.0	34.0	19.0	22.0	$10,372	$728	$200	$1,657	$9,141	$303	$9,444
Cambridge Academy East	Public, Charter	K-8	9412 E Brown Rd	Mesa	85207	Maricopa County	Cambridge Academy East Inc	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 641-2828	242	10	24.2		157 (64.9%)	8 (3.3%)	69 (28.5%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.5%)								(n/a)		41.0								$5,899	$485	$300	$1,270	$3,894	$1,220	$5,114
Stevenson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	638 S 96th St	Mesa	85208	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 472-9000	725	38	19.0		187 (25.8%)	30 (4.1%)	467 (64.4%)	3 (0.4%)	14 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.3%)	11.9	844^th of 909 public elementary schools	7.2%		12.2	834^th of 912 public elementary schools	8.6%	10	22.0	30.0	15.0	17.0	35.0	14.0		10.0	15.0	$7,722	$715	$387	$1,817	$6,440	$179	$6,620
Sousa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	616 N Mountain Rd	Mesa	85207	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 472-8900	344	25	13.8		165 (48.0%)	15 (4.4%)	144 (41.9%)	2 (0.6%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (3.8%)	21.2	689^th of 909 public elementary schools	24.2%		19	723^rd of 912 public elementary schools	20.7%	34		30.0	32.0		37.0	26.0	21.0		25.0	$9,966	$957	$126	$2,040	$8,696	$188	$8,883
Patterson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	615 S Cheshire	Mesa	85208	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 472-9700	733	45	16.4		328 (44.7%)	26 (3.5%)	302 (41.2%)	14 (1.9%)	23 (3.1%)	3 (0.4%)	37 (5.0%)	45.1	436^th of 909 public elementary schools	52.0%		51.3	399^th of 912 public elementary schools	56.3%	37	42.0	45.0	45.0	36.0	51.0	38.0	39.0	28.0	40.0	$8,129	$762	$16	$1,541	$7,161	$190	$7,351
Zaharis Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	9410 E McKellips Rd	Mesa	85207	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 308-7200	721	40	18.1		546 (75.7%)	10 (1.4%)	121 (16.8%)	6 (0.8%)	6 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	30 (4.2%)	79	165^th of 909 public elementary schools	81.8%		72.6	222^nd of 912 public elementary schools	75.7%	57	59.0	62.0	63.0	58.0	49.0	64.0	69.0	48.0	56.0	$7,143	$148	$04	$301	$6,763	$227	$6,990
Imagine East Mesa Elementary	Public, Charter	K-6	9701 E Southern Ave	Mesa	85209	Maricopa County	East Mesa Charter Elementary School Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 355-6830	611	25	24.4		247 (40.4%)	29 (4.7%)	281 (46.0%)	6 (1.0%)	11 (1.8%)	2 (0.3%)	35 (5.7%)	27.9	582^nd of 909 public elementary schools	36.0%		29.5	581^st of 912 public elementary schools	36.3%	1	19.0	25.0	37.0	40.0	28.0	22.0	46.0	25.0	35.0		$00			$00
Brinton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	11455 E Sunland Ave	Mesa	85208	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 472-4075	495	27	18.1		218 (44.0%)	37 (7.5%)	197 (39.8%)	3 (0.6%)	6 (1.2%)	5 (1.0%)	29 (5.9%)	36.1	500^th of 909 public elementary schools	45.0%		38	495^th of 912 public elementary schools	45.7%	5	19.0	39.0	29.0	55.0	28.0	33.0	42.0	42.0	34.0	$8,728	$911	$56	$1,877	$7,565	$196	$7,762
Falcon Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1645 N Sterling	Mesa	85207	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 472-8600	544	34	16.2		307 (56.4%)	12 (2.2%)	173 (31.8%)	5 (0.9%)	9 (1.7%)	6 (1.1%)	32 (5.9%)	39.7	472^nd of 909 public elementary schools	48.1%		26.8	614^th of 912 public elementary schools	32.7%	142	38.0	38.0	34.0	44.0	49.0	34.0	40.0	23.0	40.0	$9,634	$874	$25	$1,772	$8,552	$184	$8,736
Salk Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	7029 E Brown Rd	Mesa	85207	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 472-8400	494	31	15.9		140 (28.3%)	44 (8.9%)	253 (51.2%)	7 (1.4%)	15 (3.0%)	2 (0.4%)	33 (6.7%)	14.9	788^th of 909 public elementary schools	13.3%		18.8	725^th of 912 public elementary schools	20.5%	63		24.0		25.0	30.0		21.0			$8,686	$962	$47	$1,971	$7,558	$119	$7,677

Frequently Asked Questions about Taft Elementary School

What district is Taft Elementary School in?

Mesa Unified District

What schools do graduates of Taft Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Taft Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Smith Junior High School
High : Skyline High School

What is the racial makeup of Taft Elementary School?

Students at Taft Elementary School are 64% Hispanic, 28% White, 4% Two or more races, 3% African American.

How many students attend Taft Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 491 students attended Taft Elementary School.

Is Taft Elementary School a good school?

Taft Elementary School ranks 546^th of 909 Arizona elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Taft Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arizona Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.