Best Public Schools in Mesa, AZ

The city of Mesa, Arizona is home to 132 schools serving students from elementary through high school, including 85 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, 19 high schools, and 13 alternative schools. The schools in this area display a wide range of academic performance, with some standout high-performing schools like Red Mountain High School and Mountain View High School ranking among the top 100 high schools in the state, while others struggle with low test scores and high dropout rates.

The top-performing schools in Mesa tend to have strong leadership, curriculum, and resources that contribute to their high achievement levels. For example, the Franklin Accelerated Academy - Brimhall Campus and Franklin Accelerated Academy - Downtown Campus rank among the top 10 elementary schools in Arizona, with 76-88% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 58-85% proficient in Math. Similarly, the Self Development Charter School and the Montessori Education Centre Charter School - Mesa and Montessori Education Centre Charter School - North Campus are among the top-ranked elementary schools in the state.

However, the data also reveals significant performance gaps between the highest and lowest-performing schools in Mesa, with graduation rates ranging from 18.8% to 97.1% and proficiency rates on state assessments varying widely from as low as 2-15% up to 85-98%. This suggests major inequities in educational opportunities and outcomes across the Mesa Unified District and the other school districts serving the area. Addressing these disparities and ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education will be crucial for improving academic achievement throughout the city.