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Mesa Arts Academy

Public, Charter Grades K-8

Summary

Mesa Arts Academy is a public charter elementary school serving 218 students in grades K-8 in Mesa, Arizona. The school is part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley district, which is ranked 326 out of 540 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating.

While Mesa Arts Academy has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (69.72%) compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 46.05% to 91.85% Hispanic, the school's academic performance has been declining over the past decade. Its statewide ranking has dropped from a high of 183 out of 955 Arizona elementary schools in 2014-2015 to 842 out of 1245 in 2022-2023, placing it in the bottom third of the state. Additionally, the school's test scores are consistently lower than the state and district averages across all grade levels and subjects, with only 22% of 5th graders proficient in science in 2022-2023, compared to the state average of 34%. The school also has a very high percentage of students (75.69%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, significantly higher than the nearby Franklin West Elementary and Lincoln Elementary School, which have higher test scores and statewide rankings despite serving similar demographic populations.

Despite spending more per student ($10,989 in 2019-2020) compared to the nearby public schools, which range from $7,320 to $9,568 per student, Mesa Arts Academy's academic performance continues to lag behind. This raises questions about how the additional funding is being utilized and whether it is effectively translating into improved outcomes for students. Addressing the school's declining performance, demographic challenges, and underperformance compared to nearby schools will be crucial for Mesa Arts Academy to provide a high-quality education for its students.

227

Students ?

28.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

75.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

221 W 6th Ave
Mesa, AZ 85210-2446

(480) 844-3965

District: The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

77.5%

White:

11.0%

African American:

5.7%

See top rated Arizona public schools

Compare Mesa Arts Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 78th percentile in 2012 → 32nd in 2023

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arizona average (60% vs 46% meeting standards)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 46 percentile points since 2012

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

!Large classes — about 28 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2023-2024) ?

This school60%

District avg60%

Arizona avg46%

Not ranked this year

Mesa Arts Academy did not have enough recent test-score data to be ranked. Check the trend below for past years.

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

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	28.9	842 of 1245	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.3	1035 of 1226	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.2	431 of 1039	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.1	415 of 1109	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	68.7	340 of 1106	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.3	383 of 1079	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	78.5	183 of 955	80.8%	★★★★☆
2014	76.4	253 of 1079	76.6%	★★★★☆
2013	78.6	209 of 1158	82.0%	★★★★☆
2012	76.2	253 of 1141	77.8%	★★★★☆
2011	79.5	216 of 1075	79.9%	★★★★☆
2010	72.5	299 of 1090	72.6%	★★★★☆
2009	78.9	214 of 1062	79.8%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	39.1	380 of 607	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.8	607 of 895	32.2%	★★☆☆☆

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
2023	39.1	669 of 1219	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.7	1000 of 1219	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	79.2	209 of 1023	79.6%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	31.4	797 of 1170	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	19.8	1076 of 1198	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	65.7	259 of 911	71.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	30.3	804 of 1116	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	71.5	175 of 820	78.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	25.7	907 of 1216	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.5	692 of 830	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.9	1072 of 1220	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	43.1	547 of 1032	47.0%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	14.0	1008 of 1027	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	57.9	243 of 820	70.4%	★★★★☆
2021	23.7	1053 of 1201	12.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	43.2	579 of 1024	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.4	813 of 1161	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	39.3	446 of 854	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.1	649 of 832	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.7	232 of 605	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.4	195 of 711	72.6%	★★★★☆
2017	43.9	319 of 695	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	54.0	256 of 677	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	74.1	177 of 690	74.3%	★★★★☆
2013	64.7	249 of 787	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	81.7	98 of 772	87.3%	★★★★☆
2011	78.3	133 of 685	80.6%	★★★★☆
2010	92.7	24 of 692	96.5%	★★★★★
2009	90.3	31 of 663	95.3%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	22.5	542 of 573	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	41.7	298 of 606	50.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	42.3	393 of 806	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	30.0	547 of 820	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.8	206 of 624	67.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	38.5	419 of 760	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.2	487 of 802	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	68.9	111 of 543	79.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	39.0	396 of 717	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	84.3	50 of 503	90.1%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	30.0	543 of 810	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.6	325 of 476	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	19.6	703 of 818	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	66.5	173 of 617	72.0%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	22.1	553 of 650	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	28.1	644 of 789	18.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	43.0	362 of 675	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	21.8	375 of 446	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.6	655 of 780	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Special Education (2023)70th percentile+38 vs school

Female (2023)45th percentile+13 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)44th percentile+29 vs school

White (2023)43rd percentile+11 vs school

African American (2023)37th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2023)32nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)28th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2023)25th percentile-7 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)2nd percentile-14 vs school

Middle school

Female (2023)51st percentile+3 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)51st percentile+29 vs school

White (2023)46th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2023)45th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)45th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2023)33rd percentile-15 vs school

Special Education (2021)18th percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)15th percentile-7 vs school

African American (2021)5th percentile-17 vs school

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Monday, October 1, 2012

I am a parent at the school and this is my first year at the school. Everything that my child needs to be successful in life is at this school. I took him from a nice posh Gilbert charter school where all the kids thought everything was owed to them and didn't know what work was, to this school where kids are taught the value of education and how college is not something just for other people, but for them as well. The staff and teachers are firm and respectful as well as attentive to my sons needs as a child and needs as a student. I waited a year on the waiting list and when my time came to trade schools, I thought of my sons future first and friends second. He has adjusted well to all the changes and now he is coming home with a smile on his face and can't wait to go to school the next day to play with his new friends. Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Monday, May 14, 2012

I Have my two kids going to that school I am super happy with the teacher and the way my kids are learning. The most import part is how they are prepared my kids for the future always think on college. The REACH Assembly give a really motivation to the students and parent. Close Quote

Schools Near Mesa Arts Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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
Mesa Arts Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	221 W 6th Ave	Mesa	85210	Maricopa County	The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 844-3965	227	8	28.3		25 (11.0%)	13 (5.7%)	176 (77.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	11 (4.8%)								(n/a)											$00			$00
Franklin Accelerated Academy - Downtown Campus	Public	PK, KG-6	236 S Sirrine	Mesa	85210	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 472-5400	373	18	20.7		145 (38.9%)	13 (3.5%)	173 (46.4%)	6 (1.6%)	8 (2.1%)	2 (0.5%)	26 (7.0%)	82.4	136^th of 909 public elementary schools	85.0%		85.6	120^th of 912 public elementary schools	86.8%	16	58.0	71.0	74.0	56.0	58.0	70.0	76.0	48.0	48.0	$7,582	$29	$19	$76	$7,360	$174	$7,534
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	930 S Sirrine	Mesa	85210	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 472-6400	572	36	16.0		37 (6.5%)	14 (2.4%)	503 (87.9%)	5 (0.9%)	4 (0.7%)	3 (0.5%)	6 (1.0%)	14	805^th of 909 public elementary schools	11.4%		12.9	824^th of 912 public elementary schools	9.6%	19		20.0		28.0		20.0		22.0		$8,849	$800	$58	$1,659	$7,498	$493	$7,991
Heritage Academy Pinnacle	Public, Charter	K-8	32 S Center St	Mesa	85210	Maricopa County	Heritage Academy Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(623) 537-3535	124	8	15.5		74 (59.7%)	3 (2.4%)	32 (25.8%)	2 (1.6%)	2 (1.6%)	1 (0.8%)	10 (8.1%)								(n/a)		74.0
Mesa Center for Success	Public	PK, KG-8	855 W 8th Ave	Mesa	85210	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 472-3802	52	8	6.5		22 (42.3%)	6 (11.5%)	17 (32.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.8%)								(n/a)
Burke Basic School	Public, Charter	K-6	131 E Southern Ave	Mesa	85210	Maricopa County	American Basic Schools LLC	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 964-4602	634	34	18.6		12 (1.9%)	22 (3.5%)	590 (93.1%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	17.6	739^th of 909 public elementary schools	18.7%		13.1	819^th of 912 public elementary schools	10.2%	80		42.0	21.0	28.0		14.0		17.0			$00			$00
Redbird Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1020 S Extension Rd	Mesa	85210	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 472-1200	484	30	16.1		54 (11.2%)	58 (12.0%)	293 (60.5%)	4 (0.8%)	47 (9.7%)	7 (1.4%)	21 (4.3%)	16.3	761^st of 909 public elementary schools	16.3%					(n/a)		23.0		33.0		19.0		22.0		$8,722	$674	$160	$1,507	$7,396	$493	$7,889
New Horizon School for the Performing Arts	Public, Charter	K-6	446 E Broadway Rd	Mesa	85204	Maricopa County	New Horizon School for the Performing Arts	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 655-7444	119	10	11.9		17 (14.3%)	7 (5.9%)	92 (77.3%)	1 (0.8%)	2 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)											$00			$00
SLAM Arizona Inc.	Public, Charter	K-8	305 E Main Street	Mesa	85201	Maricopa County	SLAM Arizona Inc.	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(702) 431-6260	59				3 (5.1%)	16 (27.1%)	39 (66.1%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Guerrero Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	463 S Alma School Rd	Mesa	85210	Maricopa County	Mesa Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 472-9220	424	25	17.3		22 (5.2%)	36 (8.5%)	341 (80.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.9%)								(n/a)						27.0				$9,465	$1,135	$108	$2,377	$7,985	$237	$8,222

Frequently Asked Questions about Mesa Arts Academy

How many students attend Mesa Arts Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 227 students attended Mesa Arts Academy.

What district is Mesa Arts Academy in?

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley

What is the racial makeup of Mesa Arts Academy?

Students at Mesa Arts Academy are 78% Hispanic, 11% White, 6% African American, 5% Two or more races.

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Latest Arizona data All new data »

2024–25 dropout ratesDec 2, 2025

2024–25 graduation ratesNov 7, 2025

2024–25 AASA & AzSCI test scoresOct 10, 2025

2023–24 dropout ratesJun 30, 2025

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.