Baboquivari Middle School

Baboquivari Middle School is a public middle school in Tucson, Arizona, serving 140 students in grades 7-8. The school has a predominantly Native American student population, with over 97% of students identifying as such in the 2022-2023 school year.

Despite the school's high per-student spending, Baboquivari Middle School has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing middle schools in Arizona, with only 2-15% of students proficient in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The school also experiences high dropout rates, ranging from 0.6% to 10.3% over the past five years, significantly higher than the state average. Interestingly, the nearby Alternative Middle School (Indian Oasis Middle School) serves a similar student population but has slightly higher academic proficiency rates and a lower dropout rate.

Baboquivari Middle School's challenges may be rooted in the unique needs of its predominantly Native American student population. The school's performance on state assessments for this subgroup is particularly low, ranking 151 out of 159 Arizona middle schools in 2022-2023. This suggests that the school may be facing unique challenges in supporting the academic success of its Native American students. Addressing these challenges will likely require a comprehensive, targeted approach that takes into account the specific contextual factors and needs of the school and its Baboquivari Unified School District #40 community.