Sousa Elementary School

Public PK, KG-6

 616 N Mountain Rd
       Mesa, AZ  85207-2303


(480) 472-8900

District: Mesa Unified District

SchoolDigger Rank:
892nd of 1,245 Arizona Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,966 Help


Students who attend Sousa Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Smith Junior High School
High:    Skyline High School

Student/teacher ratio:  11.4 Help
Number of students:  384

Racial breakdown:

White:
51.6%
Hispanic:
38.3%
Two or more races:
4.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  55.7% Help


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 Compare Sousa Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Sousa Elementary School ranks worse than 71.6% of elementary schools in Arizona. It also ranks 36th among 55 ranked elementary schools in the Mesa Unified District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 25.75. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (51.6%), Hispanic (38.3%), two or more races (4.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 55.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sousa Elementary School is 11.4, which is the 4th best among 55 elementary schools in the Mesa Unified District. (See more...)
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Compare Sousa Elementary School employs 33.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sousa Elementary School is $9,966, which is the 9th highest among 55 elementary schools in the Mesa Unified District.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Sousa Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Sousa Elementary School 892nd of 1245 Arizona public elementary schools. (See Sousa Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Mesa Unified District:

SchoolDigger ranks Mesa Unified District 264th of 540 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Sousa Elementary School?

Rank History for Sousa Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 81.36 177th 1062 83.3%
2010 82.92 168th 1090 84.6%
2011 85.05 132nd 1075 87.7%
2012 80.08 197th 1141 82.7%
2013 78.06 218th 1158 81.2%
2014 75.38 269th 1079 75.1%
2015 56.26 369th 955 61.4%
2016 63.69 368th 1079 65.9%
2017 56.72 438th 1106 60.4%
2018 52.05 480th 1109 56.7%
2019 54.32 442nd 1039 57.5%
2021 45.74 590th 1226 51.9%
2022 19.04 781st 1000 21.9%
2023 25.75 892nd 1245 28.4%
See the entire list of Arizona Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 68.07 225th 1027 78.1%
2022 38.10 320th 444 27.9%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 46.12 305th 975 68.7%
2022 86.20 1st 17 94.1%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.92 227th 417 45.6%
2021 48.35 465th 1201 61.3%
2023 32.08 558th 820 32.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.38 387th 820 52.8%
2023 29.34 824th 1116 26.2%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 47.57 60th 102 41.2%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.02 470th 1023 54.1%
2019 55.47 368th 862 57.3%
2021 47.89 561st 1219 54.0%
2022 25.97 641st 824 22.2%
2023 31.34 783rd 1219 35.8%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Foster Care students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 45.86 131st 306 57.2%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Foster Care Students!

Rank History for Male students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.09 492nd 1032 52.3%
2019 37.26 486th 850 42.8%
2021 42.81 629th 1220 48.4%
2023 23.12 942nd 1216 22.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 22.76 801st 895 10.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.38 465th 911 49.0%
2019 61.90 248th 709 65.0%
2021 49.54 514th 1198 57.1%
2023 19.03 1022nd 1170 12.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 75.55 46th 654 93.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for White students at Sousa Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.41 508th 720 29.4%
2019 23.58 489th 595 17.8%
2021 33.98 803rd 1161 30.8%
2022 7.07 775th 800 3.1%
2023 17.45 916th 1024 10.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Arizona Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Sousa Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Arizona Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2.2)
17%

17%

0%

0%

67%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, February 18, 2021

Open Quote I have had it with Sousa. I have given them many chances to help fix issues with how they schedule their online sessions with students and it was to no avail. I’m not the only one with complaints I have met with other parents and we share the same concerns.
Here are the issues we continue to have:
1. The 1st grade teachers are impatient with the students and the parents.
2. They do not hold live classes for every subject instead they hold reading and writing with little time for students to ask questions and understand. There are no accommodations for students with different learning needs.
3. The principal is the most unprofessional and weak leader I have ever met. She justifies the teachers lack of performance and lack of caring for the students.
The teachers need to quit they give teachers a bad name, so does the principal. This issue will be escalated. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, December 25, 2020

Open Quote I had high hopes for Sousa since we just bought our home nearby. I have had issues with the disrespectful way a 1st grade teacher speaks to my child and other children. This teacher has been with Sousa for years and I have connected with other parents that are experiencing the same issue. When I first brought it up she did not care.
The teachers are allowed to make negative learning environments. The principal is weak and supports this type of behavior. I have since found a better school with a principal that cares about the students and with a competent 1st grade teacher. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, October 4, 2018

Open Quote My son and I were really excited to go to this school considering it is across the street from our home.
He was being teased for playing with a little girl and after so many days, he defended himself saying to his friend “girls are dogs and dogs drink out of toilet bowls”
When I picked my son up from school he was crying, devastated, saying that he got written up. He told me what happened and what was said. We talked why he did it and why it wasn’t ok.
The teacher messaged me on class dojo explaining what happened and that my son was very honest with her immediately, she talked to him and she could tell he was genuinely sorry. That he chose to make a difference by writing an assignment on anti bullying,
I explained that he was sorry and the he said he wouldn’t do it again..and that was the end of the discussion.
I though it was over and dealt with until
I picked my son up the next day and he was devastated crying AGAIN.....Nobody there with him to explain why he’s so upset.
He told me that he had to stay in a room and eat his lunch while writing an assignment on what Sousa’s Expectations are from him, for using unkind words AND then had to sit on a bench for recess while everyone else got to play! That was his punishment for the rest of the week!
Mind you, nobody ever informed me of him getting this kind of treatment!! I thought it was dealt with the day before!
When I called the school to understand the situation both the principal secretary and principal were incredibly rude to me, pretty much called me a liar at one point.
The principal said things like “you must feel like you guys are higher and above everyone else to think he shouldn’t get this kind of punishment” (even tho my son was the only one punished in this “incident”) and
“if he was using kind words, he wouldn’t be in this situation” instead of trying to make the situation better and being on the same page. It was their way or find another school!
This school since then has deleted my reviews and won’t even reply back to my emails. I’ve never dealt with something like this before and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. The lack of respect is unreal. It was the first time he was ever in trouble! The punishment was too harsh for something so small.
I was understanding the first day but it is not ok to treat any child this way and/or any parent for that matter.
I have gotten plenty of advice from plenty of mothers and also see other ratings that state almost the same things to know my feelings are also justified and that this is not ok and they are perfectly fine with showing they DO NOT CARE! We no longer go to this school! Shame on Sousa Elementary School!! Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, June 2, 2017

Open Quote Excellent school run by an amazing Principal , my son was extremely happy going here and excelled . Close Quote


by a student
Monday, March 30, 2015

Open Quote This is probably one of my favorite schools out there in Arizona. The teachers were pretty nice to me, and the community was very friendly. I had attended there since 2003 for 6 years, and this school was never problematic. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, December 16, 2011

Open Quote My child has been in Sousa since kindergarten. We started having issues with Sousa around 2nd grade. I have had many issues with staff including the Principal. Also, one of the 4th grade teachers seems to be a "teacher bully" and after doing research on "teacher bully" she fits the mold perfectly. She is claimed (by the principal) to be one of their best teachers but what I have found is she is the best at manipulating the system and make families lives miserable. I have asked for help in trying to figure out the issues with my child and have gotten no where. I've spoke with many parents about this school and have heard several horror stories that they have gone through as well. Several have removed their child or children from Sousa to find better schools. When you go to the school the teachers seem to have a gloomy look about them and don't seem happy. I feel I am now forced to make the choice to find a better school that will work with me and my family instead of making us dread each day. I do not feel my child is safe or protected from staff that are bullies and that feel the need to punish for normal child behaviors. If you are a parent and having issues with this school, you are not alone. Talk with other parents and you will find that out very easily. Good luck to all the families who are stuggling and hope you find this so you know you are not alone and your feelings are justified. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Sousa Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 332 332
1990 298 3 1 43 2 n/a n/a -8 339
1991 305 4 1 48 4 n/a n/a 57 419
1992 405 5 1 41 5 n/a n/a 0 457
1993 426 3 2 54 4 n/a n/a 0 489
1994 425 4 2 61 1 n/a n/a 0 493
1995 479 2 3 44 1 n/a n/a 0 529
1996 479 2 3 44 1 n/a n/a 0 529
1997 484 4 4 48 0 n/a n/a 0 540
1998 504 6 6 61 2 n/a n/a 0 579
1999 537 14 4 65 1 n/a n/a 0 621
2000 518 15 8 70 3 n/a n/a 0 614
2001 640 14 15 116 10 n/a n/a 0 795
2002 540 14 9 96 11 n/a n/a 0 670
2003 540 14 9 96 11 n/a n/a 0 670
2004 530 15 12 132 13 n/a n/a 0 702
2005 548 19 14 154 10 n/a n/a 0 745
2006 538 13 13 154 7 n/a n/a 0 725
2007 526 17 14 155 4 n/a n/a 0 716
2008 494 21 10 170 9 n/a n/a 0 704
2009 499 17 9 156 7 n/a n/a 0 688
2010 444 11 9 128 7 n/a n/a 0 599
2011 408 10 7 118 3 0 2 0 548
2012 395 12 10 112 2 0 10 0 541
2013 378 8 7 116 5 0 13 0 527
2014 409 12 8 110 4 0 17 0 560
2015 379 11 8 116 8 0 19 0 541
2016 397 3 3 135 8 2 16 0 564
2017 366 11 1 146 9 2 15 0 550
2018 337 6 1 143 10 1 12 0 510
2019 328 5 1 144 7 1 15 0 501
2020 310 7 1 151 5 1 19 0 494
2021 257 6 2 131 3 4 14 0 417
2022 231 9 4 151 5 2 13 0 415
2023 198 13 3 147 2 2 19 0 384

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Sousa Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 332 12.0 27.6 n/a
1990 339 13.5 25.1 n/a
1991 419 17.5 23.9 n/a
1992 457 20.0 22.8 n/a
1993 489 20.0 24.5 n/a
1994 493 20.5 24.0 n/a
1995 529 25.2 21.0 n/a
1996 529 25.2 21.0 n/a
1997 540 25.4 21.3 n/a
1998 579 25.4 22.8 n/a
1999 621 26.9 23.1 n/a
2000 614 27.9 22.0 n/a
2001 795 34.9 22.8 n/a
2002 670 30.8 21.8 39.7
2003 670 30.8 21.8 39.7
2004 702 33.3 21.1 47.2
2005 745 34.8 21.4 48.7
2006 725 35.2 20.6 41.9
2007 716 33.9 21.1 36.9
2008 704 36.0 19.6 41.9
2009 688 37.6 18.3 37.8
2010 599 30.7 19.4 44.4
2011 548 27.2 20.1 48.9
2012 541 27.1 19.9 53
2013 527 27.1 19.4 51.2
2014 560 29.0 19.3 51.1
2015 541 29.0 18.6 52.3
2016 564 30.0 18.8 58.7
2017 550 30.4 18.0 55.5
2018 510 32.6 15.6 52.7
2019 501 31.3 15.9 51.9
2020 494 31.4 15.7 51.8
2021 417 29.8 13.9 n/a
2022 415 28.6 14.4 28.2
2023 384 33.5 11.4 55.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Sousa Elementary School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 332 12.0 27.6 n/a
1990 339 13.5 25.1 n/a
1991 419 17.5 23.9 n/a
1992 457 20.0 22.8 n/a
1993 489 20.0 24.5 n/a
1994 493 20.5 24.0 n/a
1995 529 25.2 21.0 n/a
1996 529 25.2 21.0 n/a
1997 540 25.4 21.3 n/a
1998 579 25.4 22.8 n/a
1999 621 26.9 23.1 n/a
2000 614 27.9 22.0 n/a
2001 795 34.9 22.8 n/a
2002 670 30.8 21.8 39.7
2003 670 30.8 21.8 39.7
2004 702 33.3 21.1 47.2
2005 745 34.8 21.4 48.7
2006 725 35.2 20.6 41.9
2007 716 33.9 21.1 36.9
2008 704 36.0 19.6 41.9
2009 688 37.6 18.3 37.8
2010 599 30.7 19.4 44.4
2011 548 27.2 20.1 48.9
2012 541 27.1 19.9 53
2013 527 27.1 19.4 51.2
2014 560 29.0 19.3 51.1
2015 541 29.0 18.6 52.3
2016 564 30.0 18.8 58.7
2017 550 30.4 18.0 55.5
2018 510 32.6 15.6 52.7
2019 501 31.3 15.9 51.9
2020 494 31.4 15.7 51.8
2021 417 29.8 13.9 n/a
2022 415 28.6 14.4 28.2
2023 384 33.5 11.4 55.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Sousa Elementary School

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $320 (2.8%) $22 (0.2%) $662 (5.9%) $8,121 (72.2%) $2,785 (24.8%) $10,906 (97.0%) $11,248
2020 $851 (10.2%) $520 (6.2%) $2,222 (26.6%) $7,184 (86.1%) n/a $6,968 (83.5%) $8,340
2021 $974 (9.5%) $146 (1.4%) $2,094 (20.4%) $7,864 (76.6%) $1,276 (12.4%) $9,140 (89.1%) $10,261
2022 $957 (9.6%) $126 (1.3%) $2,040 (20.5%) $8,696 (87.3%) $188 (1.9%) $8,883 (89.1%) $9,966

Data source: Arizona Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sousa Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 442nd of 1039 Elementary schoolsRanks 892nd of 1245 Elementary schools
 29.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students501384
 23.4%
African American513
 160%
American Indian72
 71.4%
Asian13
 200%
Hispanic144147
 2.1%
Pacific Islander12
 100%
White328198
 39.6%
Two or More Races1519
 26.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients51.9%55.7%
 3.8%


Schools Near Sousa Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Sousa Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 384 students attended Sousa Elementary School.

Students at Sousa Elementary School are 52% White, 38% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 3% African American.

Sousa Elementary School ranks 892nd of 1245 Arizona elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

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

Middle : Smith Junior High School
High : Skyline High 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. School Attendance Areas provided by ATTOM.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that school and district boundary data 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.





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