Desert Mountain High School

Public 9-12

 12575 E. Via Linda
       Scottsdale, AZ  85259


(480) 484-7000

District: Scottsdale Unified District

SchoolDigger Rank:
49th of 469 Arizona High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,149 Help


Feeder schools for Desert Mountain High School:

Elementary:    Anasazi Elementary
    Cheyenne Traditional School
    Desert Canyon Elementary
    Laguna Elementary School
    More...
Middle:    Desert Canyon Middle School
    Mountainside Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  21.5 Help
Number of students:  1,880

Racial breakdown:

White:
72.0%
Asian:
11.6%
Hispanic:
9.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  7.9% Help


 See top rated Arizona high schools

 Compare Desert Mountain High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Desert Mountain High School ranks better than 89.6% of high schools in Arizona. It also ranks first among 5 ranked high schools in the Scottsdale Unified District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 86.93. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Desert Mountain High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (72%), Asian (11.6%), Hispanic (9.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 7.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Desert Mountain High School is 21.5. 2 high schools in the Scottsdale Unified District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Desert Mountain High School employs 87.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Desert Mountain High School is $6,149. 3 high schools in the Scottsdale Unified District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Desert Mountain High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Desert Mountain High School 49th of 469 Arizona public high schools. (See Desert Mountain High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Scottsdale Unified District:

SchoolDigger ranks Scottsdale Unified District 92nd of 540 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Desert Mountain High School?

Rank History for Desert Mountain High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 92.64 20th 395 94.9%
2010 94.45 18th 403 95.5%
2011 92.21 27th 397 93.2%
2012 92.64 17th 471 96.4%
2013 90.81 27th 491 94.5%
2014 91.12 22nd 394 94.4%
2015 72.45 43rd 261 83.5%
2016 79.62 50th 406 87.7%
2017 82.64 43rd 416 89.7%
2018 80.25 45th 420 89.3%
2019 70.15 52nd 285 81.8%
2021 87.03 55th 509 89.2%
2022 89.27 39th 464 91.6%
2023 86.93 49th 469 89.6%
See the entire list of Arizona High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 67.28 18th 76 76.3%
2021 77.87 64th 374 82.9%
2022 84.45 42nd 282 85.1%
2023 58.36 75th 199 62.3%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 44.58 29th 312 90.7%
2022 50.48 36th 258 86.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.98 47th 155 69.7%
2021 67.20 48th 422 88.6%
2022 69.10 39th 380 89.7%
2023 51.21 55th 172 68.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.66 37th 253 85.4%
2022 98.76 6th 168 96.4%
2023 73.57 58th 347 83.3%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 31.10 69th 168 58.9%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 77.59 51st 354 85.6%
2019 71.76 49th 247 80.2%
2021 87.73 54th 492 89.0%
2022 87.82 38th 456 91.7%
2023 86.83 36th 406 91.1%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 78.82 51st 370 86.2%
2019 67.79 58th 238 75.6%
2021 82.59 67th 492 86.4%
2022 87.58 45th 455 90.1%
2023 84.90 52nd 429 87.9%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.48 48th 83 42.2%
2019 41.24 25th 44 43.2%
2021 68.21 73rd 231 68.4%
2022 72.99 60th 238 74.8%
2023 77.79 22nd 146 84.9%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.57 5th 122 95.9%
2021 75.39 40th 306 86.9%
2022 73.61 38th 301 87.4%
2023 66.68 49th 201 75.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.82 47th 311 84.9%
2019 70.50 32nd 183 82.5%
2021 78.97 64th 479 86.6%
2022 94.16 27th 441 93.9%
2023 74.17 61st 379 83.9%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 30.29 115th 256 55.1%
2022 74.95 40th 255 84.3%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for White students at Desert Mountain High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 69.48 63rd 291 78.4%
2019 56.38 74th 217 65.9%
2021 76.34 85th 448 81.0%
2022 79.54 53rd 409 87.0%
2023 76.12 65th 371 82.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High 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.

Desert Mountain High 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: 1)
0%

0%

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100%

  

by a parent
Sunday, December 7, 2014

Open Quote I would be very reluctant to send my child to this school, where the staff and faculty make ignorant and disrespectful comments to both students and parents. It saddens me to see such an unsupportive environment for students, who may not be perfect but need to receive an adequate education without feeling antagonized by those who can make a positive impact in these kids' lives. I speak both as a parent and as an educator with over twenty years' experience at this level and at the college level. Close Quote


by a student
Thursday, November 12, 2009

Open Quote Desert Mountain is by far the worst school I have ever been to. The faculty is downright malicious, the teachers don't care at all, and I have never seen so many troubled kids. The students have no respect for themselves or each other. Everyday I would see people on drugs, or talking about sex, and the teachers didn't notice at all. The teachers definitely play favorites, and if your not one of the select few then school becomes miserable. The office staff and faculty members seem to want to find the bad in everybody, even falsely accusing the good-moralled students. In the month I spent at DM I learned nothing academic whatsoever, even in advanced classes. This school is absolutely a joke and I would not recommended it for anyone. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Desert Mountain High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1997 1494 20 36 44 8 n/a n/a 0 1602
1998 1769 25 50 54 5 n/a n/a 0 1903
1999 2016 30 59 54 5 n/a n/a 0 2164
2000 2190 34 76 54 6 n/a n/a 0 2360
2001 2180 40 102 62 9 n/a n/a 0 2393
2002 2162 36 118 71 6 n/a n/a 0 2393
2003 2162 36 118 71 6 n/a n/a 0 2393
2004 2177 32 123 78 7 n/a n/a 0 2417
2005 2152 43 127 79 4 n/a n/a 0 2405
2006 2190 47 117 84 11 n/a n/a 0 2449
2007 1926 27 108 73 9 n/a n/a 0 2143
2008 2159 32 125 105 12 n/a n/a 0 2433
2009 1987 42 163 133 9 n/a n/a 0 2334
2010 1984 41 179 140 9 n/a n/a 0 2353
2011 1937 46 177 156 7 2 2 0 2327
2012 1836 54 225 174 9 1 5 0 2304
2013 1816 58 212 170 11 2 3 0 2272
2014 1787 68 228 161 11 1 10 0 2266
2015 1757 58 238 165 15 2 12 0 2247
2016 1734 65 237 173 14 3 18 0 2244
2017 1668 62 216 174 14 2 28 0 2164
2018 1610 63 196 166 18 1 36 0 2090
2019 1618 60 200 163 15 2 36 0 2094
2020 1568 58 180 155 17 2 38 0 2018
2021 1362 45 154 143 9 4 33 0 1750
2022 1416 55 189 179 12 6 37 0 1894
2023 1353 60 218 176 18 6 49 0 1880

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 Desert Mountain High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1997 1602 66.5 24.1 n/a
1998 1903 85.0 22.4 n/a
1999 2164 94.4 22.9 n/a
2000 2360 112.5 21.0 n/a
2001 2393 113.9 21.0 n/a
2002 2393 120.4 19.9 1.5
2003 2393 120.4 19.9 1.5
2004 2417 108.0 22.4 1.3
2005 2405 109.8 21.9 2.5
2006 2449 117.0 20.9 2
2007 2143 118.0 18.2 4.9
2008 2433 124.6 19.5 4.5
2009 2334 112.6 20.7 4.6
2010 2353 107.7 21.8 5.5
2011 2327 101.9 22.8 6.1
2012 2304 118.0 19.5 6.4
2013 2272 102.0 22.2 6.8
2014 2266 96.6 23.4 7.4
2015 2247 94.0 23.9 6.3
2016 2244 97.0 23.1 6.5
2017 2164 93.7 23.0 8.7
2018 2090 93.8 22.2 5.9
2019 2094 96.2 21.7 4.9
2020 2018 95.4 21.1 5
2021 1750 87.7 19.9 n/a
2022 1894 87.3 21.6 3.2
2023 1880 87.1 21.5 7.9

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 Desert Mountain High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1997 1602 66.5 24.1 n/a
1998 1903 85.0 22.4 n/a
1999 2164 94.4 22.9 n/a
2000 2360 112.5 21.0 n/a
2001 2393 113.9 21.0 n/a
2002 2393 120.4 19.9 1.5
2003 2393 120.4 19.9 1.5
2004 2417 108.0 22.4 1.3
2005 2405 109.8 21.9 2.5
2006 2449 117.0 20.9 2
2007 2143 118.0 18.2 4.9
2008 2433 124.6 19.5 4.5
2009 2334 112.6 20.7 4.6
2010 2353 107.7 21.8 5.5
2011 2327 101.9 22.8 6.1
2012 2304 118.0 19.5 6.4
2013 2272 102.0 22.2 6.8
2014 2266 96.6 23.4 7.4
2015 2247 94.0 23.9 6.3
2016 2244 97.0 23.1 6.5
2017 2164 93.7 23.0 8.7
2018 2090 93.8 22.2 5.9
2019 2094 96.2 21.7 4.9
2020 2018 95.4 21.1 5
2021 1750 87.7 19.9 n/a
2022 1894 87.3 21.6 3.2
2023 1880 87.1 21.5 7.9

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 Desert Mountain High School

Help

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 $215 (56.6%) $117 (30.8%) $546 (143.7%) $33 (8.7%) $15 (3.9%) $48 (12.6%) $380
2020 $91 (1.5%) $162 (2.7%) $344 (5.7%) $5,008 (83.3%) $753 (12.5%) $5,761 (95.8%) $6,014
2021 $48 (0.7%) $439 (6.5%) $534 (7.9%) $5,815 (85.8%) $478 (7.1%) $6,292 (92.8%) $6,779
2022 $11 (0.2%) $08 (0.1%) $30 (0.5%) $5,311 (86.4%) $819 (13.3%) $6,130 (99.7%) $6,149

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Desert Mountain High 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 52nd of 285 High schoolsRanks 49th of 469 High schools
 7.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students20941880
 10.2%
African American6060
American Indian1518
 20%
Asian200218
 9%
Hispanic163176
 8%
Pacific Islander26
 200%
White16181353
 16.4%
Two or More Races3649
 36.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients4.9%7.9%
 3%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Desert Mountain High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,880 students attended Desert Mountain High School.

Desert Mountain High School ranks 49th of 469 Arizona high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Desert Mountain High School are 72% White, 12% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 3% African American, 3% Two or more races.


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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. Attendance Areas provided by ATTOM.

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.





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