Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 38 schools in district

Highland Jr High School

6915 E GUADALUPE RD, MESA, AZ 85212Gilbert Unified District (4239) →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
979
Students
Total enrolled
$10,931
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 24% vs nat'l
20.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 36% vs nat'l
41/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 19% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 979 students in grades 06–08 in MESA, Arizona.
24% below average funding
District spends $10,931 per pupil, 24% less than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 41th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Highland Jr High School is a large middle in MESA, Arizona, serving grades 06–08 with 979 students. The district invests $10,931 per student — 24% below the national average of $14,347, with a 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 30% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Highland Jr High School

979
Total Students
20.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
30%
Free Lunch
47
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution498 male · 481 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility30%
National avg 52% · 293 students
Student Composition
64%
21%
Asian3%
White64%
Hispanic / Latino21%
Black2%
Multiracial6%
Native American2%
Pacific Islander1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 040340001669

Academic Outcomes at Highland Jr High School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
41
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 41th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 31th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 85212

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$10,931Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$10,931
State avg
$16,564
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$4,810
Student Support$2,077
Administration$1,312
Operations$1,640
Other$1,093
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $10,931 spent per student, an estimated $4,842 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
45%
43%
State government
44.8%
Local (property tax)
43.1%
Federal programs
12.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-average funding — $10,931/student, 24% less than the national average
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Greenfield Elementary SchoolAugusta Ranch ElementaryCanyon Rim ElementaryHighland Park Elementary
+16 more
↓
Middle
Greenfield Junior High SchoolDesert Ridge Jr. HighSouth Valley Jr. HighMesquite Jr High School
↓
High School
Highland High SchoolGilbert High SchoolDesert Ridge HighCampo Verde High School
+2 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyMaricopa County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictGilbert Unified District (4239) →
Phone: (480)632-4739
NCES ID: 040340001669
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in MESA seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Gilbert Unified District (4239)
High
Highland High School
3,174 students · 08–12
● 49 opp15% FRL
High
Gilbert High School
2,354 students · 07–12
● 49 opp29% FRL
High
Desert Ridge High
2,284 students · 08–12
23% FRL
High
Campo Verde High School
1,991 students · 08–12
14% FRL
High
Mesquite High School
1,430 students · 08–12
● 48 opp36% FRL
Mid
Greenfield Junior High School
1,204 students · 06–08
20% FRL
Mid
Desert Ridge Jr. High
973 students · 07–08
26% FRL
Elem
Greenfield Elementary School
969 students · PK–06
● 49 opp5% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
6915 E GUADALUPE RD, MESA, AZ 85212
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.