- Enrollment
- 1,881
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tucson, AZ
Mesquite Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Mesquite Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040885001954
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 2
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mesquite Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools.
- #46 of 54
- elementary schools in Tucson · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 18.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Mesquite Elementary School has class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mesquite Elementary School ranks #46 of 54 elementary schools in Tucson, AZ.
School address
District: Vail Unified District (4413) · Arizona
NCES ID 040885001954 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-59 students YoY
Mesquite Elementary School shrank from 736 students in 2022-23 to 677 in 2023-24 (-8.0%).
Teacher FTE added 32.9 → 39.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-59 students YoY 040885001954 · Tucson, AZ Elementary · MID · TRAD
640 enr · 20:1 · 18.9% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: Cienega High School (1,881 students)
Mesquite Elementary School shrank from 736 students in 2022-23 to 677 in 2023-24 (-8.0%). Teacher FTE added 32.9 → 39.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Mesquite Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cienega High S
Cienega High School
1,881 students
- Mica Mountain
Mica Mountain High
1,319 students
- Empire High Sc
Empire High School
886 students
- Andrada Polyte
Andrada Polytechnic High School
836 students
- Old Vail Middl
Old Vail Middle School
811 students
- This school 640
Mesquite Elementary School
640 students
What this shows Mesquite Elementary School reports 640 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mesquite Elementary School compares
Mesquite Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20:1 | ▲ 18% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.9% | ▼ 61% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 640 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
640
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
18.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 76% in Arizona - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
39.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$10,071
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 640 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 43.0%
White 35.2%
Two or More 12.3%
African American 5.3%
Asian 4.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 43.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.1, Mesquite Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Vail Unified District (4413) reports $10,071 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mesquite Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cienega High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mica Mountain High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Empire High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Andrada Polytechnic High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Old Vail Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mesquite Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,319
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 886
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 836
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 811
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar elementary schools in Tucson
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Los Amigos Elementary School
Standard public school
613 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Sonoran Science Academy East
Standard public school
467 students
Legacy Traditional School - East Tucson
Standard public school
439 students
Summit View Elementary
Standard public school
403 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Da Vinci Tree Academy
Standard public school
265 students
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~640 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mesquite Elementary School
How many students attend Mesquite Elementary School?
Mesquite Elementary School has 640 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tucson, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 736 (2022-23) → 677 (2023-24), down 59.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mesquite Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mesquite Elementary School is 20:1, which is 18% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mesquite Elementary School?
18.9% of students at Mesquite Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mesquite Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Mesquite Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 43.0% of enrollment, in Tucson, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mesquite Elementary School?
Mesquite Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mesquite Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Tucson?
By Resource Investment Index, Mesquite Elementary School ranks #46 of 54 elementary schools in Tucson, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Tucson on the city page.
What other schools are in Vail Unified District (4413)?
Besides Mesquite Elementary School, Vail Unified District (4413) also operates Cienega High School (1,881 students), Mica Mountain High (1,319 students), and Empire High School (886 students). See the Vail Unified District (4413) district page for the complete list.