Enrollment
1,303
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gilbert, AZ
Mesquite High School
Federal NCES profile for Mesquite High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040340001670
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mesquite High School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #38 of 46
- schools in Gilbert · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 25.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Mesquite High School has class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mesquite High School ranks #38 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ.
School address
District: Gilbert Unified District (4239) · Arizona
NCES ID 040340001670 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
65.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
25.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-48% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mesquite High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mesquite High School
Mesquite High School is a large combined-grade school in Gilbert, Arizona, enrolling 1,303 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 25.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 94% of state schools at 1,303 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 129 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #53.
Its student body is led by White (40%) and Hispanic or Latino (40%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 67/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 326 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 56.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Gilbert Unified District (4239) spends $9,253 per pupil, 30% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Gilbert's public schools, it stands alongside Williams Field High School (2,150 students): Mesquite High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20:1 vs 21.9:1).
Gilbert Unified District (4239) also operates Highland High School (2,992 students) and Gilbert High School (2,418 students) alongside Mesquite High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Mesquite High School compares
Mesquite High School on the metrics families compare, against 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 | 25.0% | ▼ 48% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,303 | top 6% | - | - |
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.
1,303
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
25.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; 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
56.9%
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
$9,253
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,145
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 326 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
30
in-school suspensions + 121 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 39.9%
Hispanic or Latino 39.7%
African American 7.3%
Two or More 6.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.6%
Asian 3.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 39.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.2, Mesquite High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 15
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Gilbert Unified District (4239), which includes Mesquite High School.
$9,253
Per student
-30%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-44%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.1%
State 44.8%
Federal 12.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Mesquite High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gilbert High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Ridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Campo Verde High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Greenfield Junior High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mesquite High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,992
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,418
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,103
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,863
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,160
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in Gilbert
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Williams Field High School
Standard public school
2,150 students 21.9:1 students per teacher
Gateway Pointe Elementary
Standard public school
685 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Great Hearts Academies - Arete Prep
Standard public school
540 students
Learning Foundation and Performing Arts Gilbert
Standard public school
259 students
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arizona, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,303 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mesquite High School's federal record.
- Compare Mesquite High School against another school. Compare schools
- Gilbert Unified District (4239)'s spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Mesquite High School
How many students attend Mesquite High School?
Mesquite High School has 1,303 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gilbert, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mesquite High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mesquite High 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 High School?
25.0% of students at Mesquite High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mesquite High School?
The largest demographic group at Mesquite High School is White at 39.9% of enrollment, in Gilbert, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mesquite High School?
Mesquite High School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mesquite High School rank among schools in Gilbert?
By Resource Investment Index, Mesquite High School ranks #38 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gilbert on the city page.
Is Mesquite High School a good school?
Mesquite High School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Gilbert Unified District (4239)?
Besides Mesquite High School, Gilbert Unified District (4239) also operates Highland High School (2,992 students), Gilbert High School (2,418 students), and Desert Ridge High (2,103 students). See the Gilbert Unified District (4239) district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.