Desert Ridge Jr. High

(480)635-2025

desertridgejunior.gilbertschools.net/

925 Students

Middle School 7th - 8th

School Overview

Desert Ridge Junior High School, located in Mesa, Arizona, is part of the Gilbert Public Schools district. Serving students in grades 7 and 8, the school is dedicated to fostering a supportive academic environment that emphasizes both intellectual growth and character development. The campus is designed to provide a smooth transition between elementary and high school, offering a curriculum that balances core academic subjects—such as math, science, English, and social studies—with opportunities for students to explore their interests through various electives and extracurricular activities.

Beyond the classroom, Desert Ridge Junior High encourages student involvement through a variety of athletic programs, clubs, and service organizations. These activities are intended to help students build teamwork skills, leadership abilities, and a sense of community. By prioritizing a well-rounded educational experience and maintaining strong communication between staff, parents, and students, the school strives to prepare its young learners for the rigors of high school and their future academic careers.

925

Total Students

47.6

Full-Time Teachers

19.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Desert Ridge Jr. High
Demographic	Student Count
White	530
Hispanic	277
Black	34
Asian	18
Two or More	58
American Indian	4
Pacific Islander	4

White
530 (57.3%)
Hispanic
277 (29.9%)
Two or More
58 (6.3%)
Black
34 (3.7%)
Asian
18 (1.9%)
American Indian
4 (0.4%)
Pacific Islander
4 (0.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Gilbert Unified District (4239)
Phone:	(480)635-2025
Website:	http://desertridgejunior.gilbertschools.net/
Grade Range:	7th - 8th
Total Students:	925
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	47.6
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	19.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 7 467

Grade 8 458