Poston Junior High School in Mesa, AZ, serves grades 7–9 with an enrollment of 779 students and a student–teacher ratio of 18:1, which is approximately equal to the district average but higher than the state average.
Math proficiency at Poston is 24%, which is lower than the state average of 34% and the district average of 33%, showing a decline from 34% in 2019.
Reading proficiency is 33%, below the state average of 40% and district average of 38%, remaining stable over recent years but consistently below average.
Science proficiency stands at 20%, which is lower than the Arizona state average of 24% and district average of 22%.
The school's overall ranking declined from #350 in 2012 to #1062 in 2023, and graduation rates have been below 50%, significantly lower than the state average of 77%.
Minority enrollment represents 67% of the student body, with a Hispanic student population of 416, and the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced–price lunch remained high at 49% free lunch and 10% reduced–price lunch in 2023, indicating ongoing socioeconomic challenges in this Mesa public junior high school.
Quick Facts (2026)
- Grades: 7-9
- Enrollment: 782 students
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
- Minority Enrollment: 61%
- Graduation Rate: <50%
- Overall Testing Rank: Bottom 50% in AZ
- Math Proficiency: 24% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 33% (Btm 50%)
- Science Proficiency: 20% (Btm 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education
School Overview
Poston Junior High School's student population of 782 students has declined by 21% over five school years.
The teacher population of 40 teachers has declined by 21% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 7-9
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
782 students
Total Classroom Teachers
40 teachers
Year Founded
2025
Colors
Blue and Gold
School Calendar
School Rankings
Poston Junior High School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,921 schools in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Poston Junior High School is 0.61, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.66. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#1062 out of 1921 schools
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
24%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
40%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
20%
24%
Student-Teacher Ratio
20:1
17:1
American Indian
3%
5%
Hispanic
49%
49%
Black
4%
6%
White
39%
33%
Hawaiian
1%
n/a
Two or more races
4%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
(11-12)<50%
78%
Chronically Absent Students
(22-23)51.8%
41.2%
Eligible for Free Lunch
74%
41%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
12%
10%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AZ Dept. of Education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Poston Junior High School's ranking?
Poston Junior High School is ranked #1062 out of 1,921 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Arizona.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
24% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% AZ state average), while 33% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 40% AZ state average).
What is the graduation rate of Poston Junior High School?
The graduation rate of Poston Junior High School is 50%, which is lower than the Arizona state average of 78%.
How many students attend Poston Junior High School?
782 students attend Poston Junior High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
49% of Poston Junior High School students are Hispanic, 39% of students are White, 4% of students are Black, 4% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.
What is the student-teacher ratio of Poston Junior High School?
Poston Junior High School has a student ration of 20:1, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 17:1.
What grades does Poston Junior High School offer ?
Poston Junior High School offers enrollment in grades 7-9 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Poston Junior High School part of?
Poston Junior High School is part of Mesa Unified District (4235).
School Reviews
Review Poston Junior High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.
