Mountainside Middle School vs. Desert Canyon Middle School
Should you attend Mountainside Middle School or Desert Canyon Middle School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Top Rankings
Mountainside Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:
Category
Attribute
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Desert Canyon Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Math Proficiency
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Overview
Serving 550 students in grades 6-8, Mountainside Middle School ranks in the top 30% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 49% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 35%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 56% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).
The student:teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the Arizona state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Asian), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Serving 490 students in grades 6-8, Desert Canyon Middle School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 56% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 35%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 56% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is lower than the Arizona state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 28% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Grades Offered
6-8
6-8
Total Students
550 students
490 students
![This chart displays total students of Mountainside Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays total students of Mountainside Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_students/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-Jq7ne3.png)
![This chart displays total students of Desert Canyon Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays total students of Desert Canyon Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_students/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-Jq7mVa.png)
% Male | % Female
53% | 47%
51% | 49%
![This chart displays gender of Mountainside Middle School This chart displays gender of Mountainside Middle School](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/gender/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-2tn4L7.png)
![This chart displays gender of Desert Canyon Middle School This chart displays gender of Desert Canyon Middle School](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/gender/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-b2AHiR2.png)
Total Classroom Teachers
31 teachers
30 teachers
![This chart displays the total teachers of Mountainside Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the total teachers of Mountainside Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_teachers/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-NcBpgi.png)
![This chart displays the total teachers of Desert Canyon Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the total teachers of Desert Canyon Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_teachers/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-qY5XZN.png)
Student : Teacher Ratio
18:1
16:1
![This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Mountainside Middle School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Mountainside Middle School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/teacher_student_ratio/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-wDN2TY.png)
![This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Desert Canyon Middle School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Desert Canyon Middle School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/teacher_student_ratio/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-brpshUb.png)
Test Scores
Overall Testing Rank
#397 out of 1956 schools in AZ
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
#316 out of 1956 schools in AZ
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
![This chart displays the overall school rank of Mountainside Middle School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the overall school rank of Mountainside Middle School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/overall_school_rank/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-7LbCy7.png)
![This chart displays the overall school rank of Desert Canyon Middle School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the overall school rank of Desert Canyon Middle School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/overall_school_rank/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-h5hpxT.png)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
56%
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/math_percent/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-bsEk1zt.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/math_percent/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-Ybd1u1.png)
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
56%
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/rla_percent/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-b2bOSL7.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/rla_percent/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-bqMfL5H.png)
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
45-49%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
![This chart displays the students of Mountainside Middle School by grade. This chart displays the students of Mountainside Middle School by grade.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/students_by_grade/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-byPjnMl.png)
![This chart displays the students of Desert Canyon Middle School by grade. This chart displays the students of Desert Canyon Middle School by grade.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/students_by_grade/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-byPjn8Z.png)
Grade 6 Students
159
149
Grade 7 Students
174
158
Grade 8 Students
217
183
Students by Ethnicity
% American Indian
1%
1%
![This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Mountainside Middle School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Mountainside Middle School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/american_indian_ethnicity/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-buZTUFN.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Desert Canyon Middle School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Desert Canyon Middle School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/american_indian_ethnicity/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-uK33Bq.png)
% Asian
7%
7%
![This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/asian_islander_ethnicity/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-W3BoGg.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/asian_islander_ethnicity/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-brog1Es.png)
% Hispanic
10%
13%
![This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/hispanic_students_ethnicity/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-bapGylE.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/hispanic_students_ethnicity/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-bciDUEE.png)
% Black
2%
4%
![This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/black_students_ethnicity/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-OWfyVa.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/black_students_ethnicity/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-pfJon9.png)
% White
77%
72%
![This chart displays the percentage of White students in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of White students in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/white_students_ethnicity/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-b28EdoG.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of White students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of White students in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/white_students_ethnicity/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-sRI5AJ.png)
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
3%
![This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/two_or_more_races_students_ethnicity/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-Hy4gdr.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/two_or_more_races_students_ethnicity/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-bwTZ9Sv.png)
Diversity Score
0.40
0.46
![This chart displays the diversity score of Mountainside Middle School and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the diversity score of Mountainside Middle School and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/diversity_score/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-brp74Cp.png)
![This chart displays the diversity score of Desert Canyon Middle School and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the diversity score of Desert Canyon Middle School and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/diversity_score/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-baqDBir.png)
Additional Information
Eligible for Free Lunch
7%
11%
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/freelunch_students/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-9QV7JB.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/freelunch_students/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-DCVe8Q.png)
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
4%
4%
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Mountainside Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/reduced_pricelunch_students/3000/3258/mountainside-middle-school-chart-bhPeF6O.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Desert Canyon Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/reduced_pricelunch_students/3000/3231/desert-canyon-middle-school-chart-bjIeNfZ.png)