The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Douglas Elementary School
Douglas Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through sixth grade as part of the Flowing Wells Unified District in the northern reaches of Tucson. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The building sits on North Flowing Wells Road, in a part of the city where mid-century residential neighborhoods and commercial strips mix with the broader Sonoran Desert landscape. Tucson itself is a large desert city anchored by the University of Arizona and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, with a sprawling footprint that makes driving the norm outside the downtown and university core. Douglas Elementary draws from the surrounding Flowing Wells area, a community that has seen recent investments through district-level bonds and overrides.
The student body is sizable for an elementary school. The demographic picture is clear: a large majority of students identify as Hispanic, with a small share of white students and very small numbers of Black, Asian, American Indian, and multiracial students. The data does not include the proportion of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, nor information on special education or English learner classifications, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about the level of economic disadvantage and support services available. The combination of a high Hispanic enrollment and the school’s location in a working-class corridor of Tucson suggests a diverse, largely middle-to-lower-income peer environment.
State assessment results from the 2024‑25 school year show proficiency rates that are low across all tested grades and subjects. In math, the share of students meeting the state standard ranged from about a fifth of third graders to a third of fourth graders, falling to under a fifth of sixth graders. In English language arts, the pattern was similar: proficiency peaked with about a third of fourth graders, and other grades landed close to a quarter or lower. Science results for fifth graders show roughly a fifth of students at the proficient level. When compared with other elementary schools across Pima County, the school’s overall academic performance sits below the midpoint. There is no previous year of data to compare, so trends cannot be assessed. These are soft spots that a family would want to investigate—how the school is addressing academic gaps, what interventions are in place, and whether the school has seen recent improvement in specific grade levels.
The district itself has been a focus of voter support. In November 2024, residents approved a bond measure that funds school renovations, technology upgrades, security improvements, and transportation, with the district stating it would not raise the property tax rate. That bond followed a 2022 vote to continue an existing budget override, which provides additional local funding for teacher salaries, programs, and class size reduction. These measures suggest a community willing to invest in its schools, and the effects of that money may flow into Douglas Elementary in the coming years. A parent considering the school would want to know how those funds are being allocated at the building level.
Housing in the immediate area is modest. The typical home value in the zip code is below the state median, and rents are modest relative to incomes. The broader Tucson market has seen a slight dip in home values year over year, while rents have edged up. For a family looking at the Flowing Wells area, the cost of housing is a practical consideration—more affordable than many parts of Tucson, but with the caveat that the school’s academic profile may not match what some families are seeking.
Douglas Elementary offers a traditional elementary program in a setting that is largely Hispanic and working class. The academic results are a clear concern; the school sits well below county averages in both math and reading. On the other hand, the district has secured new funding for facilities and instruction that could lead to changes. A family weighing this school would want to visit, talk to the principal about academic support and enrichment, and understand what the bond and override dollars mean for classrooms at Douglas. It is a school where the community is visibly backing its schools, but where the test score picture suggests there is ground to make up.
See more original research from School Decision →