The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in English language arts. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Emily Gray Junior High School
Emily Gray Junior High School serves seventh and eighth graders in the Tanque Verde Unified District, on the far east side of Tucson near the base of the Catalina Mountains. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. With a student body in the mid-hundreds, it is a smaller school for its grade band, which can mean a more focused environment and a higher degree of individual attention from staff than in a much larger junior high. The student population is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic minority and small shares of other racial groups. Data on students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, those receiving special education services, and English learners was not provided, so a parent seeking that information would need to ask the school or district directly.
Academically, Emily Gray posts results that place it comfortably ahead of most other schools in Pima County. The comparison set positions the school in the top quarter among the county's districts for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In math, roughly half of students met proficiency in both seventh and eighth grade, a level that sits well above the county median for schools at these grades. English language arts proficiency is slightly higher, with a majority of students in both grades scoring proficient on state assessments. Science results for eighth graders, the only tested science grade at this school, show a rate just above two in five students meeting the bar. These are solid figures for a middle school, and they suggest that a typical student at Emily Gray is performing at or above grade level in core subjects. The district recently adopted a new English Language Arts curriculum for elementary grades, which has been implemented in recent years; the effect on middle school instruction would be felt as those cohorts move up.
The school itself sits within the broader context of the Tanque Verde Unified District, which has been a stable presence in this part of Tucson. In November of 2024, voters approved a budget override continuation, a measure that allows the district to collect additional funding above state limits to maintain full-day kindergarten, art, music, physical education, and class-size reduction. This is a meaningful signal for a family considering the area: the community has voted to preserve programming that might otherwise be cut in a tight state funding environment. The district has had an override in place for some time, so the programs tied to it are part of the current educational experience, not a new addition.
The housing context around Emily Gray reflects a higher-cost corner of the Tucson market. Home values in the area run well above the state median and sit above the national median, too. Rents are also above average for the metro area. Monthly mortgage costs, at prevailing interest rates, are significantly higher than rents, which is common in many markets but worth noting for families weighing whether to buy or rent. The neighborhood is suburban in feel, with the school located along Tanque Verde Road, a major east-west corridor that connects to the rest of the city. Tucson itself is a large, sprawling desert city, and this part of the east side is less dense and more residential than central neighborhoods.
Because Emily Gray only serves two grade levels, there is no graduation rate to report, and no chronic absenteeism data was available in the materials provided. Parents looking for after-school programs, elective course offerings, or specific services like gifted education or intervention support would need to reach out to the school, as the data set does not include a course access or staffing profile. What is clear is that Emily Gray Junior High School operates in a community that has deliberately invested in its schools, sits in an above-average academic position relative to its county peers, and serves a relatively small student body in a higher-priced east-side Tucson neighborhood.
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