The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lynn Urquides
Lynn Urquides is a regular public school in the Tucson Unified District, serving students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits on Tucson’s south side, within a large district that spans a wide, sprawling desert city. For an elementary school, the enrollment is moderate. The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with very small shares of white, American Indian or Alaska Native, and other racial groups represented. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor were counts for students with disabilities or English learners, so a family looking into this school would need to ask the school directly about the level of economic need and support services.
State testing results are fragmentary. For most tested grades, the proficiency data was suppressed, likely because the number of students tested fell below the threshold for public reporting. Only fifth-grade results were reported. In both reading and math, the share of fifth graders meeting state proficiency standards was well below the midpoint for schools across Arizona. Science results for fifth grade were also suppressed. The overall proficiency picture across all subjects and grades, based on the data that could be aggregated, places Lynn Urquides below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Pima County. Because so many test results are suppressed, parents may want to ask the school directly for more granular information about student achievement trends.
The school’s environment includes the full context of Tucson Unified, the city’s largest district. The district has experienced a long-term enrollment decline, prompting ongoing discussions about school utilization and potential closures. Voters recently approved a renewal of the district’s operating override, which funds teacher salaries, art, music, physical education, magnet programs, full-day kindergarten, and smaller class sizes, so that financial stability is in place for several years. The district also operates under a federal desegregation order, the Unitary Status Plan, which shapes magnet program placement, student assignment, and transportation — factors that may affect a family’s options within the district.
Housing in the immediate area around the school is moderately priced compared to national benchmarks, and rents are similarly moderate. The broader Tucson housing market has seen a slight year-over-year dip in home values, while rents have edged up modestly. For a family considering a move to this part of the city, affordability is less of a barrier than in many other metro areas.
Given the limited academic data available, it is difficult to form a complete picture of Lynn Urquides’ instructional strength. What can be seen suggests that the school serves a predominantly Hispanic, likely high-need population, and that proficiency rates on state assessments are lower than those of many peer schools in the county. The school does not offer older grades, so there are no graduation rate or college readiness metrics to draw on. Families who want a fuller sense of the school’s day-to-day learning environment may benefit from visiting, talking with staff, and asking about the specific supports in place for its students.
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