The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Magee Middle School
Magee Middle School, a regular public school in the Tucson Unified District, serves students in grades six through eight. The school is located on East Speedway Boulevard in Tucson, a large desert city anchored by the University of Arizona and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The area around the school sits within a mid-century suburban corridor of the city, where single-family homes and commercial strips are common.
The student body of roughly 300 students reflects the broader Tucson population. The largest group is Hispanic, followed by a substantial share of White students, with smaller but notable populations of Black students and students of two or more races. The school serves a middle-grade band only, so there are no high school measures such as a graduation rate. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available in the data provided.
State assessment results show that overall proficiency in math and English language arts is low. In math, the share of seventh graders meeting state standards was in the single digits proportionally, and results for sixth and eighth graders were suppressed, meaning the numbers were too small to report publicly. In English language arts, about one in five sixth graders, one in four seventh graders, and a similar share of eighth graders scored proficient. On the eighth-grade science assessment, fewer than one in five students reached the proficient level. Multi-year data is limited, but across the grades tested, proficiency in ELA appears to have varied, while math proficiency was consistently low. When compared with other middle schools and districts across Pima County, Magee Middle School’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quarter of the county.
A family looking at this school should be aware that academic attainment is well below the midpoint of surrounding districts. A parent may want to ask the school about specific instructional supports, tutoring, or interventions available, particularly in math and literacy, and about how the school serves students who are not yet meeting state benchmarks. The absence of data on special education and English learner populations also leaves questions about the level of targeted support.
The school operates within the larger Tucson Unified District, which has been under a federal desegregation order for decades, shaping magnet programs, student assignment, and transportation. The district recently renewed a voter-approved budget override that funds teacher salaries, arts, music, physical education, and smaller class sizes. However, the district has experienced a significant decline in enrollment over the past several years, and discussions about potential school closures or consolidations have followed. That broader context means the school’s long-term role within the district may evolve.
Housing in the zip code around the school is moderately priced relative to the national market, with typical home values near the mid-cost range and rents that are roughly in line with what a household earning the local median income might afford. The neighborhood is auto-oriented, typical of Tucson’s sprawling layout, with most errands and commutes requiring a car.
Magee Middle School offers a setting that is diverse in its student population and located in a familiar suburban stretch of Tucson. The core challenge for families weighing this school is its low academic proficiency, and the best next step is to speak directly with the school about how it addresses those results day to day.
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