The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in Math. The lowest is 34% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Tolson Elementary School
Tolson Elementary School serves students in prekindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Tucson Unified District. The school sits in a Tucson neighborhood, part of a large desert city that spans a wide geographic area and is shaped by the University of Arizona, military installations, and a mix of historic and suburban development. The district itself is the largest in the region, operating under a federal desegregation order that affects magnet programs, student assignment, and school choice. Voters recently renewed a significant operating override that funds teacher salaries, arts, music, physical education, and other programs, providing a measure of financial stability.
The students at Tolson come from a richly diverse community. The largest share of the student body is Hispanic, with smaller representations of White, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and multiracial students. This reflects the broader demographics of the district, where Hispanic students make up the majority. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are identified as English learners was not available in the data we reviewed.
State testing results provide a mixed picture. In math, proficiency rates for third and fourth graders fell below a majority level, with a higher share of fourth graders meeting the standard than third graders. Fifth-grade math results were suppressed and not reported. In English language arts, proficiency rates for third and fourth graders were also below a majority level, with fourth graders again performing somewhat higher than third graders. Fifth-grade English results were suppressed as well. Science testing for fifth graders was also suppressed. When measured across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint among districts in Pima County, placing it in the middle of the range countywide rather than at either extreme.
Given the grade band served, no graduation rate is available for this school, which is typical for an elementary school. Likewise, data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access were not present in the data we received. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these areas if they are a priority.
The housing market in the surrounding area reflects a broad picture of affordability relative to the state. Home values and rents in this part of Tucson are lower than the state average, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment is moderately higher than typical rent in the area. This may matter for families weighing a move to the attendance zone.
The Tucson Unified District faces a long-term enrollment decline, which has prompted discussions about school utilization and potential facility closures. Families considering Tolson may want to keep this context in mind, as it could affect school assignments or the long-term viability of attendance boundaries. The school itself is listed as open and operating as a regular school, with no charter or magnet designation indicated in the data we reviewed.
Tolson Elementary serves a diverse student body and operates within a large urban district that provides some financial support through a voter-approved override. Academic proficiency on state tests falls in a middle range relative to Pima County districts, with some tested grade levels showing a larger share of students not yet meeting the proficiency standard. For families weighing this school, the peer environment, the district's desegregation order and choice options, and the broader context of enrollment decline are all relevant factors to consider.
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