The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 40% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Davis Bilingual Magnet School
Davis Bilingual Magnet School is a regular public elementary school in Tucson Unified District, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Its name signals the school’s defining purpose: a magnet program built around bilingual education, situated in a district that operates under a long-standing federal desegregation order, which shapes magnet placement, student assignment, and transportation across all its schools.
The school sits in Tucson, a large desert city with a historic downtown, the University of Arizona campus just adjacent, and a broad, automobile-dependent geography. The area around the school is part of the city’s older core, where walkable blocks and the Sun Link streetcar connect to downtown’s restaurants, museums, and civic buildings. Tucson’s economy draws on the university, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and a growing technology sector, and the city has seen moderate population growth in its wider metro area, even as Tucson Unified itself has experienced a steady enrollment decline over the past decade. That decline has led to ongoing district discussions about school utilization and possible facility closures, a factor families considering any TUSD school should be aware of.
The school enrolls roughly 300 students, making it a relatively small elementary school within its grade band. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller share of white students and modest representation of other racial and ethnic groups. Data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education, and English learner status were not available in this profile, so a complete picture of student socioeconomic and support needs is missing.
State assessment results are reported for grades three through five in math and English language arts, and for fifth-grade science. Overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint when compared to other school districts in Pima County, which is a favorable relative position. Within the school, performance varies by grade and subject. In English language arts, rates are roughly comparable across grades, while in math they show a wider spread, with one grade notably lower than the others. Science proficiency in fifth grade falls in a similar range. A parent with a child entering a particular grade may want to follow up with the school for more detailed classroom-level context.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or course access were available.
The bilingual magnet program is the school’s primary draw, but this profile did not include a description of how the program operates, whether it is a two-way immersion model, a transitional bilingual model, or something else. Families interested in a dual-language pathway should seek that detail directly from the school. The school’s designation as a magnet is tied to the district’s Unitary Status Plan, which means that enrollment may involve a choice application process and that transportation policies are shaped by desegregation goals.
Housing in the area near downtown Tucson reflects a market where home values are moderate relative to the state average, and where renting is more common than owning for many households. The city’s downtown has seen revitalization, with new housing and commercial development along the streetcar line, while outlying suburbs continue to grow.
Davis Bilingual Magnet School suits a family looking for an elementary school with a bilingual focus in an urban, culturally rich setting, and one who is comfortable navigating the district’s magnet system. The school’s academic standing is solid relative to county peers, though with some internal variation. The broader district context of enrollment decline and possible school changes is worth weighing, as are the gaps in available student support data.
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