The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 23% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mary a Otondo Elementary School
Mary A Otondo Elementary School is a regular public school in the Yuma Elementary District, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits within the city of Yuma, a community at the crossroads of California, Arizona, and Mexico that blends residential neighborhoods with agriculture, military installations, and tourism. Yuma’s economy is anchored by farming, the Marine Corps Air Station, and winter visitors, and the city has a historic downtown core alongside a largely auto-oriented built environment. The school’s location in the southern part of the city places it in a mixed area of homes and supporting commercial uses.
With an enrollment that reaches into the hundreds for an elementary school, Otondo is a sizable institution for its grade band. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, making up roughly two-thirds of the school, with the remainder mostly white and small shares of Black, Asian, American Indian, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners was not available in the records reviewed. A parent interested in those supports may want to ask the school or district directly.
State assessment results for the 2024-25 school year are the most recent available for Otondo. In English language arts, proficiency rates across third through fifth grade fell around the low to middle range of the scale, with fourth grade showing a somewhat higher result than third and fifth. In mathematics, proficiency was lower across the board, with third grade the highest among the three grades tested. Science results for fifth grade also showed a modest share of students meeting proficiency. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it below the midpoint when compared with other elementary schools in Yuma County. There is no multi-year trend data to indicate whether these results represent an improvement or decline over time, as only one year of data is available.
Because Otondo serves only through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was included in the available records. The school is a regular public school and is not a charter or magnet. No program offerings such as specialized academies or extended learning opportunities were listed in the data provided, so this is an area a family would want to investigate on the school’s website.
The housing market in the area around Otondo reflects a moderate cost of living relative to the state. Home values in the zip code are below the Arizona average, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment is roughly in line with a quarter of the median household income. Rents also run at a similar proportion of income. The local economy, while diverse, has experienced modest population growth over the past decade, and the district itself has not recently undertaken major changes that would show up in public records.
For a family considering Mary A Otondo Elementary, the core academic picture is one where proficiency rates sit below the county midpoint, particularly in math. The school serves a large, diverse student body in a city with a stable economic base. With limited information on student support services and program depth, a buyer or resident would want to visit, talk to staff, and ask about the school’s approach to instruction and intervention. The setting offers a mix of suburban and agricultural character, with the amenities of a county seat and the seasonal influx that shapes Yuma’s identity.
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