Mesquite High School

500 South McQueen Road

School District

Gilbert Unified District
Grade

8-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by other on January 31, 2017

The school is great. Love the teachers and community...BUT...the boys basketball program and seriously gone morally and ethically bankrupt. Chris Lemon has come in to the program and completely ruined the program bringing in a huge influx of kids who are not in district. he thinks he is building an empire...umm..news flash. He doesn't even know how to coach basketball nor build up the program. They are inconsistent, with no sense of fundamentals or building a program. He is unmarried with a baby mamma, cusses like a sailor, and is no role model for teens. he should take a lesson from Coach Gonzalez...she has built a classy program that not only plays basketball games but builds up strong young women. GPS, fire coach Lemon and start over. The kids deserve better.
Submitted by other on November 04, 2016

I went there for my senior year of high school and i graduated from there. Most people there were friendly. The teachers are really nice. However I always disliked how the front office people were usually pretty snotty. I called them today to request that they transfer my high school transcripts to a college i am about to attend and the lady who picked up sounded like she was too busy to be answering the phone. She sounded like she had a problem with me calling. To that lady i say this; " Don't work too hard because you definitely sound like you don't get paid enough for that $hit"....."but it is part of doing your job so you might as well learn to love it." It's usually always the lady who deals with student records that acts like this but the others will occasionally act the same way. I remember they wouldn't pick up or even return my calls when i was calling over the summer for my high school diploma. Either way don't let that stop you from going here. It's still a great school. Just let them know who their serving and everything will go just fine.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2016

First, there is a Mormon seminary adjacent to the school and students get credit for attending classes there during the school day. I can't even comprehend how this is legal in a PUBLIC school. Since the majority are Mormon don't expect a warm welcome if your child is LGBTQ+ or just different.There was a huge teacher walk-out about 2 years back. That gives a pretty good indication how bad the leadership is.Several teachers don't seem to want to be there and do not help kids that are struggling. I think one of my son's teachers is seriously in danger of a break down.Because of the teacher shortage there are very few electives available because there is no one to teach them. Most seniors only attend for a couple hours and take the early out.If you have a choice, pick a different school district.
Submitted by other on March 03, 2016

After coming from Mesquite Jr high, the first thing my daughter noticed is how much calmer this school is. The other day my daughter said she was thinking how lucky she is to have such great teachers, and that she really is so appreciative of how much they care about her as a person, and take time out to help her when they really don't have to.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2015

My daughter goes to Mesquite Junior High in Gilbert. She has been being bullied and harasses since the beginning of the school year by a group of 3 girls that she rides the bus with and has some classes with. Monday, my daughter came home in tears saying that the does't want to ride the bus or go to that school anymore. We had enough, we went to the Principle, school administrator and Transportation office and field our own complaints because the bus driver & teachers would not do anything about it. The Principle said that he would change the seating arrangement on the bus to separate the bullies and keep them away from my daughter. My wife and I were able to take her to and from school yesterday but we could't today. This morning on the bus the only seating changes were they moved my daughter to the front and separated her and her friends. The 3 bullies are still together. And to make it worse, as soon as everyone was on the bus the driver made an announcement, sarcastically saying that if everyone should thank my daughter for there new seating arrangement. The ringleader of the bullies was bragging on the bus that nothing will happen to her because her parents are good friends with the Principle. My daughter can't handle this stress, she has too much to deal with as it is. She was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and as many other health issues. We are currently saving for a special test that can help us find out what the roots of her illness is.
Submitted by parent on April 16, 2014

I'm a parent of a freshman who attends Mesquite High School. I drive my son to school every morning for his zero hour Jazz Band class (Mr. Davenport), even though our district high school is a stone throw away. I would not have it any other way! The new band Director, Davenport, is very dedicated and he's been an inspiring role model for my son, who now has a deep passion and love for music. Mesquite High also offers Aerospace Engineering classes taught by an instructor who works in the field. The teachers are very professional and they put student-learning as their top priority. Expectations are high and my son is being challenged. My son has many new friends who are great kids! I have never heard of bullying being an issue at Mesquite High. My only (huge) concern is the budget cuts being implemented, which will negatively affect the music and performing art programs. Parent involvement is a must if your child wants to be in Marching Band, Drumline, and/or Guard, working as fundraisers to cover expenses that are no longer paid for, as a result of these budget cuts.
Submitted by other on January 12, 2014

Mesquite is a very good school if your child wants to be in a big school or are used to that environment. If they are used to small schools I would not recommend sending them to this school. As it can be very overwhelming. But this school is very welcoming with great education and fantastic peers.
Submitted by parent on December 14, 2013

Mesquite High School How about Varsity Football this year!!! This school succeeds academically, athletically, and now their band rocks, with Mr. Davenport as their new Band Director! As a parent of a freshman student at Mesquite I rarely hear of bullying or problems in the courtyard. All of my son's teachers are respectful, professional, and they care. The Administrators are more supportive of their teachers than I have found in other school districts. I'm happy to have moved my son from our District High School, and placed him at Mesquite High.
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2013

My son goes to Mesquite High School and I think its an excellent school. I think that they're on top of schedule and that they're schedule is very strict. Students need to be dependent and be responsible for their schedule and duties because when they have already grown up they know what they're goal is and they have to be dependent.
Submitted by student on January 29, 2012

Good school but there are some problems they seem to have. I have been in Mesquite 3 years now, and I have had a great experience, the teachers are great and the school is nicely run. The problem I have, is I have chronic Bronchitis and Pneumonia, being hit with Pneumonia caused me to miss 3 weeks of school. I had doctors notes instructing my not to go to school, yet, when I was well again, they wanted to fail me right then and there. I had to get my parents to convince them that it was not my fault, because I have chronic health problems. They were stubborn and would not budge, even though I went in every day after school to make up work. It took constant work, but they finally let me pass.. They also have a problem with their bully system. Even though I have not been bullied myself, I notice that the school doesn't support you fighting back, as if they expect you to just take it. This is what happened with one of my friends, who was suspended for 3 weeks, on fighting back against a bully... And they also don't do much about them, another one of my friends, was so tormented by a bully, she transferred out, because the school did nothing. Other than that, nice teachers, and school.
Submitted by student on April 05, 2011

School is great, teachers help me even though I have health problems and miss many days of school. I rarely see fights and there are many fun activities that they put on. I am glad that the teachers teach me to be responsible so I do not become lazy in work in the future. Also this school is challenging So, to sum things up, great school.
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2011

This is our first year in Gilbert schools, moving from Mesa. For the most part, this school is great. All but one of my Freshman's teachers are great. That one teacher has been a bit of a challenge and getting the administration to help has also been a challenge. There is no way to directly contact the administrators, you have to contact them through their assistants. When you do get a hold of them, they have a "my word is the final word" attitude and is quite discouraging. BUT...overall, the teachers are wonderful there!
Submitted by student on August 03, 2010

As a student, I absolutely love this school from the teachers, students, and other faculty members to the building and learning environment itself. I wouldn't want to learn any other way! The teachers are amazing and connect with each of their students and even ones that aren't theirs! They STRIVE to make learning fun, even through the hard economic times. All students at this school are very easy to approach and make friends with. The word "clique" seems like it does not exist at at this school! It's amazing. But with every school there is a set back, the administration. As a whole they are ignorant to parent and student needs. They are disrespectful to parents AND teachers in front of students. They are also IMPOSSIBLE to get in contact with. The principal herself is always in her office and rarely seen around campus, classrooms, or at school
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2010

We just had our oldest son graduate from this school and it was a very good experience. Excellent teachers...great class choices and safe.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2010

Mesquite HS is the worst of the Gilbert High Schools. I've talked to students and parents at other Gilbert High Schools who love their school. My last child will be graduating from Mesquite this year and I will be done with this place. The staff is rude and unhelpful and you can never get in contact with the administration. The atmosphere among the students is viscious. It saddens me when I talk to so many students who hate this school and their experience. I believe this must be due to complete incompetance among the administration. Every year they do stupid things to intensionally annoy students. Last year they repeatedly played an obnoxious song between every class until the students coughed up enough money to make it stop. This year, they make you wait for your yearbook unless you give them a $2 bribe to get it.
Submitted by student on October 01, 2008

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Submitted by student on May 29, 2008

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Submitted by student on May 22, 2008

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Submitted by parent on September 16, 2007

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