Desert Shadows Middle School

340 Blvd. del Rey David
Nogales, AZ 85621

dsms.nusd.k12.az.us/

760 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Desert Shadows Middle School, located in Nogales, Arizona, is a public middle school serving students within the Nogales Unified School District. As part of the local educational landscape, the school focuses on providing a comprehensive middle-school curriculum designed to support the academic and social development of students transitioning from elementary school to high school. The school’s environment is structured to foster foundational learning in core subjects while encouraging student participation in various extracurricular activities and school-wide initiatives.

The school is committed to the mission of the Nogales Unified School District, which emphasizes academic achievement, personal growth, and community engagement. By leveraging its location and community ties, Desert Shadows Middle School strives to create an inclusive atmosphere where students are prepared for the challenges of secondary education. Families looking for detailed information regarding school policies, academic calendars, and specific programs can utilize their official website to stay informed about ongoing school events and district-wide resources.

760

Total Students

35.0

Full-Time Teachers

21.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Desert Shadows Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	2
Hispanic	751
Asian	6
Two or More	1

Hispanic
751 (98.8 %)
Asian
6 (0.8 %)
White
2 (0.3 %)
Two or More
1 (0.1 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Nogales Unified District (4457)
Phone:	(520)377-2646
Website:	http://dsms.nusd.k12.az.us/
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	760
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	35.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	21.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 269

Grade 7 238

Grade 8 253