Celebrating Our Success Together

We have a lot to celebrate here at Tolleson ESD. We are Tolleson ESD proud.

• Our governing board increased salaries significantly placing us in a highly competitive position with teacher salaries starting at $52,500.00; one of the highest paid elementary school districts in the West Valley and Arizona.
• Our schools all received “A” and “B” letter grades from Arizona Department of Education, and our district was cited for “significant student growth” as we have moved students to a higher proficiency rate.
• Not only are our students performing in the classroom, they have numerous opportunities to perform beyond the classroom including student council, JAG, junior achievement, athletics, mariachi & marching bands, Odyssey of the Mind, Jr. chef competition, and more!
• We identified four strategic plan priority goals and have kept our focus on those to make great progress. Engaging families is a priority goal, and we are experiencing fabulous turnout at our parent teacher conferences.
• Mr. Efrain Casillas, music teacher at Desert Oasis and Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary Schools, was named 2024 Arizona Teacher of the Year by Arizona Educational Foundation. He represented Arizona in the national award.
• Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hightower was named 2023 Arizona Superintendent of the Year by Arizona School Administrators, and she represented Arizona in the national award.
• We received a Westmarc Quality of Life Education Award for our partnership with Northern Arizona University (NAU) to provide tuition-free pathways to teaching for members of our community.
• We reversed the decline in student enrollment and are thrilled to see families enrolling and staying with us from within our district boundaries and through open enrollment. 23% of our student enrollment comes from families beyond our district boundaries.
• We have “5” STAR preschool programs – far exceeding the preschool standards!
• Our English Learner Programs Audit continues to be flawless!