Photos: Mesquite Elementary rolls out the red carpet on the first day of school
Mesquite Elementary rolled out the red carpet to greet nearly 700 students on their first day of the new school year on Monday morning.
Vail School District welcomed thousands of students back to 15 different K-8 schools with high schools returning on Friday.
Ariya Gonzalez, a first grade student runs through a line of teachers welcoming her on her first day back at Mesquite Elementary School, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
A parent snaps a photo before her child on the first day of school at Mesquite Elementary, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
Paula Maxwell, a STEM teacher high fives students as they enter Mesquite Elementary School on the first day of school, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
A student locks her scooter up before entering her first day of school at Mesquite Elementary School, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
A student walks into her first day of school at Mesquite Elementary, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
An eager student jumps to greet faculty on the first day of school at Mesquite Elementary, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
A father snaps a photo of his kids on their first day of school at Mesquite Elementary, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
Artemisa Sanchez, a reading specialist at Mesquite Elementary welcomes students on their first day of school, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
Students and parents arrive one the first day of school at Mesquite Elementary, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
Jazmine Benjamin, an educator at Mesquite Elementary School embraces a student on the first day of school, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
Angelo Brinton, a 2nd grade student at Mesquite Elementary high fives teachers on his first day of school, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
A parent walks her child to class on the first day of school at Mesquite Elementary, 9455 East Rita Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 20, 2026.
Grace Trejo
Photojournalist
Most Popular
A mass shooting in downtown Tucson left nine injured, plus a suspect who was shot by an officer as he tried to run away on Sunday. Here's what…
Images from this year's monsoon action around Tucson by the Arizona Daily Star photography staff.
Nine people were critically injured and a man was taken into custody in a shooting in downtown Tucson early Sunday morning.
It was a dark and stormy The Week That Was in The Old Pueblo, July 14 - 18, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
The Arizona Department of Education defines chronic absence as a student missing 10% or more of the school year, excused or unexcused, while e…
Thursday's news: What you missed while you were at work.
Get a quick digest of today's top local news stories from Arizona Daily Star.
View all of our stories about America's 250th anniversary.
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.