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C+

Apache Junction Unified District

Public school districtGrades PK–12

Serves Apache Junction, and parts of Queen Creek.

Apache Junction’s School Grade C+ better than 44% of Arizona school districts

Students
2,440
Schools
5
Spent per student
$11,851
AZ $12,318
Students per teacher
17:1
Debt
$6.8M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Apache Junction Unified District

  • Its letter, C+: results better than 44% of Arizona districts
  • Math proficiency 17 pts below the state
  • Reading proficiency 17 pts below the state
  • Graduation rate 5 pts above the state
  • 17 students per teacher
  • Debt of $6.8M, about $2,797 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

C+: better than 44% of the 577 Arizona school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well below the state, 2021–22
C
GraduationFour-year graduation well above the state, class of 2023
B−
The town it serves, and its School Grade
C+Apache Junction 45,672

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Apache Junction. Grade by grade →

PK–62 schoolsThis district
7–8Cactus Canyon Junior HighThis district
9–12Apache Junction High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. AZ

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency18%
State average 34.8% · 1,633 students tested
Reading / language arts23%
State average 40.4% · 1,607 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)83%
State average 77.8% · 238 in the class

97% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$11,851 per student · 4% below AZ
Spending
Classroom instruction 50%Support & administration 45%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 31%State 47%Federal 22%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Students
White 49%Hispanic 41%Two or more races 4%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Black 2%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

5 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Arizona’s other public schools.

Desert Vista Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Apache Junction
C+
435 students16:1
Four Peaks Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Apache Junction
C−
400 students14:1
Peralta Trail Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–6 · Apache Junction
C+
282 students18:1
Cactus Canyon Junior High
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Apache Junction
C
527 students19:1
Apache Junction High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Apache Junction
C−
796 students17:1

Left off: 2 schools reporting no students for 2024–25.

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Mesa Unified DistrictMesa
$12,066per student
Tempe Union High School DistrictMesa
$12,138per student
Chandler Unified DistrictGilbert
$11,211per student
Gilbert Unified DistrictGilbert
$10,767per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Arizona.