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St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal ChurchSt. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0
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Schools in Catalina Foothills · Catalina Foothills Unified District, Tucson Unified District

Catalina Foothills’s public schools outscore 56% of Arizona districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Catalina Foothills, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Math proficiency in Catalina Foothills’s districts is 27%, below the Arizona average (35%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arizona, not nationally.

#75of 139 Arizona townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arizona state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
34%
▼ 7 pts vs AZ 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
27%
▼ 8 pts vs AZ 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
82%
▲ 4 pts vs AZ 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.7K
▲ 11% vs AZ $12.3K
FY2024 · Tucson Unified District
Students per teacher
15.2
AZ 17.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
12
5,415 students on the public path
In brief

Catalina Foothills’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 59 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Catalina Foothills’s, its schools beat 31%, lower than their 56% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 34% of tested students were proficient in reading and 27% in math, against 40% and 35% statewide; 95% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

82% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Catalina Foothills Unified District spends $10,061 per student and Tucson Unified District $13,666, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Khalsa School, Tucson Waldorf School (private) and Lambs Gate Christian School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Catalina Foothills’s grade

B− Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 56% of Arizona school districts, #75 of 139 Arizona towns. Graduation is above the Arizona average; test scores are below it.

Arizona school districts we grade (577)Better than 56%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arizona towns with similar household incomes (59)Better than 31%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 22,745 test results and a graduating class of 3,340 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Catalina Foothills’s students in the tested grades sat them (23,015 in math, 22,474 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Catalina Foothills, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–55 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A
9–12Catalina Foothills High SchoolCatalina Foothills Unified DistrictA−

Catalina Foothills runs its own schools through grade 12 (Catalina Foothills Unified District). From grade PK, students attend the Tucson Unified District, shared with South Tucson and Tucson. Parts of Catalina Foothills (8% of its land) are served by Amphitheater Unified District instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Catalina Foothills

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Catalina Foothills Unified DistrictGrades PK–12 · 8 schools · 5,088 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 18.2 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$10,061AZ $12,318 · FY2024
A
Tucson Unified DistrictGrades PK–12 · 88 schools · 40,316 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 14.8 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$13,666AZ $12,318 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Catalina Foothills Unified District67%
State average 40.4% · 2673 students tested
Math · PK–12, Catalina Foothills Unified District61%
State average 34.8% · 2705 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Tucson Unified District29%
State average 40.4% · 19801 students tested
Math · PK–12, Tucson Unified District22%
State average 34.8% · 20310 students tested

Catalina Foothills vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Catalina Foothills’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Catalina FoothillsBCatalina Foothills Unified District PK–12 · Tucson Unified District PK–12
TucsonBTucson Unified District PK–12 · Vail Unified District PK–12

Every school in Catalina Foothills

12 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Arizona’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Catalina Foothillsby address
Canyon View Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Tucson
A
394 students15:1Rate it →
Fruchthendler Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Tucson
A
327 students15:1Rate it →
Catalina Foothills Valley View Early Learning Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Tucson
192 students15:1Rate it →
Manzanita School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Tucson
A+
579 students17:1Rate it →
Sunrise Drive Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Tucson
A+
469 students15:1Rate it →
Ventana Vista Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Tucson
A
411 students16:1Rate it →
Orange Grove Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Tucson
A
683 students20:1Rate it →
Esperero Canyon Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Tucson
A−
495 students20:1Rate it →
Catalina Foothills High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Tucson
A−
1,865 students20:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Khalsa School
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Tucson
A
Charter
238 students15:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Tucson Waldorf School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Tucson
Private · Nonsectarian
228 students14:1Rate it →
Lambs Gate Christian School
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Tucson
Private · Religious
103 studentsRate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (PCJTED - Catalina Foothills High School).

Questions about Catalina Foothills’s schools

Are Catalina Foothills’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Arizona: the public schools Catalina Foothills children attend outscore 56% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #75 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 31%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Catalina Foothills in?

Two districts: Catalina Foothills Unified District runs grades PK–12, and Tucson Unified District runs grades PK–12, shared with South Tucson and Tucson.

Where do Catalina Foothills kids go to high school?

Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson, with 1,865 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Catalina Foothills’s graduation rate?

82% of the class of 2023 in Tucson Unified District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.

How much does Catalina Foothills spend per student?

$10,061 in Catalina Foothills Unified District and $13,666 in Tucson Unified District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Catalina Foothills?

Yes: Tucson Waldorf School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 228 students) and Lambs Gate Christian School (religious, grades PK–K, 103 students). Catalina Foothills also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Catalina Foothills families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Catalina Foothills → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Arizona. Stars are from neighbors.