Photo: DPPed · CC BY-SA 3.0Phoenix’s public schools outscore 73% of Arizona districts
On the state math tests, 43% of Phoenix’s students scored proficient, above the Arizona average (35%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Phoenix, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arizona, not nationally.
From Arizona state tests taken in spring 2022, when 99% 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.
Phoenix’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 118 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Phoenix’s, its schools beat 92%, higher than their 73% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on tests
Reading proficiency is 47% and math 43% across both districts in spring 2022, against 40% and 35% statewide; 75% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78%. Test scores ↓
Charters enroll nearly as many students as the district
Charter schools located in Phoenix enroll 55,031 students, against the district’s 32,265. Each is graded on its own results; none is part of the district grade. Every school ↓
Spending and class size
Phoenix Union High spends $14,043 per student and Deer Valley Unified District $11,444, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
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.
What’s behind Phoenix’s grade
B+: better than 73% of Arizona school districts, #21 of 139 Arizona towns. Test scores are above the Arizona average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Phoenix, with each school’s own grade.
Phoenix runs its own schools through grade 12 (Deer Valley Unified District). From grade 9, students attend the Phoenix Union High School District, shared with Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. Parts of Phoenix (16%, 15%, 15%, 10%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 4%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 3% and 2% of its land) are served by Tempe Union High, Paradise Valley Unified District, Glendale Union High, Tolleson Union High, Washington Elementary District, Kyrene Elementary District, Roosevelt Elementary District, Laveen Elementary District, Phoenix Elementary District, Madison Elementary District, Cartwright Elementary District, Scottsdale Unified District and Creighton Elementary District instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Phoenix
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Phoenix vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Phoenix’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | B+ | Deer Valley Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12 |
| Scottsdale | B+ | Cave Creek Unified District PK–12 · Scottsdale Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12 |
| Peoria | A− | Peoria Unified PK–12 · Deer Valley Unified District PK–12 · Glendale Union High 9–12 |
| Glendale | B+ | Glendale Elementary District PK–8 · Peoria Unified PK–12 · Deer Valley Unified District PK–12 |
| Paradise Valley | B+ | Scottsdale Unified District PK–12 · Phoenix Union High 9–12 |
| Tempe | B | Tempe PK–8 · Kyrene Elementary District PK–8 · Tempe Union High 9–12 |
| Cave Creek | A− | Cave Creek Unified District PK–12 · Deer Valley Unified District PK–12 |
| Tolleson | B− | Tolleson Elementary District PK–8 · Tolleson Union High 9–12 |
| Avondale | C+ | Liberty Elementary District PK–8 · Littleton Elementary District PK–8 · Buckeye Union High 9–12 |
| Guadalupe | B | Tempe PK–8 · Kyrene Elementary District PK–8 · Tempe Union High 9–12 |
3 of the 9 neighbors share Deer Valley Unified District with Phoenix for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Phoenix
525 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).
Left off: 82 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Bennett Academy, Bennett Academy - Venture Site, EduPreneurship Student Charter School, IntelliSchool Online, Victory High School - West Campus, Humanities and Sciences High School - Phoenix, Phoenix Advantage Charter School, North Pointe Preparatory, Canyon Pointe Academy, SC Jensen Online, PAS Charter Online, Midtown High School, Pillar Academy Online, Nueva Vista School / Arizona State Hospital, ASDB - Region 2, ASDB - ELP Phoenix Day School for the Deaf Preschool, ASDB - ELP FBC Main Preschool, ASDB - ELP FBC West Valley Preschool, ASDB - ELP Distance Itinerant Service Program Preschool, ASDB - ELP Region 1 Preschool, ASDB - ELP Region 2 Preschool, ASDB - Distance Itinerant Service Program Region 2, Arizona K-8 Online Academy, West-MEC - Washington High School, West-MEC - Thunderbird High School, West-MEC - Sunnyslope High School, West-MEC - Moon Valley High School, West-MEC - Greenway High School, West-MEC - Cortez High School, West-MEC - Barry Goldwater High School, West-MEC - Sandra Day O'Connor High School, West-MEC - Horizon High School, West-MEC - Shadow Mountain High School, West-MEC - Paradise Valley High School, West-MEC - Pinnacle High School, West-MEC - North Canyon High School, West-MEC - Metrocenter Academy, West-MEC - Sierra Linda High School, West-MEC Gateway Community College, West-MEC Glendale Community College - North, West-MEC Western School Science Technology, West-MEC Paradise Valley Community College, Kelly, Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics, RSD High School, EAGLE College Prep Phoenix South, Incito Schools-Phoenix, AIM Higher College Prep Academy, MIT STEM2 Online High School, Self Development Scottsdale Academy, Copper State Academy, Balsz Online Academy (B.O.A.), Cartwright Virtual Academy, Compass Center, Creighton Virtual Academy, Fowler Elementary School District Virtual Academy, Southwest Key Transitional Learning Center, Hope College and Career Readiness Academy, David Kazan Family Educational Center, Kyrene Digital Academy, Laveen Online Academy, Madison Virtual Academy, Arthur M Hamilton School, Osborn Community iSchool, Vista Verde Middle School, Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School, Sunset Canyon School, Cholla Complex, Westwind Intermediate School - Closed, Phoenix Prep Academy, Thomas A Edison School, Kenilworth Elementary School, ACE Day & Night School - Closed, Phoenix #1 iAcademy, Phoenix Educator Preparatory, Riverside Elementary School District (RESD) STEM2 Online Sch, iAmRSDOnline Academy, Union Connects, EVIT - Mountain Pointe High School, EVIT - Desert Vista High School, EVIT - Arcadia High School and The Excel Center - Papago).
Questions about Phoenix’s schools
Are Phoenix’s schools good?
By Arizona’s own tests, yes: the public schools Phoenix children attend outscore 73% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #21 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 92%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Phoenix in?
Two districts: Deer Valley Unified District runs grades PK–12, and Phoenix Union High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Paradise Valley and Scottsdale.
Where do Phoenix kids go to high school?
One of 18 high schools, depending on your address: Trevor Browne High School, Sandra Day O'Connor High School, Cesar Chavez High School, Maryvale High School, South Mountain High School, Alhambra High School, Camelback High School, Carl Hayden High School, Betty Fairfax High School, North High School, Metro Tech High School, Central High School, Barry Goldwater High School, Phoenix Union Bioscience High School, Franklin Police and Fire High School, Phoenix Coding Academy, Phoenix Union-Wilson College Preparatory and PXU City.
What is Phoenix’s graduation rate?
75% of the class of 2023 in Phoenix Union High School District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.
How much does Phoenix spend per student?
$14,043 in Phoenix Union High School District and $11,444 in Deer Valley Unified District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Phoenix?
Yes: Northwest Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 1,495 students), Brophy College Preparatory (catholic · all-boys, grades 6–12, 1,402 students), Xavier College Preparatory (catholic · all-girls, grades 9–12, 1,123 students), Scottsdale Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 953 students), North Valley Christain Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 703 students), Phoenix Christian Preparatory School (religious, grades PK–12, 678 students), Christ Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 609 students), Phoenix Christian Elementary (religious, grades PK–12, 590 students), St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 549 students), St. Thomas the Apostle School (Catholic, grades K–8, 489 students), St. Mary's Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 487 students), SS Simon and Jude Cathedral School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 464 students), Arizona Cultural Academy & College Prep (religious, grades PK–12, 456 students), St. John Bosco Catholic (Catholic, grades PK–8, 445 students), Rancho Solano Private School-Greenway Campus (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 444 students), Torah Day School of Phoenix (religious, grades PK–8, 412 students), St. Gregory School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 406 students), Paradise Valley Christian Preparatory (religious, grades PK–12, 365 students), St. Theresa Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 356 students), St. Teresa Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 356 students), Bourgade Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 330 students), Desert Garden Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 305 students), New Way Academy (special education, grades 2–12, 254 students), Arrowhead Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 247 students), Annunciation Catholic School (Catholic, grades K–8, 245 students), 91St Psalm Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 209 students), Aces-Phoenix West (special education, grades K–12, 187 students), St. Jerome Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 184 students), Accel (special education, grades K–12, 180 students), Phoenix Hebrew Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 173 students), Bayer Private School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 171 students), St. Agnes Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 167 students), Phoenix Christian School PK-8 (religious, grades PK–8, 159 students), North Phoenix Baptist Church Preschool (religious, grades PK–K, 159 students), Our Lady of Sorrow Academy (Catholic, grades K–12, 153 students), Glenview Adventist Academy (religious, grades K–8, 151 students), Lexington Life Academy - Phoenix (special education, grades K–12, 147 students), Holy Family Academy (Catholic, grades K–12, 146 students), Valley Lutheran High School (religious, grades 9–12, 137 students), Awakening Seed School (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 135 students), Cross Roads Preschool & Kindergarten (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 127 students), St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School (Catholic, grades K–8, 123 students), Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy (nonsectarian, grades 7–12, 118 students), Cheder Lubavitch Arizona (religious, grades 1–8, 116 students), Gateway Academy (special education, grades 6–12, 107 students), Atonement Lutheran (religious, grades PK–8, 106 students), Paradise for Tots Christian School (religious, grades PK–K, 105 students), The Foundation for Blind Children (special education, grades PK–4, 90 students), Amici Trilingual Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–1, 85 students), Breakthrough Academy- East Campus (special education, grades K–8, 80 students), Carefree Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 79 students), Emmaus Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 75 students), Youth Development Institute (nonsectarian, grades 7–12, 73 students), Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 73 students), Shearim Torah High School (religious · all-girls, grades 9–12, 70 students), Pleasantview Christian Elementary School (religious, grades PK–8, 59 students), Star Autism Academy (special education, grades K–9, 56 students), Montessori Childrens House (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 54 students), Valiant College Preparatory (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 50 students), The Family School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 47 students), Aldea Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 46 students), Yeshiva High School of Arizona (religious · all-boys, grades 9–12, 46 students), Covenant Child Care Center (religious, grades PK–K, 42 students), Desert Sky Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 38 students), Community Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 36 students), Acton Academy Phoenix (nonsectarian, grades K–7, 34 students), Brightmont Academy (special education, grades 1–12, 26 students), Rainbow Montessori School - Cactus (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 23 students), Science Prep Academy (special education, grades 6–12, 17 students), Rainbow Montessori School - Voltaire (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 15 students), Blessed Sacrament Preschool & Kindergarten (Catholic, grades K, 10 students), Taylor Made Prep Academy (nonsectarian, grades 4–12, 8 students), Arcadia Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades K, 7 students) and Holy Cross Lutheran School (religious, grades K–5, 5 students). Phoenix also has 150 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Phoenix families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Phoenix → 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.