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Murray Springs Clovis SiteSierra Vista, #1 on this list · Murray Springs Clovis Site · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0
Arizona rankings · Schools

Towns with the best schools in Arizona

Sierra Vista ranks first on schools among Arizona’s 139 towns of 2,500+; 17 of the 139 grade A− or better (schools are graded within each state).

The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). How grades work

#1

Sierra Vista

Cochise County · 44,907 people
A

Schools grade, graded within the state·Overall B− · #45 of 139 in AZ

#T2

Corona de Tucson

unincorporated, Pima County · 9,566 people
A

Schools grade, graded within the state·Overall B · #26 of 139 in AZ

#T2

Rincon Valley

unincorporated, Pima County · 6,512 people
A

Schools grade, graded within the state·Overall B+ · #16 of 139 in AZ

All 139 towns

Schools grade, best first (graded within Arizona). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 53 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

139 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1Sierra VistaCochise County · 44,907 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B− · #45 of 139
T2Corona de Tucsonunincorporated, Pima County · 9,566 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B · #26 of 139
T2Rincon Valleyunincorporated, Pima County · 6,512 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #16 of 139
T2Vailunincorporated, Pima County · 16,315 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #17 of 139
5CarefreeMaricopa County · 3,600 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #6 of 139
6St. JohnsApache County · 3,336 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A+ · #1 of 139
7Cave CreekMaricopa County · 5,160 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #13 of 139
T8Anthemunincorporated, Maricopa County · 22,584 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #7 of 139
T8New Riverunincorporated, Maricopa County · 18,240 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #15 of 139
10Sun Lakesunincorporated, Maricopa County · 13,924 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #57 of 139
11GilbertMaricopa County · 287,285 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #4 of 139
12ChandlerMaricopa County · 278,748 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #9 of 139
T13SnowflakeNavajo County · 6,902 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #40 of 139
T13TaylorNavajo County · 4,408 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #11 of 139
15ThatcherGraham County · 5,690 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A · #3 of 139
16PeoriaMaricopa County · 200,881 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #25 of 139
17Queen CreekMaricopa County · 89,770 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #10 of 139
18El MirageMaricopa County · 35,820 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #70 of 139
19ScottsdaleMaricopa County · 243,006 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #24 of 139
20Heber-Overgaardunincorporated, Navajo County · 3,621 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #46 of 139
21PhoenixMaricopa County · 1,665,481 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #65 of 139
T22Sun Cityunincorporated, Maricopa County · 37,486 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #44 of 139
T22Sun City Westunincorporated, Maricopa County · 27,425 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #35 of 139
T22YoungtownMaricopa County · 7,039 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #23 of 139
T25Citrus Parkunincorporated, Maricopa County · 5,115 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #32 of 139
T25Litchfield ParkMaricopa County · 6,727 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A− · #8 of 139
27SahuaritaPima County · 37,694 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #36 of 139
28CliftonGreenlee County · 3,752 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A+ · #2 of 139
29SurpriseMaricopa County · 175,304 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #18 of 139
30Paradise ValleyMaricopa County · 12,251 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #14 of 139
31GlendaleMaricopa County · 260,572 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C · #79 of 139
32Fountain HillsMaricopa County · 23,625 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #19 of 139
33Green Valleyunincorporated, Pima County · 22,114 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #34 of 139
T34Lindenunincorporated, Navajo County · 2,502 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #30 of 139
T34Show LowNavajo County · 12,471 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C− · #102 of 139
T34White Mountain Lakeunincorporated, Navajo County · 2,910 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #60 of 139
37Sierra Vista Southeastunincorporated, Cochise County · 14,330 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C− · #103 of 139
38BensonCochise County · 5,532 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C · #74 of 139
T39Catalinaunincorporated, Pima County · 6,489 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #59 of 139
T39Oro ValleyPima County · 48,085 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #20 of 139
41Casas Adobesunincorporated, Pima County · 72,059 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #28 of 139
T42Avra Valleyunincorporated, Pima County · 6,277 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C− · #93 of 139
T42Picture Rocksunincorporated, Pima County · 9,448 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C · #90 of 139
44MaranaPima County · 65,523 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #39 of 139
45PrescottYavapai County · 48,420 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #68 of 139
T46Desert Hillsunincorporated, Mohave County · 2,944 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #41 of 139
T46Lake Havasu CityMohave County · 59,358 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C− · #101 of 139
T48GuadalupeMaricopa County · 5,093 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #47 of 139
T48TempeMaricopa County · 190,571 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #53 of 139
50Williamsonunincorporated, Yavapai County · 6,310 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #72 of 139
T51Dewey-HumboldtYavapai County · 4,604 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #109 of 139
T51Prescott ValleyYavapai County · 52,423 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #64 of 139
53MesaMaricopa County · 513,656 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #50 of 139
54TucsonPima County · 548,371 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #108 of 139
T55Chino ValleyYavapai County · 13,832 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #58 of 139
T55Pauldenunincorporated, Yavapai County · 4,795 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #43 of 139
57Swift Trail Junctionunincorporated, Graham County · 2,859 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #56 of 139
58GoodyearMaricopa County · 125,359 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #38 of 139
59Flowing Wellsunincorporated, Pima County · 16,559 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #66 of 139
60EagarApache County · 4,459 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #12 of 139
61SaffordGraham County · 10,279 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #69 of 139
T62PaysonGila County · 16,693 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall D · #123 of 139
T62Star ValleyGila County · 2,538 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #22 of 139
T64Doney Parkunincorporated, Coconino County · 6,253 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #49 of 139
T64FlagstaffCoconino County · 77,260 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C · #82 of 139
T64Kachina Villageunincorporated, Coconino County · 3,212 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #37 of 139
T67Lake of the Woodsunincorporated, Navajo County · 3,250 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C · #83 of 139
T67Pinetop-LakesideNavajo County · 4,149 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall D · #120 of 139
69Whetstoneunincorporated, Cochise County · 2,971 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall D− · #137 of 139
70WinslowNavajo County · 8,464 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall D · #126 of 139
71Colorado CityMohave County · 3,484 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall D · #132 of 139
72NogalesSanta Cruz County · 19,495 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall D · #127 of 139
T73Fort Mohaveunincorporated, Mohave County · 15,715 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #110 of 139
T73Mohave Valleyunincorporated, Mohave County · 2,555 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #113 of 139
75Catalina Foothillsunincorporated, Pima County · 52,593 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #31 of 139
76Tucson Mountainsunincorporated, Pima County · 11,353 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #52 of 139
77Sacatonunincorporated, Pinal County · 3,429 peopleBgraded within the state·No overall grade
78PimaGraham County · 3,181 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B · #21 of 139
79San Tan Valleyunincorporated, Pinal County · 109,189 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #63 of 139
80Rio Ricounincorporated, Santa Cruz County · 22,017 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall D · #135 of 139
81Cordes Lakesunincorporated, Yavapai County · 3,808 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall D · #124 of 139
82FlorencePinal County · 25,222 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B · #33 of 139
83Tanque Verdeunincorporated, Pima County · 15,866 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #48 of 139
84MaricopaPinal County · 78,362 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #75 of 139
85SomertonYuma County · 14,934 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #42 of 139
86WillcoxCochise County · 3,189 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall D · #119 of 139
87WickenburgMaricopa County · 8,305 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #54 of 139
88Avenue B and Cunincorporated, Yuma County · 4,001 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #91 of 139
T89Drexel Heightsunincorporated, Pima County · 27,675 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #77 of 139
T89South TucsonPima County · 4,452 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #86 of 139
T89Tucson Estatesunincorporated, Pima County · 12,136 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #51 of 139
T89Valencia Westunincorporated, Pima County · 14,728 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #94 of 139
93Bagdadunincorporated, Yavapai County · 2,814 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall A− · #5 of 139
94Camp VerdeYavapai County · 12,581 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #92 of 139
95HolbrookNavajo County · 4,866 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #88 of 139
96TollesonMaricopa County · 9,224 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #71 of 139
T97SedonaYavapai County · 9,619 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #100 of 139
T97Village of Oak Creek (Big Park)unincorporated, Yavapai County · 6,356 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #95 of 139
99DouglasCochise County · 16,038 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #104 of 139
100San LuisYuma County · 42,030 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #78 of 139
101GlobeGila County · 7,191 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #107 of 139
102AvondaleMaricopa County · 100,983 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #96 of 139
103BuckeyeMaricopa County · 125,445 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #61 of 139
T104Apache JunctionPinal County · 45,672 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #67 of 139
T104Gold Canyonunincorporated, Pinal County · 13,107 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #62 of 139
T106Fortuna Foothillsunincorporated, Yuma County · 28,896 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C · #85 of 139
T106YumaYuma County · 105,227 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #111 of 139
108WelltonYuma County · 2,671 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #73 of 139
T109Oracleunincorporated, Pinal County · 3,146 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C · #89 of 139
T109Saddlebrookeunincorporated, Pinal County · 13,085 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall D · #131 of 139
111San Manuelunincorporated, Pinal County · 3,491 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C · #87 of 139
112ClarkdaleYavapai County · 4,806 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C · #84 of 139
113Lake Montezumaunincorporated, Yavapai County · 4,929 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall D · #117 of 139
114BisbeeCochise County · 4,860 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #105 of 139
115PageCoconino County · 7,147 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B · #29 of 139
116Golden Valleyunincorporated, Mohave County · 8,567 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall D− · #138 of 139
117Central Heights-Midland Cityunincorporated, Gila County · 2,909 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #112 of 139
118CoolidgePinal County · 19,959 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #115 of 139
T119KingmanMohave County · 35,829 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall D · #122 of 139
T119New Kingman-Butlerunincorporated, Mohave County · 13,993 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall D · #118 of 139
121WilliamsCoconino County · 3,473 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #128 of 139
122Fort Defianceunincorporated, Apache County · 3,351 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #99 of 139
T123Cornvilleunincorporated, Yavapai County · 3,618 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #129 of 139
T123CottonwoodYavapai County · 12,709 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #106 of 139
T123Verde Villageunincorporated, Yavapai County · 11,930 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #114 of 139
126Summitunincorporated, Pima County · 4,896 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #116 of 139
127Red Rockunincorporated, Pinal County · 3,277 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall B− · #55 of 139
128Chinleunincorporated, Apache County · 4,147 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #97 of 139
129Kayentaunincorporated, Navajo County · 4,927 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C · #80 of 139
130Arizona Cityunincorporated, Pinal County · 9,543 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C · #76 of 139
131Ajounincorporated, Pima County · 3,107 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall B · #27 of 139
132EloyPinal County · 19,967 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #121 of 139
133Tuba Cityunincorporated, Coconino County · 7,960 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C · #81 of 139
134Bullhead CityMohave County · 43,987 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D− · #139 of 139
135Casa GrandePinal County · 69,753 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #133 of 139
136Three Pointsunincorporated, Pima County · 5,254 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #130 of 139
137Whiteriverunincorporated, Navajo County · 4,545 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #134 of 139
138San Carlosunincorporated, Gila County · 4,973 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D− · #136 of 139
139SuperiorPinal County · 2,611 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall D · #125 of 139
Not ranked

1 town without a schools grade

Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.

  • Parker La Paz County · 3,394 people
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Arizona town has the best schools?

Sierra Vista (Cochise County) ranks first on schools among 139 towns, with an A; Corona de Tucson and Rincon Valley follow. Schools are compared within Arizona, so the letter is a state grade.

How are these towns ranked?

The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a schools grade (139 in Arizona). 1 town of 2,500+ lack the figures and is listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Arizona page.

Go deeper

More Arizona lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Arizona rankings →
Other states

Towns with the best schools in other states