Photo: John Diebolt · Public domainTucson’s public schools outscore 64% of Arizona districts
The grade covers the two public school districts serving Tucson, 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 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.
Tucson’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 165 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Tucson’s, its schools beat 82%, higher than their 64% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 38% of tested students were proficient in reading and 33% 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
Tucson Unified District spends $13,666 per student and Vail Unified District $10,173, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
Edge High School - Himmel Park, Alternative Computerized Education (ACE) Charter High School, Youth Works Charter High School, Presidio School, PPEP TEC - Celestino Fernandez Learning Center, Ombudsman - Charter Valencia, Montessori Schoolhouse, AmeriSchools Academy - Tucson, BASIS Tucson Primary, Ha:san Preparatory & Leadership School, Mexicayotl Academy, Tucson Preparatory School, Academy of Tucson High School, Academy of Tucson Middle School, Academy of Tucson Elementary School, Southern Arizona Community Academy, Tucson Country Day School, Southgate Academy, Eastpointe High School, Highland Free School, Southside Community School, Desert Rose Academy Charter School, Compass High School, Children Reaching for the Sky Preparatory, Future Investment Middle School, Nosotros Academy, Two La Paloma Academy campuses, La Paloma Academy-South, Pima Partnership School The, Academy of Math and Science, Tucson International Academy, Tucson International Academy Midvale, TIA West, Toltecali High School, City High School, Paulo Freire Freedom School - University, Paulo Freire Freedom School - Downtown, Satori Charter School, Desert Sky Community School, Adventure School, Alta Vista High School, Canyon Rose Academy, Canyon Rose Academy-East, Pima Partnership Academy, Sky Islands, Sonoran Science Academy East, Math and Science Success Academy, Academy Del Sol, Envision High School, Academy Adventures Midtown, Pima Rose Academy, BASIS Tucson North, Arizona Autism Charter School -Tucson Upper School Campus, Leman Academy of Excellence East Tucson, Leman Academy of Excellence - Central Tucson, Da Vinci Tree Academy, Legacy Traditional School - East Tucson, Desert Sage High School, Salpointe Catholic High School (private), Desert Christian School (private), Desert Christian Schools Pk12 (private), St. John the Evangelist Catholic School (private), The Gregory School (private), St. Cyril Elementary School (private), Saints Peter & Paul School (private), St. Michael's Parish Day School (private), International School of Tucson (private), San Miguel High School (private), St. Augustine Catholic High School (private), Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic School (private), Calvery Chapel Christian School (private), Calvary Chapel Christian School (private), St. Ambrose School (private), Santa Cruz Catholic School (private), Tucson Baptist Academy (private), Castlehill Country Day School (private), Tanque Verde Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten (private), Family Life Academy (private), Casa Ninos School of Montessori - East Campus (private), Intermountain Academy (private), Tucson Hebrew Academy (private), The Abbie School (private), First Southern Christian School (private), Second Street Childrens School (private), Faith Lutheran School (private), Carden Christian Academy Central (private), Faith Christian Academy (private), Satori (private), Renaissance Academy Tucson (private) and Ironwood Hills Christian School (private) are in town. Arizona Online Charter School, SACA Online, Amphi Academy Online, Online School of Arizona, Tucson Unified Virtual Academy and Vail Innovation Center, online schools, are based here too; they aren’t counted as local schools. 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.
What’s behind Tucson’s grade
B: better than 64% of Arizona school districts, #48 of 139 Arizona towns. Graduation is above the Arizona average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Tucson, with each school’s own grade.
Tucson runs its own schools through grade 12 (Tucson Unified District). From grade PK, students attend the Vail Unified District. Parts of Tucson (17%, 4% and 3% of its land) are served by Sunnyside Unified District, Sahuarita Unified District and Amphitheater Unified District instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Tucson
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Below the state in reading
Tucson vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Arizona towns that share Tucson’s borders.
Every school in Tucson
214 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: 64 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Montessori Schoolhouse, AmeriSchools Academy Online Instruction, Pima Vocational High School, Southgate Academy Online School, Pima Prevention Partnership-Tucson, Academy of Math and Science Advanced Virtual Academy, TIA East, ASDB - Region 3, ASDB - ELP Tucson Campus Preschool, Tucson VIP - Inactivating in FY 21, ASDB - ELP Region 3 Preschool, ASDB - Distance Itinerant Service Program Region 3, Academy Adventures Mid-town, PCJTED - Desert View High School, PCJTED - Cholla High School, PCJTED - Aztec Middle College, PCJTED - Tucson High School, PCJTED - Vail High School, PCJTED - Amphitheater High School, PCJTED - University High School, PCJTED - Sahuaro High School, PCJTED - Palo Verde High School, PCJTED - Pueblo High School, PCJTED - Rincon High School, PCJTED - Flowing Wells High School, PCJTED - Sunnyside High School, PCJTED - Empire High School, PCJTED - Catalina High School, PCJTED - Santa Rita High School, PCJTED - Howenstine High School, PCJTED - Aztec Middle College East, PCJTED - Aztec Middle College Desert Vista, PCJTED - Project MORE, Pima County JTED at Empire, Pima County JTED at Santa Rita, Pima County JTED - Flowing Wells, PCJTED - TAPP High School, PCJTED - Andrada Polytechnic High School, Pima County JTED - Star, Pima County JTED - Amphi Land Lab, Pima County JTED - Bridges Day Program, PCJTED - Mica Mountain High School, Pima County JTED - Pima Community College, PJCTED - Star Academic High School, Sonoran Science Academy - Davis Monthan, Changemaker High School, AZACS Tucson Elementary Campus, Sunnyside Online Success Academy, Rogers Elementary School, Duffy Elementary School, Julia Keen Elementary School, Lowell H Smith Elementary School, Reynolds Elementary School, Roskruge Bilingual Elementary School - Closed, Safford Elementary School, Van Horne Elementary School - Closed, Wrightstown Elementary - Closed, Jefferson Park Elementary School, Teenage Parent Program - TAPP, Mary Meredith K-12 School, Downtown Alternative High School, Mary Meredith High School, Wings on Words Preschool and Booth Magnet Elementary School).
Questions about Tucson’s schools
Are Tucson’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Arizona: the public schools Tucson children attend outscore 64% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #48 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 82%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Tucson in?
Two districts: Tucson Unified District runs grades PK–12, and Vail Unified District runs grades PK–12.
Where do Tucson kids go to high school?
One of 15 high schools, depending on your address: Tucson Magnet High School, Pueblo High School, Cholla High School, Mica Mountain High, Sahuaro High School, Rincon High School, University High School, Empire High School, Andrada Polytechnic High School, Palo Verde High Magnet School, Vail Academy & High School, Catalina High School, Innovation Tech High School, Santa Rita High School and Vail Blended Learning.
What is Tucson’s graduation rate?
82% of the class of 2023 in Tucson Unified District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.
How much does Tucson spend per student?
$13,666 in Tucson Unified District and $10,173 in Vail Unified District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Tucson?
Yes: Salpointe Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 1,305 students), Desert Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 543 students), Desert Christian Schools Pk12 (religious, grades PK–12, 543 students), St. John the Evangelist Catholic School (Catholic, grades K–8, 392 students), The Gregory School (nonsectarian, grades 5–12, 367 students), St. Cyril Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 359 students), Saints Peter & Paul School (Catholic, grades K–8, 344 students), St. Michael's Parish Day School (religious, grades PK–8, 318 students), International School of Tucson (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 307 students), San Miguel High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 293 students), St. Augustine Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 276 students), Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 242 students), Calvery Chapel Christian School (religious, grades K–12, 230 students), Calvary Chapel Christian School (religious, grades K–12, 225 students), St. Ambrose School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 225 students), Santa Cruz Catholic School (Catholic, grades K–8, 152 students), Tucson Baptist Academy (religious, grades K–12, 148 students), Castlehill Country Day School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 125 students), Tanque Verde Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten (religious, grades PK–K, 113 students), Family Life Academy (religious, grades K–8, 110 students), Casa Ninos School of Montessori - East Campus (nonsectarian, grades PK–3, 102 students), Intermountain Academy (special education, grades 1–12, 101 students), Tucson Hebrew Academy (religious, grades K–8, 92 students), The Abbie School (special education, grades 2–12, 83 students), First Southern Christian School (religious, grades PK–6, 82 students), Second Street Childrens School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 70 students), Faith Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 65 students), Carden Christian Academy Central (religious, grades PK–8, 61 students), Faith Christian Academy (religious, grades 6–12, 46 students), Satori (nonsectarian, grades PK–1, 40 students), Renaissance Academy Tucson (special education, grades 4–12, 33 students) and Ironwood Hills Christian School (religious, grades K–11, 27 students). Tucson also has 59 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Tucson families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Tucson → 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.