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Schools in Whetstone · Tombstone Unified District, St. David Unified District

Whetstone’s public schools outscore 59% of Arizona districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Whetstone, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Math proficiency in Whetstone’s districts is 30%, below the Arizona average (35%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arizona, not nationally.

#67of 139 Arizona townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arizona state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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
36%
▼ 4 pts vs AZ 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
30%
▼ 5 pts vs AZ 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▲ 7–11 pts vs AZ 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.3K
▲ 8% vs AZ $12.3K
FY2024 · Tombstone Unified District
Students per teacher
16.2
AZ 17.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
1,307 students on the public path
In brief

Whetstone’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 153 Arizona towns with household incomes within a quarter of Whetstone’s, its schools beat 73%, higher than their 59% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 36% of tested students were proficient in reading and 30% in math, against 40% and 35% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona (the state reports Whetstone’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Tombstone Unified District spends $13,285 per student and St. David Unified District $11,427, against $12,318 across Arizona (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

San Pedro Valley Academy (private) is 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 Whetstone’s grade

B− Test scoresB Graduation

B: better than 59% of Arizona school districts, #67 of 139 Arizona towns. Graduation is above the Arizona average; test scores are below it.

Arizona school districts we grade (577)Better than 59%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arizona towns with similar household incomes (153)Better than 73%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 569 test results and a graduating class of 98 could put Whetstone anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Whetstone’s students in the tested grades sat them (571 in math, 567 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–83 schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A−

Whetstone runs its own schools through grade 12 (Tombstone Unified District). From grade PK, students attend the St. David Unified District, shared with Benson. Its school is in Saint David. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Whetstone

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

Tombstone Unified DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 874 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 16.1 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$13,285AZ $12,318 · FY2024
B
St. David Unified DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 433 students, up 23% since 2020–21 · 16.5 per teacher (AZ 17.2)
$11,427AZ $12,318 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Tombstone Unified District36%
State average 40.4% · 365 students tested
Math · PK–12, Tombstone Unified District28%
State average 34.8% · 365 students tested
Reading · PK–12, St. David Unified District36%
State average 40.4% · 202 students tested
Math · PK–12, St. David Unified District34%
State average 34.8% · 206 students tested

Whetstone vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WhetstoneBTombstone Unified District PK–12 · St. David Unified District PK–12
Sierra VistaAFort Huachuca Accommodation District
Huachuca CityBTombstone Unified District

Every school in Whetstone

6 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).

Also serving Whetstonein other towns
St David Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Saint David
B+
296 students14:1Rate it →
Huachuca City School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Huachuca City
B−
262 students15:1Rate it →
Walter J Meyer School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Tombstone
B−
151 students15:1Rate it →
Tombstone High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Tombstone
C−
461 students17:1Rate it →
St David High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Saint David
A−
137 students24:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
San Pedro Valley Academy
High · Grades 9–12 · Huachuca City
Private · Nonsectarian · All-boys
44 students7:1Rate it →

Questions about Whetstone’s schools

Are Whetstone’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Arizona: the public schools Whetstone children attend outscore 59% of Arizona’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #67 of 139 Arizona towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 73%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Whetstone in?

Two districts: Tombstone Unified District runs grades PK–12, and St. David Unified District runs grades PK–12, shared with Benson.

Where do Whetstone kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Tombstone High School and St David High School.

What is Whetstone’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Tombstone Unified District graduated in four years, against 78% across Arizona.

How much does Whetstone spend per student?

$13,285 in Tombstone Unified District and $11,427 in St. David Unified District (FY2024), against $12,318 across Arizona. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Whetstone?

Yes: San Pedro Valley Academy (nonsectarian · all-boys, grades 9–12, 44 students).

Parents talk

What Whetstone families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Whetstone → 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.