AZArizona rankings

Towns with the best public schools in Arizona

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the Arizona average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 117 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

Arizona · Best schools

Tanque Verde ranks #16 of 117

+14.0 pts vs. the AZ average in math + reading · Visit Tanque Verde →

1 Paradise Valley +39.6 pts Math 73.2% · Reading 75.7% 2 Catalina Foothills +24.3 pts Math 55.4% · Reading 63%

3 Heber-Overgaard +23.6 pts Math 66.3% · Reading 50.6%

#Townvs. state averageMathReading

Paradise ValleyScottsdale Unified District (4240) +39.6 pts 73.2% 75.7%

2 Catalina FoothillsCatalina Foothills Unified District (4410) +24.3 pts 55.4% 63%

Heber-OvergaardHeber-Overgaard Unified District (4392) +23.6 pts 66.3% 50.6%

ScottsdaleScottsdale Unified District (4240) +22.3 pts 56.5% 57.8%

Queen CreekQueen Creek Unified District (4245) +20.7 pts 54.9% 56.2%

Oro ValleyAmphitheater Unified District (4406) +19.0 pts 51.8% 55.9%

7 St. JohnsSt Johns Unified District (4153) +19.0 pts 56.3% 51.5%

8 VailVail Unified District (4413) +18.8 pts 51.1% 56.3%

9 AnthemDeer Valley Unified District (4246) +18.1 pts 50.7% 55.3%

10 SnowflakeSnowflake Unified District (4391) +17.4 pts 52.6% 52%

11 GilbertGilbert Unified District (4239) +16.3 pts 49.8% 52.6%

12 ChandlerChandler Unified District #80 (4242) +15.9 pts 47.7% 53.8%

13 New RiverDeer Valley Unified District (4246) +15.4 pts 51.6% 48.9%

14 Corona de TucsonVail Unified District (4413) +15.2 pts 46% 54%

TaylorSnowflake Unified District (4391) +14.1 pts 53.6% 44.3%

16 Tanque VerdeTanque Verde Unified District (4408) +14.0 pts 40.9% 56.9%

17 Casas AdobesAmphitheater Unified District (4406) +12.4 pts 43.7% 50.8%

18 Colorado CityColorado City Unified District (4370) +12.4 pts 46.3% 48.2%

Litchfield ParkLitchfield Elementary District (4281) +12.2 pts 40% 54%

20 CliftonMorenci Unified District (4230) +11.0 pts 46.4% 45.4%

Dewey-HumboldtHumboldt Unified District (4469) +9.7 pts 37% 52%

22 PeoriaPeoria Unified School District (4237) +8.6 pts 41.3% 45.6%

Fountain HillsFountain Hills Unified District (4247) +8.2 pts 35.8% 50.4%

24 ThatcherThatcher Unified District (4219) +8.0 pts 40.6% 45.2%

25 PrescottPrescott Unified District (4466) +7.5 pts 37.9% 46.9%

26 GoodyearAvondale Elementary District (4272) +6.9 pts 36.8% 46.8%

27 SurpriseDysart Unified District (4243) +6.5 pts 37.7% 45%

28 Lake Havasu CityLake Havasu Unified District (4368) +4.4 pts 37.4% 41%

29 Green ValleyContinental Elementary District (4416) +3.7 pts 35% 42%

30 Sierra Vista SoutheastPalominas Elementary School District 49 (4180) +3.7 pts 33% 44%

ClarkdaleClarkdale-Jerome Elementary District (4486) +3.2 pts 30% 46%

32 MaranaMarana Unified District (4404) +2.4 pts 34.9% 39.6%

MesaMesa Unified District (4235) +1.9 pts 34.1% 39.3%

34 Fort MohaveDesert Star Academy (92302) +1.5 pts 31.5% 41.2%

CatalinaAmphitheater Unified District (4406) +1.2 pts 33% 39%

SahuaritaSahuarita Unified District (4411) +1.1 pts 30.4% 41.5%

37 SaffordSafford Unified District (4218) −0.6 pts 31.7% 36.8%

38 BensonBenson Unified School District (79226) −1.4 pts 27.9% 39%

Sierra VistaSierra Vista Unified District (4175) −2.0 pts 27.2% 38.4%

TempeTempe School District (4258) −2.2 pts 27.7% 37.7%

41 CornvilleCottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District (4487) −2.5 pts 25.8% 38.9%

42 Tucson MountainsTucson Unified District (4403) −2.9 pts 27% 37%

43 LindenShow Low Unified District (4393) −2.9 pts 25.6% 38.3%

Prescott ValleyHumboldt Unified District (4469) −3.2 pts 27.6% 35.7%

Show LowShow Low Unified District (4393) −3.2 pts 27% 36.4%

PimaPima Unified District (4220) −3.2 pts 28.9% 34.5%

WickenburgWickenburg Unified District (4236) −3.8 pts 30% 32.1%

48 EagarRound Valley Unified District (4155) −4.2 pts 28.7% 32.6%

49 GlendaleDeer Valley Unified District (4246) −4.7 pts 27.1% 33.2%

50 San Tan ValleyFlorence Unified School District (4437) −4.9 pts 26.8% 33.1%

KingmanKingman Unified School District (79598) −4.9 pts 27.6% 32.3%

52 BuckeyeBuckeye Elementary District (4269) −5.2 pts 25.4% 33.9%

53 FlagstaffFlagstaff Unified District (4192) −5.4 pts 23.8% 35%

54 Lake MontezumaBeaver Creek Elementary District (4481) −5.4 pts 27% 32%

55 MaricopaMaricopa Unified School District (4441) −5.9 pts 25.3% 32.7%

56 Valencia WestAcademy Del Sol Inc. (90199) −5.9 pts 22% 36%

57 BagdadBagdad Unified District (4468) −6.0 pts 26.4% 31.4%

58 PhoenixPhoenix Union High School District (4286) −7.4 pts 23.9% 31.1%

59 PaysonPayson Unified District (4209) −7.8 pts 21.1% 32.9%

60 WillcoxWillcox Unified District (4170) −8.0 pts 26.4% 27.3%

61 Pinetop-LakesideBlue Ridge Unified School District No. 32 (4397) −8.4 pts 22.7% 30.2%

62 Bullhead CityBullhead City School District (4378) −8.8 pts 23.5% 28.6%

El MirageDysart Unified District (4243) −9.4 pts 22.2% 28.6%

64 WilliamsWilliams Unified District (4193) −9.4 pts 21.5% 29.3%

65 FlorenceFlorence Unified School District (4437) −9.6 pts 21.9% 28.7%

66 TucsonTucson Unified District (4403) −10.0 pts 21.5% 28.2%

Flowing WellsFlowing Wells Unified District (4405) −10.6 pts 21.3% 27.1%

68 CottonwoodMingus Union High School District (4488) −10.7 pts 20.7% 27.6%

Chino ValleyChino Valley Unified District (4474) −10.9 pts 18.3% 29.6%

70 Casa GrandeCasa Grande Elementary District (4446) −11.6 pts 20.6% 25.9%

71 Red RockRed Rock Elementary District (4447) −11.9 pts 15% 31%

72 TollesonTolleson Union High School District (4288) −12.0 pts 18.7% 27.1%

73 HolbrookHolbrook Unified District (4389) −12.0 pts 19.8% 25.9%

74 AvondaleTolleson Union High School District (4288) −12.1 pts 18% 27.5%

YumaYuma Elementary District (4499) −12.3 pts 19.1% 26%

76 OracleOracle Elementary District (4444) −12.4 pts 15% 30%

77 SomertonSomerton Elementary District (4500) −12.8 pts 18.7% 25.5%

Doney ParkFlagstaff Unified District (4192) −12.9 pts 12% 32%

79 WelltonWellton Elementary District (4504) −12.9 pts 17% 27%

SedonaSedona-Oak Creek JUSD #9 (4467) −13.0 pts 18.1% 25.6%

GlobeGlobe Unified District (4208) −13.2 pts 18% 25.4%

82 Gold CanyonApache Junction Unified District (4443) −13.4 pts 17% 26%

83 Verde VillageCottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District (4487) −13.9 pts 14.2% 27.7%

Camp VerdeCamp Verde Unified District (4470) −15.3 pts 17.6% 21.5%

Picture RocksMarana Unified District (4404) −15.4 pts 15% 24%

86 DouglasDouglas Unified District (4174) −15.9 pts 13.1% 24.7%

NogalesNogales Unified District (4457) −16.7 pts 14.5% 21.8%

88 Apache JunctionApache Junction Unified District (4443) −17.1 pts 14% 21.5%

89 Rio RicoSanta Cruz Valley Unified District (4458) −17.1 pts 11.1% 24.3%

90 WinslowWinslow Unified District (4387) −17.8 pts 15.6% 18.5%

Avra ValleyMarana Unified District (4404) −17.9 pts 12% 22%

92 Three PointsAltar Valley Elementary District (4418) −18.0 pts 16% 17.7%

93 ParkerParker Unified School District (4510) −19.3 pts 14.7% 16.5%

BisbeeBisbee Unified District (4169) −19.5 pts 10.5% 20.2%

San LuisGadsden Elementary District (4505) −19.6 pts 12.9% 17.6%

96 South TucsonTucson Unified District (4403) −19.6 pts 11% 19.5%

97 Tucson EstatesTucson Unified District (4403) −20.1 pts 7.5% 22%

98 YoungtownKaizen Education Foundation dba Discover U Element (91328) −20.1 pts 5% 24.5%

San ManuelMammoth-San Manuel Unified District (4439) −20.5 pts 11.3% 17.4%

100

EloyEloy Elementary District (4448) −20.6 pts 11.2% 17.3%

101 Drexel HeightsTucson Unified District (4403) −21.4 pts 8.6% 18.4%

102 AjoAjo Unified District (4409) −21.8 pts 8.4% 17.8%

103 CoolidgeCoolidge Unified District (4442) −22.7 pts 8.5% 15.7%

104 PagePage Unified School District #8 (4196) −22.8 pts 10.3% 13.9%

105 New Kingman-ButlerKingman Unified School District (79598) −22.9 pts 9% 15%

106 Golden ValleyKingman Unified School District (79598) −23.4 pts 9% 14%

107

Mohave ValleyColorado River Union High School District (4381) −23.4 pts 11.5% 11.5%

108 SuperiorSuperior Unified School District (4440) −23.8 pts 7.9% 14.1%

109 GuadalupeTempe School District (4258) −23.9 pts 3% 19%

110

Arizona CityToltec School District (4450) −24.4 pts 6% 15%

111

KayentaKayenta Unified School District #27 (4396) −24.9 pts 5.7% 14.2%

112 SummitSunnyside Unified District (4407) −27.4 pts 4% 11%

113 Tuba CityTuba City Unified School District #15 (4197) −29.1 pts -3% 14.6%

114

WhiteriverWhiteriver Unified District (4394) −29.9 pts 2.5% 7.5%

115

San CarlosSan Carlos Unified District (4210) −31.9 pts 5% 1%

116 Fort DefianceWindow Rock Unified District (4154) −34.2 pts 0.8% 0.5%

117 ChinleChinle Unified District (4158) −37.9 pts -3% -3%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the Arizona average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within Arizona only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

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