Arizona Schools & Education
School quality and education data for all 15 counties.
Avg Graduation Rate
81.0%
Avg Per-Pupil Spending
$5,607
Avg School Score
14/100
Total Schools
2,426
657 districts
State Overview
About Schools in Arizona
Arizona Education Funding Lags Far Behind National Norms
Arizona's 81.0% graduation rate sits well below the national average of 87.0%. The state's per-pupil spending of $5,607 is less than half of the $13,000 national benchmark, ranking it among the lowest in the country for investment. These funding gaps correlate with an average school score of 45.8, which trails the national median of 50.0.
A Wide Performance Gap Across Fifteen Counties
Education quality varies significantly across Arizona's 15 counties, with graduation rates swinging by 19 percentage points. Santa Cruz County leads the state with a 90.2% graduation rate, while Navajo County struggles at just 71.2%. This geographic disparity creates a fragmented landscape for student achievement and resource access.
Low Spending Strains Student Achievement Results
Arizona attempts to maintain academic standards with an average expenditure of just $5,607 per student. While some areas like Santa Cruz achieve high graduation rates on lean budgets, the state average school score of 45.8 reflects the difficulty of driving results with limited funds. This low ROI environment suggests that many districts are stretched to their breaking points.
Graham and Santa Cruz Counties Lead the State
Graham and Santa Cruz counties share the top spot with identical school scores of 49.0, significantly outperforming the state average. Santa Cruz stands out for its 90.2% graduation rate achieved on a modest $4,869 per student, while Apache County uses the state's highest spending of $7,209 to reach a 48.7 score. These regions provide the most reliable educational outcomes in the state.
Challenging Climate With Pockets of Excellence
Arizona is a difficult state for public education due to chronic underfunding and scores that consistently trail national averages. Families should prioritize Santa Cruz or Graham counties for the highest graduation rates and school performance. Conversely, Navajo and Pima counties present the greatest challenges, with school scores falling as low as 39.6.
Top Performing School Counties
All Arizona Counties
| County | School Score |
|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County | 28/100 |
| Apache County | 27/100 |
| Yuma County | 22/100 |
| La Paz County | 20/100 |
| Graham County | 20/100 |
| Coconino County | 17/100 |
| Cochise County | 15/100 |
| Greenlee County | 15/100 |
| Gila County | 15/100 |
| Navajo County | 8/100 |
| Yavapai County | 7/100 |
| Mohave County | 7/100 |
| Maricopa County | 5/100 |
| Pinal County | 4/100 |
| Pima County | 2/100 |
— = data pending from NCES pipeline.
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Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.