State district guide

Arizona public school districts

Compare district systems across Arizona by enrollment scale, school count, county context, generated guide coverage, and the parent checks that matter before choosing where to live.

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Direct answer for parents

What this district ranking can and cannot tell you

If you are searching for the best school districts in Arizona, start with the largest and most data-rich district systems below, then verify the specific school assigned to each address. SchoolsByCounty orders districts by reported enrollment and school count because those fields are consistent in NCES. It does not convert district size into a quality rating.

Start with scale

Mesa Unified District (4235)

58,343 reported students

Check county context

Santa Cruz County

28/100 county score

Verify locally

Address fit

Attendance boundaries and transfers are not in NCES

District table

Largest public school districts in Arizona

The first 60 rows show the largest district systems by reported enrollment. Open district guides where available, or use the county profile when a detailed district page is not generated yet.

657 districts in state file

Arizona public school districts ranked by reported enrollment.
Rank	District	County context	Students	Schools	Parent lens
1	Mesa Unified District (4235) LEA ID 0404970 Maricopa County78 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	58,343	78	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
2	Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) LEA ID 0401870 Maricopa County44 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	43,716	44	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
3	Tucson Unified District (4403) LEA ID 0408800 Pima County90 schools	Pima County 2/100 county score	41,511	90	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
4	Peoria Unified School District (4237) LEA ID 0406250 Maricopa County44 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	36,527	44	elementary, high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
5	Gilbert Unified District (4239) LEA ID 0403400 Maricopa County38 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	33,281	38	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
6	Deer Valley Unified District (4246) LEA ID 0407750 Maricopa County41 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	33,199	41	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
7	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) LEA ID 0405930 Maricopa County45 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	27,919	45	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
8	Phoenix Union High School District (4286) LEA ID 0406330 Maricopa County19 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	27,900	19	high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
9	Dysart Unified District (4243) LEA ID 0402690 Maricopa County26 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	23,173	26	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
10	Scottsdale Unified District (4240) LEA ID 0407570 Maricopa County30 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	21,177	30	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
11	Washington Elementary School District (4260) LEA ID 0409060 Maricopa County33 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	19,328	33	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
12	Glendale Union High School District (4285) LEA ID 0403450 Maricopa County11 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	16,535	11	high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
13	Sunnyside Unified District (4407) LEA ID 0408170 Pima County22 schools	Pima County 2/100 county score	14,541	22	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
14	Vail Unified District (4413) LEA ID 0408850 Pima County23 schools	Pima County 2/100 county score	14,533	23	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
15	Kyrene Elementary District (4267) LEA ID 0404230 Maricopa County26 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	14,401	26	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
16	Cartwright Elementary District (4282) LEA ID 0401680 Maricopa County23 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	14,338	23	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
17	Queen Creek Unified District (4245) LEA ID 0406810 Maricopa County15 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	13,818	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
18	Tolleson Union High School District (4288) LEA ID 0408520 Maricopa County8 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	13,741	8	high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
19	American Leadership Academy Inc. (4348) LEA ID 0400112 Maricopa County12 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	13,070	12	elementary school records 12 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
20	Higley Unified School District (4248) LEA ID 0403780 Maricopa County16 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	13,040	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
21	Marana Unified District (4404) LEA ID 0404630 Pima County20 schools	Pima County 2/100 county score	12,823	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
22	Tempe Union High School District (4287) LEA ID 0408340 Maricopa County8 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	12,664	8	high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
23	Amphitheater Unified District (4406) LEA ID 0400680 Pima County22 schools	Pima County 2/100 county score	12,042	22	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
24	Yuma Union High School District (4507) LEA ID 0409630 Yuma County7 schools	Yuma County 22/100 county score	11,380	7	high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
25	Litchfield Elementary District (4281) LEA ID 0404380 Maricopa County19 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	10,828	19	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
26	Tempe School District (4258) LEA ID 0408310 Maricopa County23 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	10,759	23	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
27	Alhambra Elementary District (4280) LEA ID 0400600 Maricopa County17 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	10,157	17	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
28	Agua Fria Union High School District (4289) LEA ID 0400450 Maricopa County6 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	9,632	6	high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
29	Glendale Elementary District (4271) LEA ID 0403420 Maricopa County14 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	9,450	14	elementary school records 1 virtual Open district guide
30	Yuma Elementary District (4499) LEA ID 0409600 Yuma County19 schools	Yuma County 22/100 county score	9,117	19	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
31	Florence Unified School District (4437) LEA ID 0402920 Pinal County14 schools	Pinal County 4/100 county score	9,090	14	elementary, high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
32	Flagstaff Unified District (4192) LEA ID 0402860 Coconino County16 schools	Coconino County 17/100 county score	9,043	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
33	Maricopa Unified School District (4441) LEA ID 0404720 Pinal County13 schools	Pinal County 4/100 county score	8,731	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
34	Pendergast Elementary District (4283) LEA ID 0406210 Maricopa County12 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	8,266	12	elementary school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
35	Laveen Elementary District (4276) LEA ID 0404290 Maricopa County10 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	7,766	10	elementary school records 1 virtual Open district guide
36	Roosevelt Elementary District (4279) LEA ID 0407080 Maricopa County20 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	7,214	20	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
37	Kingman Unified School District (79598) LEA ID 0400295 Mohave County14 schools	Mohave County 7/100 county score	7,178	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 virtual Open district guide
38	Casa Grande Elementary District (4446) LEA ID 0401710 Pinal County14 schools	Pinal County 4/100 county score	6,579	14	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
39	Sahuarita Unified District (4411) LEA ID 0407300 Pima County10 schools	Pima County 2/100 county score	6,483	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
40	American Virtual Academy (79461) LEA ID 0400329 Maricopa County1 school	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	6,392	1	Limited grade-level records 1 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
41	Portable Practical Educational Preparation Inc. ( (87405) LEA ID 0400432 Maricopa County2 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	6,225	2	high school records 2 charter, 2 virtual Open district guide
42	Crane Elementary District (4501) LEA ID 0402400 Yuma County12 schools	Yuma County 22/100 county score	6,077	12	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
43	Avondale Elementary District (4272) LEA ID 0400960 Maricopa County9 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	5,898	9	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
44	Littleton Elementary District (4278) LEA ID 0404440 Maricopa County9 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	5,877	9	elementary school records 1 virtual Open district guide
45	Madison Elementary District (4270) LEA ID 0404500 Maricopa County9 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	5,844	9	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
46	Academy of Mathematics and Science South Inc. (90878) LEA ID 0400891 Maricopa County6 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	5,818	6	elementary school records 6 charter Open district guide
47	Buckeye Elementary District (4269) LEA ID 0401380 Maricopa County8 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	5,725	8	elementary school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
48	Nogales Unified District (4457) LEA ID 0405530 Santa Cruz County11 schools	Santa Cruz County 28/100 county score	5,687	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
49	Humboldt Unified District (4469) LEA ID 0403870 Yavapai County11 schools	Yavapai County 7/100 county score	5,606	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
50	Lake Havasu Unified District (4368) LEA ID 0404280 Mohave County9 schools	Mohave County 7/100 county score	5,478	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
51	Flowing Wells Unified District (4405) LEA ID 0403010 Pima County11 schools	Pima County 2/100 county score	5,408	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
52	Buckeye Union High School District (4284) LEA ID 0401410 Maricopa County5 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	5,406	5	high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
53	Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410) LEA ID 0401760 Pima County8 schools	Pima County 2/100 county score	5,252	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
54	Phoenix Elementary District (4256) LEA ID 0406300 Maricopa County15 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	5,249	15	elementary school records 1 virtual Open district guide
55	Gadsden Elementary District (4505) LEA ID 0403240 Yuma County9 schools	Yuma County 22/100 county score	5,133	9	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
56	Isaac Elementary District (4259) LEA ID 0403960 Maricopa County13 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	5,077	13	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
57	Creighton Elementary District (4263) LEA ID 0402430 Maricopa County11 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	5,075	11	elementary, middle school records 1 virtual Open district guide
58	Leman Academy of Excellence Inc. (92730) LEA ID 0400944 Pima County7 schools	Pima County 2/100 county score	5,003	7	elementary school records 7 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
59	Sierra Vista Unified District (4175) LEA ID 0401460 Cochise County11 schools	Cochise County 15/100 county score	4,761	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 virtual Open district guide
60	Cave Creek Unified District (4244) LEA ID 0400001 Maricopa County8 schools	Maricopa County 5/100 county score	4,499	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide

— = enrollment not reported in the district record. District rows are informational and must be paired with local assignment tools before a housing decision.

Methodology

How to use district rankings without overreading them

District-level data is useful because it shows the operating system around a public school search: how many schools exist, which county record anchors the district, how much enrollment is reported, and whether a detailed district guide is available. It is not enough to decide where a student should enroll.

Ranking basis

Rows are ordered by reported enrollment, then school count. The method favors broad, data-rich systems because those are the districts parents most often need to research before relocation.

County context

Each district is attached to a primary county record when available. County school scores are context signals, not district ratings, and nearby counties can still matter for commute and housing decisions.

Grade pathway

Elementary, middle, and high school counts help parents spot whether a district looks like a full K-12 pathway or a narrower operating unit. Feeder patterns still require local verification.

Address verification

The final decision happens at the address level. Confirm attendance zones, open-enrollment rules, magnet admissions, charter lotteries, and transfer windows with official district sources.

County context

Districts anchored in higher-scoring county contexts

These rows pair district records with the county-level SchoolsByCounty score. Treat this as a shortlist for deeper research, not a district quality ranking.

Nogales Unified District (4457)

Santa Cruz County

Students: 5,687
Schools: 11

Open district guide

Santa Cruz Valley Unified District (4458)

Santa Cruz County

Students: 3,673
Schools: 6

Open district guide

Educational Options Foundation (90201)

Santa Cruz County

Students: 624
Schools: 2

Kaizen Education Foundation dba Colegio Petite Pho (92989)

Santa Cruz County

Students: 275
Schools: 1

Mexicayotl Academy Inc. (4463)

Santa Cruz County

Students: 204
Schools: 2

Santa Cruz Elementary District (4459)

Santa Cruz County

Students: 183
Schools: 1

Parent checklist before relying on a district ranking

Use this page to narrow the field, then answer these local questions before treating any district as a fit for a specific home.

Which school does this address actually feed into?

Use the district address lookup and confirm edge cases near attendance-zone borders.

What happens at transition grades?

A strong elementary fit can split into several middle or high school paths.

Are choice programs realistic for this student?

Magnet, charter, virtual, and transfer options can involve lotteries, applications, or deadlines.

Is the county context aligned with housing tradeoffs?

Pair school research with taxes, commute, home prices, and safety before choosing where to live.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arizona School Districts

What are the best school districts in Arizona?

Mesa Unified District (4235), Chandler Unified District #80 (4242), Tucson Unified District (4403) are the largest Arizona district systems by reported enrollment in the NCES file. SchoolsByCounty does not call them the best districts; use this page to find data-rich district systems, then verify assigned schools, program rules, and local fit.

How are Arizona districts ranked here?

Districts are ordered by reported student enrollment, then school count, using NCES public school district records. This is a research-priority ranking, not a quality rating.

Why do only 70 Arizona districts have district guide links?

SchoolsByCounty statically generates detailed district guides for the largest district systems nationally so the pages stay fast and substantive. Districts without guide links remain represented through county and state context pages.

Do these district pages show attendance boundaries?

No. Attendance zones, transfer rules, magnet eligibility, charter admission, transportation, and program availability must be verified with official district or local assignment tools before choosing a home.

Does a large district mean better schools?

No. Larger districts usually have more school options and more public data, but enrollment size is not a school-quality measure. Compare school-level records and official local sources before treating a district as a fit.

How many districts are included for Arizona?

This page includes 657 Arizona public school districts from the current NCES district file, alongside county context and generated district-guide availability where available.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jun 9, 2026

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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