📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on
academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (AASA 2025), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing.
See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Arizona
Sorted by rating — highest first
Best School Districts in Arizona (2026)
This ranking covers 127 rated public school districts in Arizona,
scored using AASA 2025 state assessment data.
Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers —
it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes.
Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions.
Learn how ratings are calculated →
Arizona School Districts at a Glance
- 181 of the 223 regular school districts operating in Arizona have a published rating on this site.
- 27 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from AASA 2025, and every district is ranked against other districts in Arizona only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Alpine Elementary District in Alpine, rated 10/10.
- Arizona has 17 high-school-only districts, so an address here can sit in an elementary district and a separate high school district at the same time. How split districts work →
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office.
Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Arizona? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (AASA 2025), the top-rated district is Alpine Elementary District in Alpine, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (AASA 2025), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale.
Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Arizona? ▼
Arizona has 223 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 181 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Arizona school district ratings based on? ▼
AASA 2025. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Arizona and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Arizona are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
27 of the 181 rated districts in Arizona score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Arizona, not the country.
Can one address in Arizona be in two school districts? ▼
Yes. Arizona has 17 districts that serve only high school grades, so a home can be in an elementary district for the lower grades and a separate high school district for grades 9–12. Search your street address to see every district that serves it.