📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: May 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (Arizona AASA 2025)

Best School Districts
in Arizona

Arizona has 108 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (Arizona AASA 2025 for most districts), 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
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Catalina Foothills Unified DistrictCatalina Foothills10/10  Excellent90th
#2Tanque Verde Unified DistrictTanque Verde9/10  Excellent86th
#3Scottsdale Unified School DistrictPhoenix9/10  Excellent85th
#4Fort Huachuca Accommodation DistrictFort Huachuca Accommodation9/10  Excellent83th
#5Higley Unified DistrictHigley9/10  Excellent83th
#6Cave Creek Unified DistrictCave Creek9/10  Excellent82th
#7Cave Creek Unified School DistrictScottsdale9/10  Excellent82th
#8Vail Unified DistrictVail9/10  Excellent82th
#9Chandler Unified DistrictChandler9/10  Excellent81th
#10Snowflake Unified DistrictSnowflake9/10  Excellent81th
#11Gilbert Unified DistrictGilbert8/10  Good79th
#12Deer Valley Unified DistrictDeer Valley8/10  Good77th
#13Deer Valley Unified School DistrictGlendale8/10  Good77th
#14Queen Creek Unified DistrictQueen Creek8/10  Good76th
#15St. Johns Unified DistrictSt. Johns8/10  Good76th
#16Colorado City Unified DistrictColorado8/10  Good74th
#17Paradise Valley Unified School DistrictScottsdale8/10  Good74th
#18Tempe School DistrictTempe8/10  Good73th
#19Tempe Union High School DistrictTempe Union8/10  Good73th
#20Heber-Overgaard Unified DistrictHeber-Overgaard8/10  Good70th
#21Amphitheater Unified DistrictAmphitheater7/10  Good67th
#22Dysart Unified DistrictDysart7/10  Good67th
#23Prescott Unified DistrictPrescott7/10  Good67th
#24San Simon Unified DistrictSan Simon7/10  Good66th
#25Thatcher Unified DistrictThatcher7/10  Good66th

Best School Districts in Arizona (2026)

This ranking covers 108 rated public school districts in Arizona, scored using Arizona AASA 2025 state assessment data (with older EDFacts data for a few districts). 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 →

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 (Arizona AASA 2025), the top-rated district is Catalina Foothills Unified District in Catalina Foothills, 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 (Arizona AASA 2025 for most districts), 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.