📊 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 →
All 6 Rated Districts in Santa Cruz County, AZ
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Sonoita Elementary District | Elgin | 9/10 Excellent | 81st |
| #2 | Santa Cruz Elementary District | Nogales | 7/10 Good | 60th |
| #3 | Nogales Unified District | Nogales | 5/10 Average | 46th |
| #4 | Patagonia Elementary District | Patagonia | 5/10 Average | 45th |
| #5 | Patagonia Union High School District | Patagonia | 4/10 Below Average | 39th |
| #6 | Santa Cruz Valley Unified District | Rio Rico | 3/10 Below Average | 29th |
Best School Districts in Santa Cruz County, Arizona (2026)
This page lists the 6 public school districts headquartered in Santa Cruz County, Arizona that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using AASA 2025 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in Arizona, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Santa Cruz County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Santa Cruz County, Arizona? ▼
Among the 6 rated districts in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, the highest-rated is Sonoita Elementary District (Elgin), rated 9/10 (Excellent) and in the 81st percentile of Arizona districts on AASA 2025 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (AASA 2025), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in Arizona and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.