📊 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 →
13 Rated Districts in the Tucson, AZ Metro Area
AASA 2025 · percentile among Arizona districts
| Metro Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Catalina Foothills Unified District | Tucson | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #2 | Tanque Verde Unified District | Tucson | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #3 | Vail Unified District | Vail | 9/10 Excellent | 82nd |
| #4 | Continental Elementary District | Green Valley | 7/10 Good | 69th |
| #5 | Amphitheater Unified District | Tucson | 7/10 Good | 67th |
| #6 | Sahuarita Unified District | Sahuarita | 7/10 Good | 62nd |
| #7 | Marana Unified District | Marana | 6/10 Average | 59th |
| #8 | Flowing Wells Unified District | Tucson | 6/10 Average | 52nd |
| #9 | Tucson Unified District | Tucson | 4/10 Below Average | 34th |
| #10 | Ajo Unified District | Ajo | 2/10 Poor | 19th |
| #11 | Sunnyside Unified District | Tucson | 2/10 Poor | 18th |
| #12 | Altar Valley Elementary District | Tucson | 2/10 Poor | 16th |
| #13 | Indian Oasis-Baboquivari Unified District | Sells | 1/10 Poor | 4th |
Best School Districts in the Tucson, AZ Metro Area (2026)
Counties are assigned to metropolitan areas using the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 delineation, and each district is placed in the county of its NCES directory listing. Ratings come from AASA 2025 (Arizona) and are percentile-ranked within the district's own state. Always confirm your assignment by address.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in the Tucson, AZ metro area? ▼
Among the 13 rated districts in the Tucson, AZ metro area, the highest-rated is Catalina Foothills Unified District (Tucson), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 90th 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, percentile-ranked against all rated districts in its state and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.