| District | City | Rating | Students | Schools | Grades | Zip Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoita Elementary District | ELGIN | 9/10 Excellent · 81st pct | 149 | 1 | PK–8 | 0 |
| Santa Cruz Elementary District | NOGALES | 7/10 Good · 60th pct | 183 | 1 | PK–8 | 0 |
| Nogales Unified District | Nogales | 5/10 Average · 46th pct | 5,687 | 11 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Patagonia Elementary District | PATAGONIA | 5/10 Average · 45th pct | 101 | 1 | PK–8 | 0 |
| Patagonia Union High School District | Elgin | 4/10 Below Average · 39th pct | 79 | 1 | 9–12 | 3 |
| Santa Cruz Valley Unified District | Tumacacori | 3/10 Below Average · 29th pct | 3,673 | 6 | PK–12 | 3 |
How Santa Cruz County compares
Together they enroll 9,872 students across 21 schools. The largest is Nogales Unified District with 5,687 students. Districts here average 5.5/10, above the Arizona average of 4.6/10. Ratings range from 3/10 to 9/10.
School Districts in Santa Cruz County, Arizona
Santa Cruz County has 6 public school districts covering 7 zip codes. The top-rated district in Santa Cruz County is Sonoita Elementary District (9/10). Ratings are based on the share of students proficient in reading and math on state assessments (AASA 2025), ranked against all districts in Arizona. Directory details come from NCES CCD 2024–25.
Enter your zip code on any page to confirm your exact district assignment — district boundaries are address-specific and may not follow county or city lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many school districts are in Santa Cruz County, AZ?
6 school districts serve zip codes in Santa Cruz County, AZ. This page lists each one with its rating, enrollment, grade span and the zip codes it covers.
What is the best-rated school district in Santa Cruz County, AZ?
Of the districts serving Santa Cruz County, Sonoita Elementary District has the highest rating on this site at 9/10. That places it in the 81st percentile among Arizona school districts.
How are these school district ratings calculated?
Each rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above on Arizona reading and math assessments, ranked against other districts in Arizona and converted to a 1–10 scale. Percentiles compare districts within Arizona only, never across state lines.