Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High operates 40 schools (grades KG–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 28,000 | 3,700 | ↑ Larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 40 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $8,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ↓ 42% below avg |
| District Type | Urban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 4/10 — Below Average | — | Below average |
About Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High
Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High is the public school district assigned to zip code 85004 in Phoenix, Arizona. Serving students from Kindergarten – 12th, this district is the primary public education system for families living in and around zip code 85004. The sections below cover the district’s resources, scale, rating, and everything families need to know about enrollment and school assignment.
Funding and Resources
According to NCES 2024–2025, Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High spends approximately $8,000 per student per year, placing it 6% below the Arizona state average of approximately $8,500 and significantly below the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Districts with constrained budgets face challenges with class sizes, program breadth, and facility upkeep. Ask specifically about available services when enrolling. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
At 40 schools serving grades Kindergarten – 12th, Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High qualifies as a very large district serving students from Kindergarten – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 28,000 students in total. Very large districts are complex systems with significant variation in school quality across attendance zones. They typically offer extensive programs — magnet schools, specialized high schools, dual-language tracks, advanced coursework — but navigating these options requires active engagement with the district.
Understanding the 4/10 Rating
With a rating of 4/10 (below average), Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High ranks among Arizona’s below average-rated school systems. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High carries a below-average rating, indicating resource levels and structural indicators below typical Arizona benchmarks. Below-average ratings primarily reflect per-pupil spending, staffing ratios, and enrollment trends — not necessarily teaching quality or school culture. Some below-average districts have schools with strong communities and dedicated staff. Families should research specific school quality, visit in person, and ask about available programs. Also ask about open enrollment and magnet options that may offer alternatives to the default attendance-zone assignment.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 85004
Children in zip code 85004 are assigned to Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High for public school enrollment, covering grades Kindergarten – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 85004, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High at (602)476-1320 or visit www.azva.org/. Typical enrollment documents include proof of address, a government-issued birth certificate, immunization records, and any existing school records or IEP documentation. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Arizona districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Phoenix
For families considering a purchase in the Phoenix area, district assignment matters financially. Because Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High serves zip code 85004, buyers should factor school district quality into their overall evaluation of homes in zip code 85004. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Arizona, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 85004.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Phoenix Elementary District 1 / Phoenix Union High before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 85004 data.