Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 operates 22 schools. Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 14,000 | 3,700 | ↑ Larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 22 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $9,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ↓ 34% below avg |
| District Type | Suburban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3
Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 is the public school district assigned to zip code 85288 in Tempe, Arizona. Serving students from Pre-K–12th, this district is the primary public education system for families living in and around zip code 85288. The sections below cover the district’s resources, scale, rating, and everything families need to know about enrollment and school assignment.
Funding and Resources
Per-pupil spending at Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 runs approximately $9,000 annually, placing it 6% above 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
Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 is a large district with 22 schools serving students from Pre-K–12th. The district enrolls approximately 14,000 students in total. Large districts typically provide broad program variety: multiple course tracks at the high school level, dedicated arts and athletic programs, specialized learning pathways, and a wider range of student support services. Individual school quality within a large district can vary considerably — always research your specific assigned school, not just district-level averages.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
SchoolDistrictFinder rates Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 6 out of 10 — average among Arizona public school districts. 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.
Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 85288
Children in zip code 85288 are assigned to Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K–12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 85288, 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 Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include a signed lease or mortgage statement, birth certificate, state-required immunization documentation, and recent report cards or transcripts. 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 Tempe
Research consistently shows that district assignment affects residential property values. Because Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 serves zip code 85288, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 85288 and neighboring areas. 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 Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 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 85288.
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 Tempe Union High School District / Tempe Elementary School District 3 before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 85288 data.