The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Tucson for 2026 are Ventana Vista Elementary School (9.4/10), Manzanita School (9.2/10), and Winifred Harelson Elementary School (9.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 138 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Tucson's elementary school landscape spans 145 ranked schools, giving families a wide range of options across the metro. The average composite score sits at 6.1/10, but the top tier pulls well above that mark — Agua Caliente School and Civano Community K-8 School both reach 9.1/10, with Marshall Elementary close behind at 9.0/10. Ventana Vista Elementary and Carrillo Intermediate Magnet round out the top five, each scoring above 8.5. That spread matters when you're comparing schools. Roughly one in three schools — 48 out of 145 — score 7 or higher, meaning strong options exist across multiple neighborhoods and school types. The table below lets you sort by overall score, school type, and other key metrics to find the best fit for your child. Start with the top scorers or filter by location to narrow the list.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.4
- 29.2
- 39.1
- 49.1
- 59.1
- 69.0
- 78.8
- 88.8
- 98.5
- 108.5
All 138 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 138
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Ventana Vista Elementary SchoolCatalina Foothills Unified District (4410)students 434student-teacher ratio 15.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 2Manzanita SchoolCatalina Foothills Unified District (4410)students 582student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 3Winifred Harelson Elementary SchoolAmphitheater Unified District (4406)students 430student-teacher ratio 14.3:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 4Carrillo Intermediate Magnet SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 298student-teacher ratio 16.6:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 5Mesquite Elementary SchoolVail Unified District (4413)students 677student-teacher ratio 17.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 6Dunham Elementary SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 159student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 7La Paloma Academy MaranacharterLiberty Traditional Charter School (10968)students 115grades Kindergarten–8th
- 8Carden of TucsoncharterCarden of Tucson Inc. (78858)students 65grades Kindergarten–8th
- 9Helen Keeling Elementary SchoolAmphitheater Unified District (4406)students 242student-teacher ratio 10.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 10Soleng Tom Elementary SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 283student-teacher ratio 15.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 11Agua Caliente SchoolTanque Verde Unified District (4408)students 428student-teacher ratio 14.8:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 12Miles-Exploratory Learning CenterTucson Unified District (4403)students 297student-teacher ratio 9.6:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 13Desert Willow Elementary SchoolVail Unified District (4413)students 759student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 14Marion Donaldson Elementary SchoolAmphitheater Unified District (4406)students 234student-teacher ratio 10.6:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 15Quail Run Elementary SchoolMarana Unified District (4404)students 570student-teacher ratio 14.2:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 16Robert Richardson Elementary SchoolFlowing Wells Unified District (4405)students 305student-teacher ratio 16.1:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 17Annie Kellond Elementary SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 372student-teacher ratio 13.3:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 18Irene Erickson Elementary SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 333student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 19Howell Peter ElementaryTucson Unified District (4403)students 245student-teacher ratio 11.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 20Adventure SchoolcharterEducational Impact Inc. (81123)students 124grades Kindergarten–8th
- 21Leman Academy of Excellence-Sierra VistacharterLeman Academy of Excellence Inc. (92730)students 510grades Kindergarten–8th
- 22Ochoa Elementary SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 189student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 23Davis Bilingual Magnet SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 304student-teacher ratio 17.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 24Mesa Verde Elementary SchoolAmphitheater Unified District (4406)students 281student-teacher ratio 11.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 25Laguna Elementary SchoolFlowing Wells Unified District (4405)students 404student-teacher ratio 15.0:1grades Kindergarten–6th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Arizona education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in Arizona. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Ventana Vista Elementary School
Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410)
434 students · 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 9.0
- 2
Manzanita School
Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410)
582 students · 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 8.9
- 3
Winifred Harelson Elementary School
Amphitheater Unified District (4406)
430 students · 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–6th
Top 2% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 8.9
- Environment
- 9.4
- 4
Carrillo Intermediate Magnet School
Tucson Unified District (4403)
298 students · 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 3% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 9.2
- 5
Mesquite Elementary School
Vail Unified District (4413)
677 students · 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 3% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 7.1
- 6
Dunham Elementary School
Tucson Unified District (4403)
159 students · 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 3% in Arizona
- Academics
- 7.5
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 9.4
- 7
La Paloma Academy Marana
Liberty Traditional Charter School (10968)
115 students · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 4% in Arizona · charter
- Academics
- 7.3
- Growth
- 10.0
- Environment
- 8.0
- 8
Carden of Tucson
Carden of Tucson Inc. (78858)
65 students · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 4% in Arizona · charter
- Academics
- 8.0
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 8.0
- 9
Helen Keeling Elementary School
Amphitheater Unified District (4406)
242 students · 10.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 7% in Arizona
- Academics
- 6.5
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 8.2
- 10
Soleng Tom Elementary School
Tucson Unified District (4403)
283 students · 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 8% in Arizona
- Academics
- 7.3
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 9.2
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Tucson, Arizona?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Ventana Vista Elementary School is the top-rated elementary school in Tucson with a composite score of 9.4/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Tucson, Arizona?
Tucson has 178 elementary schools, including 36 charter schools. Of these, 166 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Tucson?
Among 166 Tucson elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.3/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Arizona).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Arizona, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Arizona, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Tucson elementary school rankings?
Tucson has 36 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Tucson2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Tucson2026 rankings and ratings
- All 340 schools in TucsonElementary, middle and high
- Arizona schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings