The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Tucson for 2026 are Fruchthendler Elementary School (9.6/10), Sam Hughes Elementary (9.3/10), and Liberty Traditional Charter School - Saddleback (9.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 161 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.
- 19.6
- 29.3
- 39.2
- 49.2
- 59.2
- 69.2
- 78.9
- 88.9
- 98.8
- 108.8
All 161 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 161
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Fruchthendler Elementary SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 327student-teacher ratio 16.4:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 2Sam Hughes ElementaryTucson Unified District (4403)students 363student-teacher ratio 17.3:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 3Liberty Traditional Charter School - SaddlebackcharterLiberty Traditional Charter School (10968)students 252grades Kindergarten–8th
- 4Sunrise Drive Elementary SchoolCatalina Foothills Unified District (4410)students 490student-teacher ratio 14.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 5Carrillo Intermediate Magnet SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 298student-teacher ratio 16.6:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 6Esmond Station SchoolVail Unified District (4413)students 739student-teacher ratio 19.4:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 7J Robert Hendricks Elementary SchoolFlowing Wells Unified District (4405)students 468student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 8Mesquite Elementary SchoolVail Unified District (4413)students 677student-teacher ratio 17.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 9Hermosa Montessori ChartercharterHermosa Montessori Charter School (4426)students 222grades Kindergarten–8th
- 10Manzanita SchoolCatalina Foothills Unified District (4410)students 582student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 11Canyon View Elementary SchoolCatalina Foothills Unified District (4410)students 389student-teacher ratio 13.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 12Collier Elementary SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 112student-teacher ratio 12.4:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 13Ventana Vista Elementary SchoolCatalina Foothills Unified District (4410)students 434student-teacher ratio 15.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 14Marshall Elementary SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 273student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 15International School of Tucsonstudents 163student-teacher ratio 8.2:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 16Leman Academy of ExcellencecharterLeman Academy of Excellence Inc. (92730)students 1,144grades Kindergarten–8th
- 17Desert Willow Elementary SchoolVail Unified District (4413)students 759student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 18Robert Richardson Elementary SchoolFlowing Wells Unified District (4405)students 305student-teacher ratio 16.1:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 19Rattlesnake Ridge ElementaryMarana Unified District (4404)students 411student-teacher ratio 14.2:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 20Davis Bilingual Magnet SchoolTucson Unified District (4403)students 304student-teacher ratio 17.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 21Lulu Walker SchoolAmphitheater Unified District (4406)students 388student-teacher ratio 13.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 22Winifred Harelson Elementary SchoolAmphitheater Unified District (4406)students 430student-teacher ratio 14.3:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 23Leman Academy of Excellence-Oro Valley ArizonacharterLeman Academy of Excellence Inc. (92730)students 1,018grades Kindergarten–8th
- 24Desert Sky Community SchoolcharterDesert Sky Community School Inc. (88308)students 44grades Kindergarten–5th
- 25Mesa Verde Elementary SchoolAmphitheater Unified District (4406)students 281student-teacher ratio 11.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
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
Fruchthendler Elementary School
Tucson Unified District (4403)
327 students · 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–6th
Top 1% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 9.5
- 2
Sam Hughes Elementary
Tucson Unified District (4403)
363 students · 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 9.4
- 3
Liberty Traditional Charter School - Saddleback
Liberty Traditional Charter School (10968)
252 students · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 2% in Arizona · charter
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 8.5
- 4
Sunrise Drive Elementary School
Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410)
490 students · 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 2% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 8.4
- 5
Carrillo Intermediate Magnet School
Tucson Unified District (4403)
298 students · 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 9.2
- 6
Esmond Station School
Vail Unified District (4413)
739 students · 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 3% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 6.9
- 7
J Robert Hendricks Elementary School
Flowing Wells Unified District (4405)
468 students · 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–6th
Top 5% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 8.9
- 8
Mesquite Elementary School
Vail Unified District (4413)
677 students · 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 6% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 7.1
- 9
Hermosa Montessori Charter
Hermosa Montessori Charter School (4426)
222 students · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 6% in Arizona · charter
- Academics
- 9.4
- Growth
- 8.9
- Environment
- 7.5
- 10
Manzanita School
Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410)
582 students · 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 7% in Arizona
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 8.6
- Environment
- 8.9
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Tucson, Arizona?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Fruchthendler Elementary School is the top-rated elementary school in Tucson with a composite score of 9.6/10. 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 176 elementary schools, including 36 charter schools. Of these, 164 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Tucson?
Among 164 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 337 schools in TucsonElementary, middle and high
- Arizona schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings