Best Schools in Tucson, Arizona
340 schools · 178 Elementary · 36 Middle · 87 High · 39 Other
Choosing a school in Tucson?
Use this page to compare every school in Tucson by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Ventana Vista Elementary School
Elementary · Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Manzanita School
Elementary · Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Winifred Harelson Elementary School
Elementary · Amphitheater Unified District (4406). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated 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 real test data across 247 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
340
289 public · 51 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$305,959
home value · ACS
Districts
67
serving the city
Schools
340
289 public · 51 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$305,959
home value · ACS
Districts
67
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +27.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Tucson schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Tucson
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 247 rated schools; 340 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ventana Vista Elementary School | 9.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Manzanita School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Winifred Harelson Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Carrillo Intermediate Magnet School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Mesquite Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Dunham Elementary School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 7 | La Paloma Academy Marana | 8.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Carden of Tucson | 8.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Wakefield Middle School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Orange Grove Middle School | 8.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $71,562
- Median home value
- $305,959
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 36%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 64%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Tucson compares
Arizona rank
#61 of 97
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Arizona avg (6.3)
Median household income
$72k
101% of Arizona median
Schools in this city
296
Education Snapshot
Tucson, ArizonaTucson's 337 schools span 67 districts and enroll roughly 125,941 students. Composite scores average 6.1/10 across 293 rated schools, placing the city 0.2 points below Arizona's state average of 6.3/10. The level mix leans elementary: 176 primary campuses feed 87 high schools and 36 middle schools, with 38 combined or alternative programs completing the inventory. Charter schools make up 90 of the 337 total — roughly 27% of all campuses — meaningfully expanding the city's choice landscape. Household economics reinforce the performance gap: the median household income of $65,756 runs 17% below Arizona's state median of $79,290, and the below-state rating correlates with that affordability shortfall. Educational attainment stands at 35% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher, consistent with the income gap versus the broader state.
67 districts draw attendance lines through Tucson
Tucson is not one school system. 67 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 30% of the public campuses.
Tucson Unified District (4403) is the largest slice at 88 of 289 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Tucson address is choosing a district first.
Among 247 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.4 to 9.4 — the spread is inside Tucson, not a citywide average.
90 of the 289 public schools are charters (31%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Tucson Unified District (4403)88 public · 30%
- Pima County Jted (89380)22 public · 8%
- Sunnyside Unified District (4407)21 public · 7%
- Amphitheater Unified District (4406)17 public · 6%
- Flowing Wells Unified District (4405)11 public · 4%
About Schools in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson's public school system spans 257 ranked schools, giving parents a wide field to compare. The citywide average lands at 6.1 out of 10 — a mid-range baseline that reflects meaningful variation across the city. Seventy-four schools, 29% of all ranked schools, score 7 or above, so strong options exist but require deliberate searching rather than geographic luck.
The elementary tier leads Tucson's performance. Civano Community K-8 School tops the city's rankings at 9.3 out of 10, followed by Liberty Traditional Charter School - Saddleback at 9.2 and Agua Caliente School at 9.1. Marshall Elementary and Ventana Vista Elementary round out the top five at 9.1 and 9.0, respectively. All five of Tucson's highest-ranked schools are elementary-level, which is critical context for families making long-term neighborhood decisions. Parents with middle or high school-aged children will need to research those grades independently — the top-school concentration at the K-8 level doesn't automatically signal equivalent strength further up.
The 6.1 average tells a practical story: for every school in the top tier, several perform below the citywide mean. The 71% of schools scoring under 7 aren't uniformly weak, but the spread is wide enough that school choice in Tucson carries real stakes. Proximity-based enrollment can land a child at a near-perfect school or a well-below-average one, depending entirely on home address.
For parents benchmarking Tucson against other cities, the 29% rate of high-performers provides a useful starting point. Families prioritizing academics should target that top tier and verify current enrollment options — charter schools like Liberty Traditional appear among the leaders, which means open-enrollment pathways may exist regardless of home address. Use the 9.0-plus schools as your first screen, confirm whether each covers your child's grade level since K-8 and elementary-only schools differ in reach, and treat scores as an entry filter before visiting. Ranked public schools are the basis here; private and unranked options add further choice but require a separate search.
Elementary Schools
178 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 434 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.4 |
| 2 | 582 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.2 |
| 3 | 430 students · Pre-K–6th | 9.1 |
| 4 | 298 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 5 | 677 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.1 |
| 6 | 159 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 7 | 115 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.8 |
| 8 | 65 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.8 |
| 9 | 398 students · Pre-K–2nd | 8.7 |
| 10 | 242 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
Show all 178 elementary schools in Tucson
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
36 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 269 students · 6th–8th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 672 students · 6th–8th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 410 students · 6th–8th | 8.4 |
| 4 | 428 students · 7th–8th | 8.0 |
| 5 | 768 students · 6th–8th | 7.8 |
| 6 | 764 students · 7th–8th | 7.7 |
| 7 | 573 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 8 | 514 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 9 | 523 students · 7th–8th | 7.3 |
| 10 | 30 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 |
Show all 36 middle schools in Tucson
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
87 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,001 students · 8th–12th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 730 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 |
| 3 | 888 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 |
| 4 | 1,868 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 1,306 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 |
| 6 | 751 students · 5th–12th | 7.3 |
| 7 | 289 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 |
| 8 | 863 students · 7th–12th | 6.7 |
| 9 | 61 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
| 10 | 151 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
Show all 87 high schools in Tucson
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
39 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 371 students · Kindergarten–12th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 823 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 220 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 6.6 |
| 4 | 155 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 6.5 |
| 5 | 1,237 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.5 |
| 6 | 140 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.3 |
| 7 | 607 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.1 |
| 8 | 72 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.1 |
| 9 | 117 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.9 |
| 10 | 118 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.7 |
Show all 39 other schools in Tucson
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Tucson
Tucson, Arizona · 340 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 32 ZIP codes
Median Income
$71,562
Median Home Value
$305,959
Median Rent
$1,270/mo
Population
892,232
College Educated
36%
Homeownership
64%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Community Profile
Tucson has a median household income of $71,562. It is an area where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $305,959, with a median rent of $1,270/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.5%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Arizona
- Elementary
- 178
- Middle
- 36
- High
- 87
- Other
- 39
Resources
School Districts (67)
Edge School Inc. The (4421)
2 schools · 166 students
Tucson Youth Development/ACE Charter High School (4422)
2 schools · 530 students
Presidio School (4425)
1 school · 371 students
Portable Practical Educational Preparation Inc. ( (4431)
6 schools · 745 students
Ombudsman Educational Services Ltd.a subsidiary (4323)
8 schools · 1,520 students
Hermosa Montessori Charter School (4426)
1 school · 222 students
Montessori Schoolhouse of Tucson Inc. (4428)
1 school · 135 students
The Charter Foundation Inc. (6355)
5 schools · 552 students
BASIS Charter Schools Inc. (6361)
1 school · 823 students
Ha:san Educational Services (6369)
1 school · 81 students
Mexicayotl Academy Inc. (4463)
2 schools · 199 students
Tucson Preparatory School (6374)
1 school · 86 students
Liberty Traditional Charter School (10968)
4 schools · 592 students
Pima County (4420)
1 school · 61 students
Academy of Tucson Inc. (78897)
3 schools · 443 students
Mountain Rose Academy Inc. (10879)
1 school · 170 students
Daisy Education Corporation dba Sonoran Science Ac (79049)
2 schools · 769 students
Khalsa Family Services (79420)
1 school · 255 students
Aprender Tucson (79426)
1 school · 226 students
Desert Rose AcademyInc. (79441)
1 school · 133 students
Compass High School Inc. (79467)
1 school · 452 students
Griffin Foundation Inc. The (79500)
2 schools · 96 students
Nosotros Inc (79881)
1 school · 254 students
Arizona Community Development Corporation (79947)
3 schools · 2,031 students
Pima Prevention Partnership dba Pima Partnership S (79959)
2 schools · 124 students
Academy of Mathematics and Science Inc. (79961)
1 school · 607 students
Tucson International Academy Inc. (79979)
4 schools · 394 students
CPLC Community Schools dba Toltecalli High School (80032)
1 school · 135 students
CITY Center for Collaborative Learning (85448)
3 schools · 301 students
Southern Arizona Community Academy Inc. (79000)
2 schools · 128 students
Tucson Country Day School Inc. (79073)
1 school · 503 students
Carden of Tucson Inc. (78858)
1 school · 65 students
Southgate Academy Inc. (79085)
1 school · 477 students
Eastpointe High School Inc. (78833)
1 school · 372 students
Highland Free School (79061)
1 school · 35 students
Educational Impact Inc. (81123)
1 school · 124 students
Satori Inc. (85454)
1 school · 106 students
Desert Sky Community School Inc. (88308)
1 school · 44 students
Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (6393)
19 schools · 427 students
Amphitheater Unified District (4406)
22 schools · 11,835 students
Pima County JTED (89380)
55 schools · 160 students
Pima Prevention Partnership dba Pima Partnership A (89864)
1 school · 35 students
Blue Adobe Project (89871)
1 school · 81 students
Daisy Education Corporation dba Sonoran Science Ac (89915)
1 school · 480 students
Math and Science Success Academy Inc. (89852)
1 school · 719 students
Academy Del Sol Inc. (90199)
2 schools · 660 students
Daisy Education Corporation dba. Sonoran Science A (90284)
1 school · 223 students
CPLC Community Schools dba Hiaki High School (90331)
1 school · 75 students
Ed Ahead (90506)
1 school · 23 students
Pima Rose Academy Inc. (90997)
1 school · 491 students
BASIS Charter Schools Inc. (91309)
1 school · 751 students
American Charter Schools Foundation d.b.a. Alta Vi (80995)
1 school · 472 students
Canyon Rose Academy Inc. (81029)
2 schools · 246 students
Academy of Mathematics and Science South Inc. (90878)
6 schools · 6,151 students
StrengthBuilding Partners (91992)
1 school · 37 students
Leman Academy of Excellence Inc. (92730)
7 schools · 4,775 students
Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410)
8 schools · 5,164 students
Science Technology Engineering and Math Arizona (1000050)
1 school · 254 students
Flowing Wells Unified District (4405)
11 schools · 5,287 students
Marana Unified District (4404)
20 schools · 12,872 students
Altar Valley Elementary District (4418)
2 schools · 537 students
Sunnyside Unified District (4407)
22 schools · 14,144 students
Tanque Verde Unified District (4408)
4 schools · 2,211 students
Pima County Accommodation School District (4401)
1 school · 1,950 students
Tucson Unified District (4403)
90 schools · 40,929 students
Vail Unified District (4413)
23 schools · 14,831 students
Desert Sage School (1001917)
1 school · 73 students
Other Major Cities in Arizona
Top metros statewide by school count.
Featured Rankings
See our in-depth rankings with interactive maps, score breakdowns, and school spotlights.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Tucson, Arizona
How many schools are in Tucson, Arizona?
Tucson has 340 schools, including 289 public and 51 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Tucson, Arizona?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Tucson is 6.1 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Tucson, Arizona?
The top-ranked school in Tucson on MySchoolScout is Ventana Vista Elementary School with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Tucson, Arizona?
The top-ranked elementary school in Tucson on MySchoolScout is Ventana Vista Elementary School with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Tucson, Arizona?
The top-ranked middle school in Tucson on MySchoolScout is Wakefield Middle School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best high school in Tucson, Arizona?
The top-ranked high school in Tucson on MySchoolScout is University High School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
How many school districts serve Tucson, Arizona?
Tucson is served by 67 school districts: Edge School Inc. the (4421), Tucson Youth Development/ace Charter High School (4422), Presidio School (4425), Portable Practical Educational Preparation Inc. ( (4431), Ombudsman Educational Services Ltd.a Subsidiary (4323), Hermosa Montessori Charter School (4426), Montessori Schoolhouse of Tucson Inc. (4428), The Charter Foundation Inc. (6355), Basis Charter Schools Inc. (6361), Ha:san Educational Services (6369), Mexicayotl Academy Inc. (4463), Tucson Preparatory School (6374), Liberty Traditional Charter School (10968), Pima County (4420), Academy of Tucson Inc. (78897), Mountain Rose Academy Inc. (10879), Daisy Education Corporation Dba Sonoran Science Ac (79049), Khalsa Family Services (79420), Aprender Tucson (79426), Desert Rose Academyinc. (79441), Compass High School Inc. (79467), Griffin Foundation Inc. the (79500), Nosotros Inc (79881), Arizona Community Development Corporation (79947), Pima Prevention Partnership Dba Pima Partnership S (79959), Academy of Mathematics and Science Inc. (79961), Tucson International Academy Inc. (79979), Cplc Community Schools Dba Toltecalli High School (80032), City Center for Collaborative Learning (85448), Southern Arizona Community Academy Inc. (79000), Tucson Country Day School Inc. (79073), Carden of Tucson Inc. (78858), Southgate Academy Inc. (79085), Eastpointe High School Inc. (78833), Highland Free School (79061), Educational Impact Inc. (81123), Satori Inc. (85454), Desert Sky Community School Inc. (88308), Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (6393), Amphitheater Unified District (4406), Pima County Jted (89380), Pima Prevention Partnership Dba Pima Partnership a (89864), Blue Adobe Project (89871), Daisy Education Corporation Dba Sonoran Science Ac (89915), Math and Science Success Academy Inc. (89852), Academy Del Sol Inc. (90199), Daisy Education Corporation Dba. Sonoran Science a (90284), Cplc Community Schools Dba Hiaki High School (90331), Ed Ahead (90506), Pima Rose Academy Inc. (90997), Basis Charter Schools Inc. (91309), American Charter Schools Foundation D.b.a. Alta Vi (80995), Canyon Rose Academy Inc. (81029), Academy of Mathematics and Science South Inc. (90878), Strengthbuilding Partners (91992), Leman Academy of Excellence Inc. (92730), Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410), Science Technology Engineering and Math Arizona (1000050), Flowing Wells Unified District (4405), Marana Unified District (4404), Altar Valley Elementary District (4418), Sunnyside Unified District (4407), Tanque Verde Unified District (4408), Pima County Accommodation School District (4401), Tucson Unified District (4403), Vail Unified District (4413), Desert Sage School (1001917).
What is the education level in Tucson, Arizona?
According to Census data, 36% of adults in Tucson have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Tucson, Arizona?
The median household income in Tucson is approximately $71,562 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Tucson, Arizona?
Yes, Tucson has 51 private schools alongside 289 public schools. The top-rated private school is International School of Tucson with a score of 8.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Tucson, Arizona?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Tucson is 13.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Tucson, Arizona?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Arizona Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.