Best Schools in Yuma, Arizona
52 schools · 30 Elementary · 7 Middle · 14 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Yuma?
Use this page to compare every school in Yuma 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.
James D Price School
Elementary · Yuma Elementary District (4499). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Pecan Grove Elementary School
Elementary · Yuma Elementary District (4499). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Gowan Science Academy
Elementary · Crane Elementary District (4501). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Yuma for 2026 are James D Price School (9.5/10), Pecan Grove Elementary School (7.2/10), and Gowan Science Academy (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 39 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
52
46 public · 6 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$192,900
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Schools
52
46 public · 6 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$192,900
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +11.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Yuma schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Yuma
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 39 rated schools; 52 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | James D Price School | 9.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Pecan Grove Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Gowan Science Academy | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Palmcroft Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Pueblo Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Harvest Preparatory Academy | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Centennial Middle School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | James B Rolle School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Harvest Preparatory Academy San Luis Az | 6.6 / 10 |
| 10 | H L Suverkrup Elementary School | 6.5 / 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
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $60,540
- Median home value
- $192,900
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 18%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 73%
11% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Yuma compares
Arizona rank
#82 of 97
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.8
below Arizona avg (6.3)
Median household income
$61k
85% of Arizona median
Schools in this city
45
8 districts draw attendance lines through Yuma
Yuma is not one school system. 8 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 41% of the public campuses.
Yuma Elementary District (4499) is the largest slice at 19 of 46 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Yuma address is choosing a district first.
Among 39 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.4 to 9.5 — the spread is inside Yuma, not a citywide average.
6 of the 46 public schools are charters (13%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Yuma Elementary District (4499)19 public · 41%
- Crane Elementary District (4501)11 public · 24%
- Yuma Union High School District (4507)6 public · 13%
- Southwest Technical Education District of Yuma (st (92705)4 public · 9%
- Carpe Diem Collegiate High School (80001)2 public · 4%
About Schools in Yuma, Arizona
Yuma's public school system spans 40 ranked schools, giving families a wide field to evaluate. The city-wide average sits at 5.7 out of 10, which puts most schools in the middle tier — functional but undistinguished on key academic metrics. Parents comparing Yuma to other Arizona metros should treat that average as a baseline signal: the system works, but the range is wide and where your child lands within it matters a lot.
The top of the distribution is thin but real. Six schools, 15% of the ranked total, score 7 or above. Dorothy Hall Elementary leads the city at 8.8 — the strongest single school in Yuma's public landscape and a clear outlier. James D Price School follows at 8.1, and Yuma District One Digital Learning Academy rounds out the upper tier at 7.7. H.L. Suverkrup Elementary (7.5) and George Washington Carver Elementary (7.4) also clear the 7-point threshold. All five high performers are elementary schools, which means the concentration of top options is front-loaded — families navigating the middle and high school years will find fewer standouts to target.
The presence of a digital learning academy in the top five is worth noting. Yuma District One's DLA signals that at least one district is running an alternative instructional model and doing it well by performance standards. For families whose kids thrive in non-traditional formats, that school earns a serious look. For families anchored in conventional classrooms, Dorothy Hall and James D Price are the strongest in-district options at the elementary level.
Practically, parents researching Yuma should focus their search within that 15% high-performer cohort and confirm attendance zone eligibility early — top schools in mid-performing cities frequently fill via boundary rules before open enrollment opens up. The city's elementary strength also means families with young children have meaningful choices available now, even if secondary-level options require more legwork to evaluate. Start with Dorothy Hall, compare it against your zone assignment, and work down from there.
Elementary Schools
30 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.5 |
| 2 | 322 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.2 |
| 3 | 772 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 433 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.1 |
| 5 | 577 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 530 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.8 |
| 7 | 583 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.6 |
| 8 | 573 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.5 |
| 9 | 530 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.5 |
| 10 | 430 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.2 |
Show all 30 elementary schools in Yuma
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 675 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 356 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 588 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 |
| 4 | 560 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
| 5 | 509 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
| 6 | 917 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 |
| 7 | 557 students · 6th–8th | 4.8 |
High Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,411 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
| 2 | 2,325 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 |
| 3 | 261 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 |
| 4 | 2,323 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 |
| 5 | 1,122 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 |
| 6 | 213 students · 6th–12th | 4.5 |
| 7 | 37 students · 9th–12th | 4.4 |
| 8 | 106 students · 9th–12th | 3.7 |
| 9 | 8 students · 7th–12th | — |
| 10 | 1 students · 9th–12th | — |
Show all 14 high schools in Yuma
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,054 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.8 |
Schools in Yuma
Yuma, Arizona · 52 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$60,540
Median Home Value
$192,900
Median Rent
$1,142/mo
Population
146,630
College Educated
18%
Homeownership
73%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
14.0%
Community Profile
Yuma has a median household income of $60,540. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $192,900, with a median rent of $1,142/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.0%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Arizona
- Elementary
- 30
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 14
- Other
- 1
Resources
School Districts (8)
Yuma Private Industry Council Inc. (4509)
1 school · 106 students
Carpe Diem Collegiate High School (80001)
2 schools · 221 students
Juniper Tree Academy (79064)
1 school · 931 students
Harvest Power Community Development Group Inc. (79501)
2 schools · 1,637 students
Southwest Technical Education District of Yuma (ST (92705)
12 schools · 8 students
Crane Elementary District (4501)
12 schools · 5,873 students
Yuma Elementary District (4499)
19 schools · 8,980 students
Yuma Union High School District (4507)
8 schools · 11,369 students
Other Major Cities in Arizona
Top metros statewide by school count.
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 Yuma, Arizona
How many schools are in Yuma, Arizona?
Yuma has 52 schools, including 46 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Yuma, Arizona?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Yuma is 5.6 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 Yuma, Arizona?
The top-ranked school in Yuma on MySchoolScout is James D Price School with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Yuma, Arizona?
The top-ranked elementary school in Yuma on MySchoolScout is James D Price School with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Yuma, Arizona?
The top-ranked middle school in Yuma on MySchoolScout is Centennial Middle School with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in Yuma, Arizona?
The top-ranked high school in Yuma on MySchoolScout is Cibola High School with a composite score of 5.7/10.
How many school districts serve Yuma, Arizona?
Yuma is served by 8 school districts: Yuma Private Industry Council Inc. (4509), Carpe Diem Collegiate High School (80001), Juniper Tree Academy (79064), Harvest Power Community Development Group Inc. (79501), Southwest Technical Education District of Yuma (st (92705), Crane Elementary District (4501), Yuma Elementary District (4499), Yuma Union High School District (4507).
What is the education level in Yuma, Arizona?
According to Census data, 18% of adults in Yuma have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Yuma, Arizona?
The median household income in Yuma is approximately $60,540 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Yuma, Arizona?
Yes, Yuma has 6 private schools alongside 46 public schools. The top-rated private school is Southwestern Christian School with a score of 7.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Yuma, Arizona?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Yuma is 19.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Yuma, 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.