Comprehensive guide to Arizona's K-12 schools, universities, teacher resources, and education programs serving 1.1+ million students across the Grand Canyon State.
Arizona's public education system serves more than 1,111,000 students across traditional district schools, charter schools, and alternative education programs. The state's diverse education landscape includes over 2,000 district public schools and more than 580 charter schools, providing families with extensive educational options.
Enrollment Distribution by School Type
District Public Schools: Approximately 874,000 students attend one of more than 2,000 district public schools
Charter Schools: 237,000 students attend one of more than 580 public charter schools throughout Arizona
Private Schools: Nearly 71,000 students attend more than 400 private schools (61% religious, 39% nonsectarian)
Homeschooling: Approximately 5.26% of K-12 students were homeschooled during the 2023-24 school year
ESA Program: Over 97,000 students enrolled in Empowerment Scholarship Accounts for 2024-2025
Arizona Department of Education Structure
The Arizona Department of Education supports:
15 county-level education agencies
More than 200 public school districts
Over 400 charter holders
14 Career & Technical Education Districts (CTEDs)
57,643 K-12 teachers (47,719 in district schools, 9,924 in charter schools)
On-Time Graduation Rate: 77.3% of Arizona high schoolers graduated on time in 2022, ranking second-to-last among the 50 states. This represents a decrease of 0.6 percentage points from 2011.
Dropout Rate: Arizona's high school dropout rate ranges between 6.87% and 7.42%, placing it among the five highest dropout rates in the nation.
🏫 Largest School Districts in Arizona
Arizona's largest school districts serve hundreds of thousands of students across the Phoenix metropolitan area and Tucson. These districts represent some of the largest educational systems in the United States.
Arizona's three major public universities serve over 250,000 students annually, providing world-class education and research opportunities. These institutions rank among the nation's top universities and contribute significantly to Arizona's economy and innovation.
Arizona State University (ASU)
Largest Public University
Total Annual Enrollment: 194,000+ students (2024-25)
Fall 2024 Enrollment: 181,000+ unique students
Undergraduate: 65,450 students
First-Year Students: 17,000 (Fall 2024)
International Students: 15,100+
Faculty: 5,679 members
Campuses: Tempe, Polytechnic, Downtown Phoenix, West
Arizona's community college systems provide affordable, accessible higher education to over 115,000 students annually. These institutions serve as gateways to bachelor's degrees, workforce training, and career advancement.
Learn More: Visit Arizona Community Colleges for comprehensive information about all community college programs.
👨🏫 Teacher Information
Arizona employs 57,643 K-12 teachers across district and charter schools. The state faces ongoing challenges with teacher recruitment and retention, particularly in special education and STEM fields.
Teacher Salaries
Statewide Average Salary: $65,113 (FY 2024)
34.6% increase over FY 2017 average
Other Reported Averages: $62,714 and $60,275 depending on data source
Starting Salary: $44,124 (ranks 21st nationally)
Public School Teacher Range: $52,180 average (November 2024)
High-Paying Districts: Chinle Unified reports average salaries approaching $94,918 for FY 2025
Salaries vary significantly by district, location, experience, and educational attainment. Urban areas like Phoenix and Tucson typically offer higher salaries than rural districts.
Certification Requirements
To become a teacher in Arizona, candidates must:
Obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with coursework in education
Complete an approved teacher preparation program accredited by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE)
Complete supervised teaching in classrooms (field experience requirements)
Specialized Endorsements:
ESL (English as a Second Language) PreK-12 Endorsement: Authorizes teaching English language learners and in Structured English Immersion settings
Special Education Endorsements: Available for various disability categories
Subject-Specific Endorsements: Required for secondary education
Arizona offers one of the nation's most comprehensive school choice ecosystems, including robust charter school options and the universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. Arizona ranks second nationally for charter school law strength and provides families with extensive educational alternatives.
Charter Schools
30th Anniversary - 20242nd Best Charter Law in USA
Key Statistics (2024):
Number of Charter Schools: 580+ schools throughout Arizona
Student Enrollment: 232,000+ students (21% of public school enrollment)
Percentage of Public Elementary Schools: 25%
Historical Growth: From 11th state to pass charter law (1994) to 560+ schools serving 230,000+ students (2024)
National Recognition:
Arizona ranks 2nd in the nation for charter school law strength (2024 National Charter School Law Rankings)
Florida and Arizona are the only two states to earn an "A" grade for two consecutive reports
Arizona boasts some of the most successful charter schools in the nation
Academic Performance:
Recent studies show Arizona students learn more in charter schools compared to traditional district schools, with charter enrollment surging each year.
Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) - School Vouchers
Universal Eligibility (2022)
Program Overview:
Arizona's ESA program allows families to use a portion of public education funding for various educational expenses, including private school tuition, online education, private tutoring, and future educational expenses.
Current Enrollment (2024-2025):
97,020 students enrolled as of November 17, 2024
Grew from 12,000 students to 77,000+ following 2022 universal expansion
Projected to exceed initial estimates significantly
Eligibility:
Universal Eligibility: All students residing in Arizona and eligible to enroll in public school
K-12 Students: All grade levels eligible
Preschool Students: Students with disabilities eligible
Funding Amounts:
Typical ESA Award: $7,000 - $8,000 annually (2024-25)
Special Needs Students: Receive significantly higher amounts
Total Program Cost: $900 million projected for fiscal year 2024
Program Controversy:
78% of vouchers go to students already enrolled in private school or homeschooled
More advantaged communities secure disproportionate share of funds
Families in poorest communities least likely to obtain ESA funds
Program costs exceeding initial projections, creating budget concerns
Arizona provides comprehensive special education services and English Language Learner (ELL) programs to ensure all students receive appropriate educational support regardless of disability or language background.
Special Education Services
Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Overview:
The Arizona Department of Education's Exceptional Student Services division ensures that public education agencies have special education programs, policies, and procedures complying with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its implementing regulations.
Services Provided:
Age Range: Services for children with disabilities from birth to 21 years of age
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE): Guaranteed to all eligible children and youth with disabilities
Professional Development: Training opportunities and technical assistance to schools
Family Support: Resources and support for families of students with disabilities
Compliance Monitoring: Oversight to ensure schools follow IDEA regulations
IDEA Entitlement Grant Administration
Disability Categories Served:
Learning disabilities
Emotional disabilities
Mild and moderate intellectual disabilities
Severe and profound intellectual disabilities
Deaf and hard of hearing
Visual impairments
Autism spectrum disorders
Multiple disabilities
Specialized Programs:
Emotional Disabilities Public Programs (ED-P): Specialized programs approved and reviewed for students diagnosed with emotional disabilities
Private Special Education Schools: State-approved private institutions for students requiring intensive support
Legal Rights: Every school receiving state and/or federal funding must provide special education services. Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ) advocates to ensure students with disabilities have access to appropriate early intervention and special education services.
Office of English Language Acquisition Services (OELAS):
OELAS operates within the Arizona Department of Education and develops guidelines for monitoring schools to ensure compliance with federal and state laws regarding English language learners, develops programs to enhance teacher training, and provides technical assistance for implementing structured English immersion programs.
English Language Learner Statistics:
ELL Student Population: 93,000+ English language learners (2021-22)
Most Common Languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Navajo, and Somali
Service Model: EL students receive targeted instruction with certified teachers for two class periods (500 weekly minutes)
Program Models:
Structured English Immersion (SEI): Two research-based models approved by ADE:
Pull-Out SEI Model
Two-Hour SEI Model
Dual Language Immersion (DLI): Programs providing instruction in English and a partner language (such as Spanish). At least 110 schools offered DLI options in 2021-22 following SB 1014 flexibility.
Teacher Requirements:
ESL PreK-12 Endorsement: Authorizes teaching English language learners and in Structured English Immersion settings
SEI Endorsement: Required for teaching in SEI programs
Bilingual Endorsement: Available for dual language programs
Arizona uses state assessments to measure student achievement, evaluate school performance, and ensure accountability for academic standards. The assessment system has undergone recent transitions and continues to evolve.
Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (AASA)
Current AssessmentFormerly AzMERIT
Assessment Overview:
Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (AASA), formerly known as AzM2 or AzMERIT, is aligned to current State Academic Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics.
Key Details:
Grades Tested: 3-8 (approximately 80,000 students per grade level)
Subjects: English Language Arts and Mathematics
Alignment: Arizona's Academic Standards for ELA and Math
Performance Levels:
Scores are reported as scale scores with four performance levels:
Not Meeting Standards
Partially Meeting Standards
Meeting Standards
Exceeding Standards
Purpose:
Summative assessments inform how well schools are preparing students, how well teachers are teaching state standards, and how well students are learning.
Assessment Menu & Options
In 2024, Arizona addressed federal compliance issues regarding assessment options. The Arizona State Board of Education suggested renewing AzMerit for two years, though with modifications.
Alternative Assessment Options:
Some districts have adopted menu-approved alternatives:
ACT: Used by Tucson Unified and Flowing Wells Unified
SAT: Used by Tanque Verde Unified
Note: Arizona's "constant changing" of standardized testing and accountability systems has created challenges in maintaining consistency when measuring student achievement over time.
Several Arizona school districts consistently rank among the best in the state for academic performance, teacher quality, extracurricular activities, and student outcomes. These rankings are based on multiple sources including Niche, Ranking Arizona, and NeighborhoodScout.
Arizona's Career and Technical Education Districts (CTEDs) provide high school students with hands-on training in high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations. These programs connect classroom learning with real-world career pathways.
Career & Technical Education Districts (CTEDs)
System Overview:
Established in 1990, Arizona's CTED system was created to improve career and technical education opportunities throughout the state.
14 CTEDs formed throughout Arizona
101 school districts have joined a CTED
155,950 CTE students served (2020-2021 school year)
Program Delivery Models:
CTE in Arizona is delivered through three models:
CTED Central Campuses: Specialized facilities with industry-standard equipment
CTED Member District Satellite Campuses: Programs at home schools
Independent School Districts: Districts not part of a CTED offering their own CTE programs
Student Success Metrics:
74.32% retention rate - Students returning the following year
97.31% pass rate - Students passing their classes
Program Focus: Programs are determined biennially by Labor Market Information from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, focusing on high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations in Arizona.
Career Pathways & Programs
Arizona CTEDs offer programs across multiple career clusters:
More than 1,111,000 students attend publicly funded K-12 schools in Arizona. This includes approximately 874,000 students in traditional district public schools and 237,000 students in charter schools. Additionally, nearly 71,000 students attend private schools, and approximately 5.26% of students are homeschooled.
The statewide average teacher salary in Arizona is $65,113 for FY 2024, representing a 34.6% increase over the FY 2017 average. Starting salaries average approximately $44,124, ranking 21st nationally. However, salaries vary significantly by district and location, with some districts like Chinle Unified reporting average salaries approaching $94,918. Urban districts typically offer higher salaries than rural areas due to differences in funding and cost of living.
Arizona's ESA program is a universal school choice program that allows all Arizona families to use a portion of their public education funding (typically $7,000-$8,000 annually) for various educational expenses including private school tuition, online education, private tutoring, and other approved educational costs. As of November 2024, over 97,000 students are enrolled in the program. Since the program became universal in 2022, eligibility extends to all students residing in Arizona and eligible to enroll in public school, including K-12 students and preschool students with disabilities.
The seven largest school districts in Arizona are: 1) Mesa Unified School District (58,859 students, 79 schools), 2) Chandler Unified District (43,923 students, 44 schools), 3) Tucson Unified District (42,002 students, 91 schools), 4) Peoria Unified School District (36,741 students), 5) Gilbert Public Schools (33,775 students), 6) Deer Valley Unified School District (33,353 students), and 7) Paradise Valley Unified School District (28,707 students). These seven districts are among the top 200 school districts in the United States by enrollment.
Arizona students in grades 3-8 take the Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (AASA), formerly known as AzMERIT, which tests English Language Arts and Mathematics. The assessment is aligned to Arizona's State Academic Standards and reports four performance levels: Not Meeting Standards, Partially Meeting Standards, Meeting Standards, and Exceeding Standards. Some districts have adopted menu-approved alternatives such as the ACT or SAT. The purpose of these assessments is to inform how well schools are preparing students, how well teachers are teaching state standards, and how well students are learning.
Arizona has 580+ charter schools serving over 232,000 students, representing 21% of public school enrollment and 25% of the state's public elementary schools. Arizona ranks second in the nation for charter school law strength according to the 2024 National Charter School Law Rankings, with Florida and Arizona being the only two states to earn an "A" grade for two consecutive reports. The state celebrated the 30th anniversary of its charter school movement in 2024, having passed its charter school law in 1994.
To become a teacher in Arizona, candidates must: 1) Obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with coursework in education, 2) Complete an approved teacher preparation program accredited by the Arizona Department of Education, and 3) Complete a specified number of hours of supervised teaching in classrooms as part of field experience requirements. Specialized endorsements are available for areas such as ESL (English as a Second Language), Special Education, and subject-specific areas for secondary education. The certification process is overseen by the Arizona Department of Education.
Yes, Arizona faces a significant teacher shortage. As of September 2024, 2,261 teaching positions remained unfilled, representing a 30% increase from fall 2020. Additionally, 25.4% of teacher vacancies remain completely unfilled, while 52.2% of vacancies are filled by teachers who do not meet standard certification requirements. The shortage is most critical in Special Education (45% of schools reported vacancies) and STEM subjects (over half of districts report significant challenges). Rural communities and schools serving large populations of Black and Hispanic students are disproportionately affected.
Arizona's on-time high school graduation rate is 77.3% (2022), ranking second-to-last among the 50 states. This represents a 0.6 percentage point decrease from 2011, making Arizona an outlier as most states saw graduation rates improve during this period. The state's graduation rate peaked at 79.5% in 2016, dropped to 76.4% in 2021, then increased slightly to 77.3% in 2022. Arizona's dropout rate ranges between 6.87% and 7.42%, placing it among the five highest dropout rates in the nation. Within Arizona, graduation rates vary significantly by county, with Greenlee County reporting the highest rate (94.0%) and Pima County the lowest (71.2%).
Arizona has three major public universities: Arizona State University (ASU) with over 194,000 students annually across multiple campuses in the Phoenix area; University of Arizona (UA) with 56,544 students in Tucson; and Northern Arizona University (NAU) with 28,186 students in Flagstaff. ASU is the largest public university and one of the largest universities overall in the United States. Additionally, Arizona has numerous private universities and 10+ community college systems including the Maricopa County Community College District (100,000+ students) and Pima Community College (15,544 students). For a complete directory of all colleges, universities, and trade schools, visit the Arizona Colleges & Universities Directory.