The Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful in Arizona, let alone the United States. But there's more to Arizona than meets the eye. The populous state is known for deserts and minerals, and The Hoover Dam is also one of the best states for education. It has some of the best school districts that also have some of the best schools.
For example, high schools like BASIS Chander and University High School are among the nation's highest-ranked high schools. However, when it comes to school districts, families have a better idea of what school is best for them. They can see how many schools are in a district, what the average student-teacher ratio is, and what some of these schools are known for. Here's a list of Arizona's seven largest school districts that can offer insight into these topics.
Mesa Unified School District
©Jacob Lund/Shutterstock.com
Located in Mesa, Mesa Unified School District is the largest district in Arizona, with 78 schools and roughly 58,000 students. One of the benefits of being the largest school district in Arizona is its diverse student population. It was recently ranked no. 3 for the most diverse school districts. Additionally, this school district offers great schools like Red Mountain High School and Mountain View High School.
Here are the schools that make up the 78 schools in this district.
- 70 elementary and middle schools
- 8 high schools
Chandler Unified School District No. 80
Chandler Unified School District No. 80 is also one of the largest districts, with 45 schools and 43,000 students. This school district is consistently ranked in the top 30% of schools in Arizona. For example, Hamilton High School is ranked no. 23 in high schools in Arizona.
These are how the 45 schools are divided in this district.
- 38 combined middle schools and elementary schools
- 7 high schools
Tuscon Unified School District
Tuscon Unified School District is next on the list of largest school districts in Arizona, with about 90 schools and 42,000 students. This district also offers smaller class sizes of 15:1, lower than the state average of 18:1.
These are the schools that make up this large district in South Dakota.
- 76 elementary and middle schools
- 14 high schools
Peoria Unified School District
Peoria Unified School District has 44 schools and around 36,00 students. While there are plenty of school choices, this school district doesn't have as high of scores as other districts. However, it is still ranked high as one of the best districts for athletes.
These are how the schools are divided up in this school district.
- 34 elementary schools and middle schools
- 7 high schools
Gilbert Public Schools
Gilbert Public Schools is another one of the largest school districts in Arizona, with 38 schools and 33,000 students. This school has a student-to-teacher ratio of 19:1. It also has one of the best elementary schools in Arizona. Neely Traditional Academy is considered one of the best, with 87% of students scoring at or above the proficient level for math.
Gilbert Public Schools district offers more elementary schools and few high schools.
- 31 elementary and junior high schools
- 7 high schools
Dear Valley Unified School District
Dear Valley Unified School District is also considered one of the largest districts, with 40 schools and around 33,000 students. One of the best high schools in this district is Mountain Ridge High School, which has a graduation rate of 99%. The graduation rate average in Arizona is 75%.
These are the schools that are part of this large school district.
- 33 elementary schools and middle school
- 7 high schools
Paradise Valley Unified School District
Last but not least is the largest and smallest school district: Paradise Valley Unified School District. It has 45 schools and 28,000 students. It has a student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1. One of the things that makes this school stand out is its outstanding excellence. It's ranked no. 8 out of the best school districts in Arizona.
This is how the elementary and high schools are divided in Brookings School District.
- 37 elementary schools
- 8 high schools
Arizona's Largest School Districts Offer Endless Educational Opportunities
Arizona is a state filled with adventure. There's lots to see when it comes to famous landmarks. For families looking to live in this state, it's also one of the best for educational opportunities. While it was ranked no. 45 out of 50 for education, there are specific schools in some of Arizona's largest school districts that are considered the best. These large school districts show what they are known for and the class sizes, helping families decide where to live and what school to send their children to.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Brent Coulter/Shutterstock.com.