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Thunderbird High School

Q: Is Thunderbird High School a good school?

Thunderbird High School ranks 94 th of 271 Arizona high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

94^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 271 Arizona High Schools

Better than 65% of Arizona high schools

Summary

Thunderbird High School is a public high school in Phoenix, Arizona, serving 1,547 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Glendale Union High School District, which is ranked 165 out of 289 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Thunderbird High School consistently ranks in the top 100 high schools in Arizona, with a ranking of 94 out of 271 schools in the 2024-2025 school year. The school's performance on standardized tests is generally higher than the district and state averages, with 54% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 45% for the district and 40% for the state. Thunderbird High School also outperforms the district and state in mathematics, with 42% of 11th-grade students proficient or better. The school's four-year graduation rate is 93.4%, significantly higher than the district and state averages, and its dropout rate has been consistently lower than the district and state.

When compared to nearby schools within the Glendale Union High School District, Thunderbird High School stands out as a high-performing institution. The school consistently outperforms its district counterparts, Moon Valley High School and Greenway High School, on standardized test scores and overall state rankings. Additionally, Thunderbird High School has higher graduation rates and lower dropout rates compared to the other district schools.

1,592

Students ?

23.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,597

Per pupil spending ?

43%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1750 W Thunderbird Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85023-6307

(623) 915-8900

District: Glendale Union High School District

Feeder schools for Thunderbird High School:

Elementary:	John Jacobs Elementary School
	Lookout Mountain School
	Moon Mountain School
Middle:	Mountain Sky Middle School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

46.8%

White:

36.5%

African American:

8.0%

See top rated Arizona high schools

Compare Thunderbird High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 84th percentile in 2018 → 65th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arizona average (41% vs 30% meeting standards)

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the Arizona average (80%)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Glendale Union High School District

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 84th-percentile peak (2018) to 65th (2025)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg32%

Arizona avg30%

94^th of 271

Arizona public high schools ?

Top 35%▲ up 11 pts since 2015

From top 46% (2015) to top 35% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arizona High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 9High Schools in the Glendale Union High School District

165^th of 289Glendale Union High School District among Arizona districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	59.4	94 of 271	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.1	88 of 270	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	75.7	93 of 469	80.2%	★★★★☆
2022	65.8	115 of 464	75.2%	★★★★☆
2021	65.5	135 of 509	73.5%	★★★★☆
2019	68.0	57 of 285	80.0%	★★★★☆
2018	74.6	67 of 420	84.0%	★★★★☆
2017	70.1	75 of 416	82.0%	★★★★☆
2016	68.4	83 of 406	79.6%	★★★★☆
2015	44.7	119 of 261	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	77.1	92 of 394	76.6%	★★★★☆
2013	80.1	86 of 491	82.5%	★★★★☆
2012	76.7	103 of 471	78.1%	★★★★☆
2011	79.8	91 of 397	77.1%	★★★★☆
2010	83.2	73 of 403	81.9%	★★★★☆
2009	80.9	82 of 395	79.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	55.1	76 of 201	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.2	57 of 301	81.1%	★★★★☆
2021	64.9	56 of 306	81.7%	★★★★☆
2019	84.8	4 of 33	87.9%	★★★★★
2018	80.3	8 of 122	93.4%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	69.6	37 of 146	74.7%	★★★★☆
2022	35.5	164 of 238	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.2	98 of 231	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.6	41 of 83	50.6%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	43.2	52 of 258	79.8%	★★★★☆
2021	44.6	29 of 312	90.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	94.6	2 of 45	95.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	58.9	75 of 207	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.7	65 of 200	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.4	93 of 406	77.1%	★★★★☆
2022	60.6	126 of 456	72.4%	★★★★☆
2021	61.3	149 of 492	69.7%	★★★★☆
2019	68.3	59 of 247	76.1%	★★★★☆
2018	67.4	87 of 354	75.4%	★★★★☆

Foster Care

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	50.1	34 of 130	73.8%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	45.1	80 of 176	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.3	56 of 170	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.8	59 of 379	84.4%	★★★★☆
2022	57.5	123 of 441	72.1%	★★★★☆
2021	56.0	151 of 479	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.9	39 of 183	78.7%	★★★★☆
2018	65.9	64 of 311	79.4%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	54.9	22 of 60	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.6	63 of 150	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.9	65 of 168	61.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	59.9	57 of 180	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.8	46 of 172	73.3%	★★★★☆
2023	80.8	36 of 347	89.6%	★★★★☆
2022	60.2	46 of 168	72.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	55.7	86 of 223	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.4	95 of 219	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	76.3	86 of 429	80.0%	★★★★☆
2022	72.3	94 of 455	79.3%	★★★★☆
2021	66.9	121 of 492	75.4%	★★★★☆
2019	66.6	60 of 238	74.8%	★★★★☆
2018	69.6	78 of 370	78.9%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	16.1	181 of 199	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	74.5	65 of 282	77.0%	★★★★☆
2021	42.0	210 of 374	43.9%	★★☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	24.7	87 of 128	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.0	130 of 255	49.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.6	60 of 256	76.6%	★★★★☆
2018	86.6	7 of 68	89.7%	★★★★★

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	49.6	25 of 41	39.0%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	30.7	100 of 172	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.6	131 of 380	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.8	108 of 422	74.4%	★★★★☆
2018	85.9	9 of 155	94.2%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2025	71.3	48 of 178	73.0%	★★★★☆
2024	73.3	40 of 184	78.3%	★★★★☆
2023	77.7	59 of 371	84.1%	★★★★☆
2022	75.3	69 of 409	83.1%	★★★★☆
2021	71.6	103 of 448	77.0%	★★★★☆
2019	75.1	30 of 217	86.2%	★★★★☆
2018	72.0	54 of 291	81.4%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2022)80th percentile+5 vs school

Asian (2023)75th percentile-6 vs school

Foster Care (2021)74th percentile~ school

White (2025)73rd percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)68th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)64th percentile~ school

Homeless (2023)63rd percentile-17 vs school

African American (2023)62nd percentile-18 vs school

Male (2025)61st percentile-4 vs school

Hispanic (2025)55th percentile-11 vs school

Special Education (2023)42nd percentile-38 vs school

Pacific Islander (2023)39th percentile-41 vs school

Native American (2023)32nd percentile-48 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)9th percentile-71 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts54%+14 vs state

Mathematics42%+12 vs state

Science27%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Thunderbird High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				AASA English Language Arts (2025)			AASA Mathematics (2025)	AzSCI Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	AASA English Language Arts 7th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 8th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 11th Grade	AASA Mathematics 11th Grade	AzSCI Science 8th Grade	AzSCI Science 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Thunderbird High School	Public	9-12	1750 W Thunderbird Rd	Phoenix	85023	Maricopa County	Glendale Union High School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 915-8900	1,592	67	23.9		581 (36.5%)	127 (8.0%)	745 (46.8%)	32 (2.0%)	41 (2.6%)	3 (0.2%)	63 (4.0%)	59.4	94^th of 271 public high schools	65.3%		62.1	88^th of 270 public high schools	67.4%	6			54.0	42.0		27.0	$10,597	$639	$207	$1,486	$8,057	$1,694	$9,751
West-MEC - Thunderbird High School	Public	9-12	1750 W Thunderbird Rd	Phoenix	85023	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 915-8900	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)								$00			$00
Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics	Public, Charter	6-12	2820 W Kelton Ln	Phoenix	85053	Maricopa County	Edkey Inc. dba Arizona Conservatory for Arts and	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(602) 266-4278	235	12	19.5		99 (42.1%)	22 (9.4%)	79 (33.6%)	7 (3.0%)	5 (2.1%)	1 (0.4%)	22 (9.4%)	80.8	46^th of 271 public high schools	83.0%		54.4	105^th of 270 public high schools	61.1%	59	59.0	35.0	76.0	48.0	40.0	42.0	$1,557	$108	$02	$218	$1,148	$299	$1,447
Ombudsman - Charter West	Public, Charter	9-12	2909 W. Bell Road	Phoenix	85053	Maricopa County	Ombudsman Educational Services Ltd.a subsidiary	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 564-8102	176	4	44.0		66 (37.5%)	17 (9.7%)	89 (50.6%)	1 (0.6%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)								(n/a)								$00			$00
West-MEC Gateway Community College	Public	9-12	2931 W Bell Rd	Phoenix	85053	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(602) 392-5000	4				3 (75.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (25.0%)								(n/a)								$00			$00
West-MEC - Moon Valley High School	Public	9-12	3625 W Cactus Rd	Phoenix	85029	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 915-8000	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)								$00			$00
Moon Valley High School	Public	9-12	3625 W Cactus Rd	Phoenix	85029	Maricopa County	Glendale Union High School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 915-8000	1,471	73	20.0		402 (27.3%)	128 (8.7%)	796 (54.1%)	51 (3.5%)	29 (2.0%)	2 (0.1%)	63 (4.3%)	41	144^th of 271 public high schools	46.9%		35.6	162^nd of 270 public high schools	40.0%	18			44.0	32.0		18.0	$11,040	$715	$112	$1,542	$8,502	$1,711	$10,213
West-MEC - Greenway High School	Public	9-12	3930 W Greenway Rd	Phoenix	85053	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 915-8500	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)								$00			$00
Greenway High School	Public	9-12	3930 W Greenway Rd	Phoenix	85053	Maricopa County	Glendale Union High School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 915-8500	1,318	62	21.1		504 (38.2%)	94 (7.1%)	591 (44.8%)	43 (3.3%)	20 (1.5%)	2 (0.2%)	64 (4.9%)	55.4	103^rd of 271 public high schools	62.0%		50.7	117^th of 270 public high schools	56.7%	14			54.0	44.0		19.0	$11,445	$806	$100	$1,712	$8,976	$1,563	$10,539
Ombudsman Online Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter	9-12	3624 West Bell Road Suite 4-6	Glendale	85308	Maricopa County	Ombudsman Educational Services Ltd.a subsidiary	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	No	(602) 840-2997	469	6	78.1		84 (17.9%)	71 (15.1%)	264 (56.3%)	1 (0.2%)	42 (9.0%)	3 (0.6%)	4 (0.9%)								(n/a)								$00			$00

Frequently Asked Questions about Thunderbird High School

Is Thunderbird High School a good school?

Thunderbird High School ranks 94^th of 271 Arizona high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Thunderbird High School?

Thunderbird High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : John Jacobs Elementary School
Elementary : Lookout Mountain School
Elementary : Moon Mountain School
Middle : Mountain Sky Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Thunderbird High School?

Students at Thunderbird High School are 47% Hispanic, 36% White, 8% African American, 4% Two or more races, 3% American Indian, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Thunderbird High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,592 students attended Thunderbird High School.

What district is Thunderbird High School in?

Glendale Union High School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arizona Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.