Tucson Unified District

The Tucson Unified District in Arizona encompasses 88 schools, including 61 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, 13 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. The district serves a diverse student population and encompasses a wide range of school performance levels, from highly ranked institutions to those struggling to meet academic standards.

Several schools in the district stand out for their exceptional academic achievements. University High School is ranked 7th out of 270 Arizona high schools and has a 5-star rating, with 98% of 11th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Fruchthendler Elementary School is ranked 61st out of 912 Arizona elementary schools and also has a 5-star rating, with 72-79% of students scoring proficient or better in core subjects. Other standout schools include Carrillo Intermediate Magnet School, Sam Hughes Elementary, and Borman K-8 School, all of which have strong academic performance and high proficiency rates.

However, the data also reveals significant performance gaps between the highest and lowest performing schools in the district, suggesting that some students are receiving a much higher quality education than others. The district-wide 4-year graduation rate of 78.4% is below the state average, and the dropout rate of 5.2% is higher than the state average. Additionally, while some schools have exceptional test scores, others struggle, with proficiency rates as low as 3-6% in certain subjects and grade levels. These disparities highlight the need for targeted interventions and support to ensure all students in the Tucson Unified District have access to a high-quality education.