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Ford Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-6

Summary

Ford Elementary is a public elementary school in Tucson, Arizona, serving 201 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Tucson Unified District, which is ranked 207 out of 288 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Ford Elementary's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is generally below the Tucson Unified District and Arizona state averages across various grade levels and subjects. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 41% of 3rd-grade students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 39% statewide. The school's performance in Mathematics and Science is also low, with only 37% of 3rd-grade students being proficient or better in Math and just 16% of 5th-grade students being proficient or better in Science, compared to 34% statewide. Ford Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Arizona elementary schools, with its overall rating from SchoolDigger being 1 or 2 stars out of 5 for most of the past decade.

When compared to nearby schools, Ford Elementary generally performs worse academically. For instance, Marshall Elementary School, located just 1.58 miles away, has consistently outperformed Ford Elementary on standardized tests and has a higher overall SchoolDigger rating. Additionally, there are several public charter schools in the area, such as Sonoran Science Academy East, that have also outperformed Ford Elementary on academic measures and may provide alternative educational options for families in the local area.

182

Students ?

10.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

71.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8001 E Stella Rd
Tucson, AZ 85730-1920

(520) 731-4300

District: Tucson Unified District

Students who attend Ford Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Secrist Middle School
High:	Santa Rita High School
	University High School
Alternative:	Tucson Unified Virtual Academy

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

51.6%

White:

34.1%

African American:

9.3%

See top rated Arizona public schools

Compare Ford Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 45th percentile in 2019 → 39th in 2024

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 45th-percentile peak (2019) to 39th (2024)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg29%

Arizona avg40%

Not ranked this year

Ford Elementary did not have enough recent test-score data to be ranked. Check the trend below for past years.

208^th of 289Tucson Unified 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
2024	32.0	559 of 912	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.3	878 of 1245	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.4	881 of 1226	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.8	576 of 1039	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.2	766 of 1109	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	22.8	856 of 1106	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	37.4	626 of 1079	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.0	582 of 955	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	29.7	796 of 1079	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	37.9	775 of 1158	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	52.0	550 of 1141	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	39.4	665 of 1075	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	32.1	783 of 1090	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	46.7	584 of 1062	45.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	19.9	539 of 607	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.5	746 of 895	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	46.0	309 of 975	68.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	18.3	1028 of 1219	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.1	930 of 1219	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.8	504 of 862	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.7	597 of 1023	41.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	42.7	624 of 1170	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.5	741 of 1198	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.4	643 of 911	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	32.1	770 of 1116	31.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	35.1	736 of 1216	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.8	757 of 1220	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.2	340 of 850	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	20.3	857 of 1032	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2022	37.6	324 of 444	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	58.8	326 of 1027	68.3%	★★★☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	22.0	146 of 171	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2021	22.8	1150 of 1201	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arizona percentile	Rating
2023	7.8	1004 of 1024	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	22.5	998 of 1161	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.8	623 of 720	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2021)68th percentile+40 vs school

Hispanic (2023)47th percentile+17 vs school

Male (2023)39th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)31st percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2022)27th percentile

Female (2023)16th percentile-14 vs school

Pacific Islander (2021)15th percentile-14 vs school

African American (2023)11th percentile-18 vs school

Special Education (2021)4th percentile-24 vs school

White (2023)2nd percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Arizona (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts42%-4 vs state

Science29%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Ford Elementary

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 3rd Grade	AASA English Language Arts 4th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 5th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 6th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 7th Grade	AASA English Language Arts 8th Grade	AASA Mathematics 3rd Grade	AASA Mathematics 4th Grade	AASA Mathematics 5th Grade	AASA Mathematics 6th Grade	AASA Mathematics 7th Grade	AASA Mathematics 8th Grade	AzSCI Science 5th Grade	AzSCI Science 8th Grade	Total
Ford Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	8001 E Stella Rd	Tucson	85730	Pima County	Tucson Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(520) 731-4300	182	17	10.4		62 (34.1%)	17 (9.3%)	94 (51.6%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.3%)								(n/a)		42.0											29.0
Arizona Online Charter School	Public, Virtual, Charter	K-8	8140 E. Golf Links Rd	Tucson	85730	Pima County	Liberty Traditional Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	No	(520) 305-5002	42	4	10.5		11 (26.2%)	6 (14.3%)	23 (54.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.4%)	1 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
La Paloma Academy (Lakeside)	Public, Charter	K-8	8140 E Golf Links Rd	Tucson	85730	Pima County	Arizona Community Development Corporation	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(520) 733-7373	855	32	26.7		217 (25.4%)	112 (13.1%)	480 (56.1%)	23 (2.7%)	8 (0.9%)	3 (0.4%)	12 (1.4%)	23.2	653^rd of 909 public elementary schools	28.2%		18.2	738^th of 912 public elementary schools	19.1%	85	22.0	38.0	24.0	23.0	37.0	32.0	43.0	30.0	29.0	23.0			27.0	19.0
Sonoran Science Academy East	Public, Charter	K-8	7450 E Stella Rd	Tucson	85730	Pima County	Daisy Education Corporation dba Sonoran Science Ac	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(520) 751-2401	467	26	17.9		151 (32.3%)	39 (8.4%)	234 (50.1%)	17 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	24 (5.1%)	50.7	381^st of 909 public elementary schools	58.1%		55.4	363^rd of 912 public elementary schools	60.2%	18	29.0	57.0	49.0	36.0	45.0	31.0	39.0	46.0	42.0		30.0	33.0	52.0	37.0
Dietz K-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	7575 E Palma St	Tucson	85710	Pima County	Tucson Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(520) 731-4000	364	27	13.2		68 (18.7%)	63 (17.3%)	175 (48.1%)	20 (5.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	36 (9.9%)								(n/a)
Da Vinci Tree Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	8055 E 22nd St	Tucson	85710	Pima County	Science Technology Engineering and Math Arizona	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(520) 441-0137	265	19	13.9		84 (31.7%)	9 (3.4%)	144 (54.3%)	3 (1.1%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (7.9%)								(n/a)				50.0	40.0								36.0
Legacy Traditional School - East Tucson	Public, Charter	K-6	9290 E Golf Links Rd	Tucson	85730	Pima County	Legacy Traditional School - East Tucson	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(520) 428-3010	439	20	21.9		129 (29.4%)	37 (8.4%)	225 (51.3%)	8 (1.8%)	2 (0.5%)	6 (1.4%)	32 (7.3%)	40.5	467^th of 909 public elementary schools	48.6%		49.4	411^th of 912 public elementary schools	54.9%	56	29.0	50.0	42.0				31.0	34.0	43.0				41.0
Marshall Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	9066 E 29th St	Tucson	85710	Pima County	Tucson Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(520) 731-4900	272	26	10.4		103 (37.9%)	27 (9.9%)	112 (41.2%)	9 (3.3%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.3%)	36.8	494^th of 909 public elementary schools	45.7%		36.9	506^th of 912 public elementary schools	44.5%	12	33.0	41.0					37.0	42.0	38.0
Irene Erickson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6750 E Stella Rd	Tucson	85730	Pima County	Tucson Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(520) 584-5000	344	23	14.6		67 (19.5%)	55 (16.0%)	183 (53.2%)	10 (2.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (7.6%)	17.6	738^th of 909 public elementary schools	18.8%					(n/a)			19.0				34.0						22.0
Harold Steele Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	700 S Sarnoff Dr	Tucson	85710	Pima County	Tucson Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(520) 731-6800	245	22	11.3		67 (27.3%)	28 (11.4%)	128 (52.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	18 (7.3%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Ford Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Ford Elementary?

Students at Ford Elementary are 52% Hispanic, 34% White, 9% African American, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Ford Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 182 students attended Ford Elementary.

What district is Ford Elementary in?

Tucson Unified District

What schools do graduates of Ford Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ford Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Secrist Middle School
High : Santa Rita High School
High : University High School
Alternative : Tucson Unified Virtual Academy

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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.