Wallet Hub: Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Arizona 2023...Arizona has the 2nd least equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others

2023's Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Arizona

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterSep 7, 2023

While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. 

• In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts, with one estimate claiming that low-income districts are underfunded by around $6,700 per pupil.

Discrepancies between the rich and poor were exacerbated a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students suffered the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor was that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need. Now, less fortunate students must struggle to make up the educational ground that they lost due to this lack of resources.

• States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent poor students from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $154 - $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.

Arizona has the 2nd least equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. To find out where school funding is distributed most equitably, WalletHub scored 206 districts in Arizona based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.

Table of Contents

Main FindingsMethodology

Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category. Rank 1 on the “Expenditures Ranking” means highest expenditures and Rank 1 on “Income Ranking” means lowest income.

*1=Most Equitable 

Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Arizona

Rank*	School District	Score	Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools per Pupil	Income by School District
1	Paloma School District (4255)	0.44	$17,973	$42,679
2	Wickenburg Unified District (4236)	0.57	$10,004	$73,696
3	Fort Thomas Unified District (4221)	1.17	$17,448	$44,315
4	Maricopa Unified School District (4441)	1.35	$8,165	$81,953
5	Marana Unified District (4404)	1.59	$8,970	$78,949
6	Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254)	2.04	$9,493	$74,857
7	Antelope Union High School District (4506)	2.19	$16,000	$51,862
8	Madison Elementary District (4270)	2.45	$8,519	$78,426
9	Littleton Elementary District (4278)	2.73	$8,481	$78,412
10	Red Rock Elementary District (4447)	2.78	$9,497	$74,421
11	Concho Elementary District (4160)	3.06	$18,733	$41,691
12	Valley Union High School District (4190)	3.08	$17,333	$43,684
13	Pomerene Elementary District (4188)	3.45	$12,148	$67,604
14	Union Elementary District (4277)	3.78	$9,082	$79,750
15	Dysart Unified District (4243)	3.95	$9,086	$75,364
16	San Simon Unified District (4172)	4.08	$18,221	$44,265
17	Laveen Elementary District (4276)	4.16	$8,725	$81,359
18	Sahuarita Unified District (4411)	4.82	$9,117	$80,200
19	Colorado City Unified District (4370)	4.88	$13,791	$56,486
20	Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District (4454)	4.98	$13,670	$62,527
21	Palo Verde Elementary District (4275)	5.51	$11,837	$63,750
22	Joseph City Unified District (4388)	5.74	$12,671	$66,855
23	Hyder Elementary District (4502)	5.77	$20,054	$38,068
24	St Johns Unified District (4153)	6.41	$11,443	$64,781
25	Kirkland Elementary District (4480)	6.53	$18,247	$45,547
26	Solomon Elementary District (4222)	6.56	$14,000	$54,716
27	Buckeye Union High School District (4284)	6.85	$9,243	$80,857
28	Tempe Union High School District (4287)	7.14	$9,009	$73,862
29	J O Combs Unified School District (4445)	7.32	$8,715	$83,180
30	Peoria Unified School District (4237)	7.39	$8,809	$74,503
31	Red Mesa Unified District (4159)	9.83	$23,196	$28,106
32	Pendergast Elementary District (4283)	10.15	$8,584	$73,816
33	Salome Consolidated Elementary District (4514)	10.42	$15,606	$46,273
34	Hayden-Winkelman Unified District (4212)	10.46	$17,052	$40,610
35	Roosevelt Elementary District (4279)	10.83	$12,291	$58,972
36	Riverside Elementary District (4257)	10.89	$12,302	$58,894
37	Altar Valley Elementary District (4418)	11.23	$14,569	$49,860
38	Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)	11.55	$9,254	$83,467
39	Florence Unified School District (4437)	11.92	$8,679	$72,450
40	Morenci Unified District (4230)	12.16	$9,360	$69,657
41	Liberty Elementary District (4266)	12.25	$7,756	$89,709
42	Mcneal Elementary District (4181)	12.7	$20,976	$38,393
43	Flagstaff Unified District (4192)	12.82	$10,264	$65,753
44	Morristown Elementary District (4251)	13.11	$18,202	$49,444
45	Continental Elementary District (4416)	14.8	$11,589	$59,469
46	Picacho Elementary District (4452)	15.7	$13,406	$69,615
47	Wenden Elementary District (4512)	15.73	$17,930	$34,203
48	Tolleson Union High School District (4288)	16.53	$8,848	$69,183
49	Agua Fria Union High School District (4289)	17.5	$9,415	$86,202
50	Baboquivari Unified School District #40 (4412)	18.08	$18,575	$30,362
51	Buckeye Elementary District (4269)	18.08	$8,793	$68,520
52	Elfrida Elementary District (4185)	18.69	$13,719	$48,958
53	Sedona-Oak Creek Jusd #9 (4467)	19.25	$10,343	$61,812
54	Aguila Elementary District (4249)	19.35	$15,686	$40,913
55	Thatcher Unified District (4219)	19.38	$8,551	$68,728
56	Avondale Elementary District (4272)	19.59	$8,786	$67,692
57	Pinon Unified District (4390)	19.76	$19,659	$25,179
58	Amphitheater Unified District (4406)	19.84	$10,600	$60,477
59	Nadaburg Unified School District (4252)	19.84	$13,149	$72,962
60	Fredonia-Moccasin Unified District (4195)	20.12	$12,893	$51,372
61	Palominas Elementary School District 49 (4180)	20.23	$13,551	$71,614
62	Bicentennial Union High School District (4515)	20.33	$17,294	$34,083
63	Phoenix Union High School District (4286)	21.36	$11,768	$55,061
64	Tuba City Unified School District #15 (4197)	21.42	$15,281	$41,322
65	Gilbert Unified District (4239)	21.75	$8,710	$91,355
66	Ray Unified District (4438)	21.95	$10,798	$58,513
67	Bouse Elementary District (4513)	22.01	$21,220	$42,701
68	Mesa Unified District (4235)	22.52	$9,880	$61,771
69	Beaver Creek Elementary District (4481)	23.2	$14,300	$44,142
70	San Carlos Unified District (4210)	23.22	$15,887	$37,942
71	Round Valley Unified District (4155)	23.76	$9,453	$62,738
72	Globe Unified District (4208)	24.17	$9,676	$61,635
73	Arlington Elementary District (4274)	24.44	$11,139	$83,400
74	Mohave Valley Elementary District (4379)	24.78	$10,511	$58,032
75	Deer Valley Unified District (4246)	25.54	$9,100	$91,975
76	Mohawk Valley Elementary District (4503)	26.05	$14,595	$41,384
77	Double Adobe Elementary District (4179)	26.99	$23,962	$34,821
78	Phoenix Elementary District (4256)	27.55	$13,140	$46,212
79	Canon Elementary District (4484)	27.65	$16,760	$63,287
80	Sierra Vista Unified District (4175)	28.04	$8,339	$64,665
81	Scottsdale Unified District (4240)	28.15	$9,364	$92,422
82	Williams Unified District (4193)	28.58	$10,094	$57,513
83	Prescott Unified District (4466)	28.79	$8,587	$63,270
84	Tempe School District (4258)	28.8	$10,066	$57,495
85	Kayenta Unified School District #27 (4396)	29.23	$17,996	$26,315
86	Fountain Hills Unified District (4247)	29.27	$9,785	$91,412
87	Chandler Unified District #80 (4242)	29.34	$8,716	$95,626
88	Osborn Elementary District (4262)	29.58	$10,723	$54,491
89	Wellton Elementary District (4504)	29.82	$10,262	$56,154
90	Kyrene Elementary District (4267)	30.12	$8,900	$95,345
91	Duncan Unified District (4228)	30.8	$9,936	$56,875
92	Casa Grande Elementary District (4446)	30.91	$9,193	$59,706
93	Mcnary Elementary District (4163)	31.06	$20,211	$51,750
94	Page Unified District (4196)	31.12	$11,797	$49,432
95	Vail Unified District (4413)	31.23	$8,353	$98,108
96	Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410)	31.46	$8,279	$98,524
97	Sanders Unified District (4156)	31.83	$17,712	$25,955
98	Crane Elementary District (4501)	32.25	$7,703	$64,762
99	Window Rock Unified District (4154)	32.3	$14,007	$40,143
100	Tolleson Elementary District (4264)	33.43	$10,133	$54,618
101	Litchfield Elementary District (4281)	34.11	$8,310	$99,906
102	Sacaton Elementary District (4449)	34.26	$17,303	$26,179
103	Payson Unified District (4209)	34.35	$9,854	$55,184
104	Humboldt Unified District (4469)	34.53	$8,645	$59,800
105	Balsz Elementary District (4268)	34.62	$10,034	$54,333
106	Bagdad Unified District (4468)	34.71	$14,748	$75,125
107	Apache Junction Unified District (4443)	34.74	$9,127	$57,799
108	Pearce Elementary District (4186)	35.25	$12,370	$44,861
109	Sonoita Elementary District (4461)	35.59	$19,883	$55,592
110	Stanfield Elementary District (4451)	35.6	$11,447	$48,265
111	Lake Havasu Unified District (4368)	35.66	$8,559	$59,495
112	Washington Elementary School District (4260)	36.36	$9,787	$54,309
113	Casa Grande Union High School District (4453)	36.94	$9,479	$55,182
114	Cartwright Elementary District (4282)	37.29	$10,629	$50,500
115	Patagonia Elementary District (4460)	38.11	$13,850	$37,469
116	Creighton Elementary District (4263)	38.71	$9,366	$54,627
117	Peach Springs Unified District (4369)	38.78	$21,404	$51,464
118	Patagonia Union High School District (4462)	38.79	$21,988	$49,189
119	Tucson Unified District (4403)	39.14	$9,869	$52,419
120	Tombstone Unified District (4168)	39.33	$10,611	$49,419
121	Coolidge Unified District (4442)	39.46	$10,327	$50,455
122	Blue Ridge Unified School District No. 32 (4397)	39.86	$10,024	$51,409
123	Gila Bend Unified District (4238)	39.99	$12,691	$40,929
124	Whiteriver Unified District (4394)	40.01	$13,350	$38,348
125	St David Unified District (4173)	40.79	$9,890	$51,403
126	Fort Huachuca Accommodation District (4167)	41.77	$12,436	$88,135
127	Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District (4487)	41.83	$9,958	$50,552
128	Blue Elementary District (4231)	41.9	$10,400	$48,786
129	Fowler Elementary District (4273)	42.38	$8,699	$55,153
130	Mammoth-San Manuel Unified District (4439)	42.53	$11,406	$44,510
131	Miami Unified District (4211)	42.58	$12,164	$41,523
132	Safford Unified District (4218)	42.73	$8,894	$54,192
133	Snowflake Unified District (4391)	43.77	$8,000	$57,096
134	Parker Unified School District (4510)	44.07	$11,097	$44,844
135	Tonto Basin Elementary District (4215)	44.69	$27,304	$31,786
136	Seligman Unified District (4472)	45.21	$27,202	$32,479
137	Mayer Unified School District (4473)	45.27	$10,926	$44,829
138	Glendale Union High School District (4285)	45.28	$9,044	$52,165
139	Benson Unified School District (79226)	45.34	$10,134	$47,882
140	Higley Unified School District (4248)	45.56	$7,990	$107,626
141	Isaac Elementary District (4259)	45.75	$11,165	$43,629
142	Santa Cruz Valley Unified District (4458)	46.74	$8,330	$54,129
143	Chinle Unified District (4158)	47.13	$15,932	$24,250
144	Somerton Elementary District (4500)	47.77	$8,241	$53,892
145	Toltec School District (4450)	48.14	$9,460	$48,929
146	Heber-Overgaard Unified District (4392)	48.53	$11,199	$41,925
147	Holbrook Unified District (4389)	49.13	$11,893	$38,879
148	Chino Valley Unified District (4474)	49.22	$9,467	$48,292
149	Alhambra Elementary District (4280)	49.29	$10,284	$45,063
150	Superior Unified School District (4440)	49.61	$12,386	$36,681
151	Oracle Elementary District (4444)	49.83	$17,716	$72,097
152	Yuma Union High School District (4507)	49.9	$8,269	$52,579
153	Bisbee Unified District (4169)	50.55	$11,308	$40,355
154	Skull Valley Elementary District (4478)	50.81	$22,697	$53,214
155	Glendale Elementary District (4271)	50.82	$9,527	$47,150
156	Ash Fork Joint Unified District (4471)	50.99	$11,888	$37,847
157	Bullhead City School District (4378)	51.56	$10,571	$42,662
158	Mingus Union High School District (4488)	51.7	$8,815	$49,435
159	Show Low Unified District (4393)	51.79	$7,848	$53,156
160	Yuma Elementary District (4499)	52.18	$8,475	$50,488
161	Willcox Unified District (4170)	53.29	$9,410	$46,211
162	Camp Verde Unified District (4470)	53.5	$9,207	$46,886
163	Colorado River Union High School District (4381)	53.6	$9,370	$46,192
164	Kingman Unified School District (79598)	53.73	$9,105	$47,152
165	Young Elementary District (4213)	53.76	$26,745	$39,091
166	Winslow Unified District (4387)	53.91	$10,321	$42,311
167	Pima Unified District (4220)	54.86	$8,735	$47,961
168	Ganado Unified School District (4157)	56.58	$14,520	$24,419
169	Yucca Elementary District (4377)	58.56	$28,125	$36,420
170	Naco Elementary District (4176)	58.97	$10,773	$37,684
171	Eloy Elementary District (4448)	60.93	$9,710	$40,725
172	Cochise Elementary District (4177)	61.62	$21,082	$65,625
173	Ajo Unified District (4409)	62.01	$10,205	$38,181
174	Wilson Elementary District (4261)	62.41	$11,074	$34,566
175	Alpine Elementary District (4161)	63.34	$21,696	$64,205
176	Sunnyside Unified District (4407)	64.85	$7,747	$46,165
177	Murphy Elementary District (4265)	66.03	$10,511	$34,717
178	Gadsden Elementary District (4505)	66.25	$8,332	$43,093
179	Santa Cruz Elementary District (4459)	66.37	$16,572	$85,908
180	Littlefield Unified District (4374)	67.67	$11,129	$31,381
181	Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary District (4486)	69.35	$8,912	$39,076
182	Douglas Unified District (4174)	70.62	$8,276	$40,839
183	Queen Creek Unified District (4245)	72.56	$8,477	$120,982
184	Congress Elementary District (4479)	73.45	$24,215	$60,094
185	Valentine Elementary District (4380)	74.28	$13,216	$19,500
186	Yarnell Elementary District (4485)	75.16	$27,919	$46,607
187	Flowing Wells Unified District (4405)	75.4	$8,297	$38,057
188	Grand Canyon Unified District (4194)	79.38	$18,529	$85,625
189	Hackberry School District (4371)	79.79	$28,681	$46,250
190	Cedar Unified District (4395)	79.83	$29,257	$44,025
191	Cave Creek Unified District (4244)	81.12	$9,099	$123,397
192	Nogales Unified District (4457)	81.2	$9,049	$31,844
193	Bonita Elementary District (4224)	82.74	$17,413	$91,875
194	Tanque Verde Unified District (4408)	83.57	$8,172	$128,398
195	Topock Elementary District (4376)	83.75	$9,075	$30,304
196	Quartzsite Elementary District (4511)	84.04	$9,910	$26,884
197	Bowie Unified District (4171)	85.89	$31,905	$37,125
198	Vernon Elementary District (4162)	85.9	$25,362	$62,656
199	Maine Consolidated School District (4199)	87.42	$19,475	$86,477
200	Pine Strawberry Elementary District (4214)	95.59	$30,160	$49,413
201	Sentinel Elementary District (4250)	117.31	$32,676	$51,875
202	Ash Creek Elementary District (4187)	118.67	$37,412	$34,167
203	Crown King Elementary District (4483)	218.2	$32,250	$110,563
204	Owens School District No.6 (4373)	228.15	$47,385	$57,143
205	Apache Elementary District (4178)	253.62	$56,750	$35,000
206	Hillside Elementary District (4482)	1324.46	$208,000	$50,208

Methodology