Best Schools in Maricopa County, AZ
Maricopa County, AZ has 1,335 public schools (250 high, 109 middle, 814 elementary) serving 787,977 students. On average they score 37% on state proficiency tests against a projected 35%, so schools in Maricopa County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Maricopa County, AZ
The top high schools in Maricopa County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Basis Chandler
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Basis Charter Schools Inc. (90842) • Charter • Grades 5 - 12 • 1146 Students
2. Basis Phoenix
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Basis Charter Schools Inc. (91280) • Charter • Grades 5 - 12 • 744 Students
3. University High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Tolleson Union High School District (4288) • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 379 Students
4. Gilbert Classical Academy 7-12
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gilbert Unified District (4239) • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 596 Students
5. Basis Peoria
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Basis Charter Schools Inc. (90841) • Charter • Grades 5 - 12 • 974 Students
6. Basis Goodyear
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Basis Charter Schools Inc. (92734) • Charter • Grades 5 - 12 • 290 Students
7. Arizona College Prep High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 1775 Students
8. Phoenix Union Bioscience High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Phoenix Union High School District (4286) • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 370 Students
9. Jefferson Preparatory High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Choice Academies Inc. (90138) • Charter • Grades 7 - 12 • 57 Students
10. Great Hearts Academies - Glendale Prep
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Glendale Preparatory Academy (89829) • Charter • Grades 6 - 12 • 610 Students
Best Middle Schools in Maricopa County, AZ
The top middle schools in Maricopa County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Arizona College Prep Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 744 Students
2. Franklin Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Mesa Unified District (4235) • Public • Grades 7 - 9 • 269 Students
3. Cocopah Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Scottsdale Unified District (4240) • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 886 Students
4. Mission Montessori Academy's Middle Years Program
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
The Farm At Mission Montessori Academy (91340) • Charter • Grades 4 - 8 • 51 Students
5. Newell Barney Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Queen Creek Unified District (4245) • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 241 Students
6. Desert Canyon Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Scottsdale Unified District (4240) • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 490 Students
7. Willie & Coy Payne Jr. High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1143 Students
8. Kyrene Altadena Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kyrene Elementary District (4267) • Public • Grades 4 - 8 • 962 Students
9. Sossaman Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Higley Unified School District (4248) • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1043 Students
10. Santan Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1234 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Maricopa County, AZ
The top elementary schools in Maricopa County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Basis Chandler Primary - North Campus
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Basis Charter Schools Inc. (92997) • Charter • Grades KG - 4 • 643 Students
2. Knox Gifted Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 672 Students
3. Weinberg Gifted Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 608 Students
4. Basis Scottsdale Primary - West Campus
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Basis Charter Schools Inc. (783027) • Charter • Grades KG - 4 • 439 Students
5. Basis Scottsdale Primary - East Campus
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Basis Charter Schools Inc. (92863) • Charter • Grades KG - 5 • 534 Students
6. Candeo North Scottsdale
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Candeo Schools Inc. (1001161) • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 349 Students
7. Basis Chandler Primary- South Campus
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Basis Charter Schools Inc. (92865) • Charter • Grades KG - 5 • 496 Students
8. Cherokee Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Scottsdale Unified District (4240) • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 659 Students
9. Sequoya Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Scottsdale Unified District (4240) • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 548 Students
10. Freedom Traditional Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dysart Unified District (4243) • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 416 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Maricopa County, AZ
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Maricopa County, AZ has a total population of 4,420,568 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 89%, and 36% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Maricopa County, AZ
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Maricopa County, AZ.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
21.54 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.73 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
17.81 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Maricopa County, AZ.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Maricopa County, AZ.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Maricopa County, AZ Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Maricopa County, AZ
How many schools are in Maricopa County, AZ?
Maricopa County, AZ has 1,335 public schools: 250 high schools, 109 middle schools and 814 elementary schools, serving 787,977 students in total.
How do schools in Maricopa County perform on state tests?
On average, 1,335 schools in Maricopa County score 37% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 35%, so on average schools in Maricopa County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Maricopa County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Maricopa County, AZ
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 25%
- Projected: 26%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 23%
- Projected: 23%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 19%
- Projected: 23%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 37%
- Projected: 24%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 45%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 27%
- Projected: 28%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 32%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 48%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 40%
- Projected: 36%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 38%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Maricopa County
37 places in Maricopa County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (37)
- Phoenix (361)
- Mesa (111)
- Glendale (73)
- Chandler (56)
- Gilbert (55)
- Scottsdale (49)
- Tempe (37)
- Peoria (35)
- Buckeye (24)
- Surprise (24)
- Goodyear (21)
- Avondale (20)
- Queen Creek (18)
- Laveen (12)
- Tolleson (12)
- Litchfield Park (10)
- Anthem (6)
- El Mirage (6)
- Fountain Hills (4)
- Wickenburg (4)
- Gila Bend (3)
- Paradise Valley (3)
- Tonopah (3)
- Wittmann (3)
- Aguila (2)
- Cave Creek (2)
- Maryvale Phoenix (2)
- Paradise Valley Phoenix (2)
- Sun City (2)
- Waddell (2)
- Arlington (1)
- Deer Valley Phoenix (1)
- Guadalupe (1)
- Morristown (1)
- Palo Verde (1)
- Sentinel (1)
- Youngtown (1)
School districts (59)
- Mesa Unified District (4235) (77 schools)
- Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) (44 schools)
- Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) (44 schools)
- Peoria Unified School District (4237) (44 schools)
- Deer Valley Unified District (4246) (40 schools)
- Gilbert Unified District (4239) (38 schools)
- Washington Elementary School District (4260) (32 schools)
- Scottsdale Unified District (4240) (30 schools)
- Kyrene Elementary District (4267) (26 schools)
- Dysart Unified District (4243) (25 schools)
- Cartwright Elementary District (4282) (23 schools)
- Tempe School District (4258) (23 schools)
- Roosevelt Elementary District (4279) (19 schools)
- Phoenix Union High School District (4286) (18 schools)
- Alhambra Elementary District (4280) (17 schools)
- Higley Unified School District (4248) (16 schools)
- Litchfield Elementary District (4281) (16 schools)
- Phoenix Elementary District (4256) (15 schools)
- Glendale Elementary District (4271) (14 schools)
- Queen Creek Unified District (4245) (14 schools)
- Isaac Elementary District (4259) (12 schools)
- Pendergast Elementary District (4283) (12 schools)
- Glendale Union High School District (4285) (11 schools)
- American Leadership Academy Inc. (4348) (10 schools)
- Creighton Elementary District (4263) (10 schools)
- Laveen Elementary District (4276) (10 schools)
- Avondale Elementary District (4272) (9 schools)
- Buckeye Elementary District (4269) (8 schools)
- Cave Creek Unified District (4244) (8 schools)
- Fowler Elementary District (4273) (8 schools)
- Littleton Elementary District (4278) (8 schools)
- Madison Elementary District (4270) (8 schools)
- Ombudsman Educational Services Ltd.a subsidiary (4323) (8 schools)
- Liberty Elementary District (4266) (7 schools)
- Tempe Union High School District (4287) (7 schools)
- ThrivePoint High School Inc. (79059) (7 schools)
- Tolleson Union High School District (4288) (7 schools)
- Balsz Elementary District (4268) (6 schools)
- Osborn Elementary District (4262) (6 schools)
- Agua Fria Union High School District (4289) (5 schools)
- Tolleson Elementary District (4264) (5 schools)
- Wickenburg Unified District (4236) (5 schools)
- Arizona Autism Charter Schools Inc. (91958) (4 schools)
- Benjamin Franklin Charter School - Queen Creek (4355) (4 schools)
- Buckeye Union High School District (4284) (4 schools)
- Career Success Schools (79047) (4 schools)
- Fountain Hills Unified District (4247) (4 schools)
- LEAD Charter Schools (79967) (4 schools)
- Nadaburg Unified School District (4252) (4 schools)
- Riverside Elementary District (4257) (4 schools)
- Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) (4 schools)
- The Odyssey Preparatory Academy Inc. (90287) (4 schools)
- Edkey Inc. - Pathfinder Academy (81045) (3 schools)
- Fit Kids Inc. dba Champion Schools (78783) (3 schools)
- Liberty Traditional Charter School (10968) (3 schools)
- Murphy Elementary District (4265) (3 schools)
- PAS Charter Inc. dba Intelli-School (79953) (3 schools)
- Union Elementary District (4277) (3 schools)
- Vista College Preparatory Inc. (91948) (3 schools)