2024 Best Elementary Schools in Arizona

The Complete Guide to Elementary Schools in Arizona

The state of Arizona has just over 1,500 different elementary schools (1,594) spread across numerous cities and metropolitan areas, some of the largest being Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa. That’s a full 54% more than the typical state, and on a per capita basis, Arizona ranks #41 in the nation, averaging around 11% fewer elementary schools than most states. However, that doesn’t mean school quality drops necessarily, it can actually mean the opposite at times.

As a whole, the average elementary school in the state earns a B grade, which is equal to the national average. Furthermore, of the 1,500+ elementary schools, just over two out of five (44%) are rated above average. Still that leaves over 700 options (699) for the parent to evaluate - which can be an overwhelming endeavor. Narrowing that total down further, if you include only schools that rank in the top 25% of the nation, that total slims to 504. In other words, there’s still over 400 school options in Arizona that rank in the nation’s top quartile.

Are public elementary schools in Arizona a good option?

Arizona has 1,350 total public elementary schools, and of that total, traditional public schools comprise 72% or about 972 of them. That’s a large number, but for those with above average sights, just 7 out of 10 (45%) score above the national average, so nearly half wouldn’t qualify.

What is the best public elementary school in Arizona?

Based in Casa Grande, the best public elementary school in Arizona is Mary C. O'Brien Elementary School. With 117 students and a student to teacher ratio of 10:1, the school has a 29% lower ratio than the typical US elementary school, which can equate to greater focus per student and often lead to better student learning outcomes. Mary C. O'Brien Elementary School wins out amongst nearly 1,400 other traditional public schools in the state (975). About 45% of all such schools are rated above the national average.

Key statistics about charter elementary schools in Arizona

Are charter schools in Arizona a good option? This really depends on your preference, but with more than 300 different options (328 to be exact) there are numerous potential fits for your youngster. Although far less prevalent than their traditional public school counterparts, the typical charter elementary school in Arizona scores a A–. Although the grade may be slightly below average, this is certainly in part due to the fact that the state has 371% more charter schools per capita than the average state. In other words, there’s still a plethora of high quality charter options in the state.

What is the best charter elementary school in Arizona?

The top ranked charter elementary school in Arizona is BASIS Scottsdale. It’s located in Scottsdale, which is just outside of the greater Phoenix area. The school has 1,137 students and as you’d expect, is graded the highest A+ available. The school is known for exceptional quality, and has zero student to teacher ratio, meaning that the academic staff are devoted to each student.

Everything you need to know about magnet elementary schools in Arizona

Despite being such a large state, there are just 50 magnet elementary schools in Arizona, placing the state 17th in the nation for magnet schools per capita. The school quality is somewhat polarizing, with the median score being just a B, which is slightly above the national average overall of a B grade. About 48% of the magnet elementary schools in the state are considered above the national average, which means there’s about 24 schools that might be an option for the high achiever.

What is the best magnet elementary school in Arizona?

Located in Surprise (just west of Phoenix) comes Cimarron Springs Middle School, ranked as the best magnet elementary school in Arizona. The school is sometimes referred to as CSMS and is home to 720 students. It’s also worth noting that there are 18 students per every teacher at the school (18:1 ratio) which is about 29% above the national average. This can mean that class sizes may balloon a bit at times vs. the average, but the school has various teaching aides and methods to keep students highly engaged despite at times having larger class sizes.