Sunnyside Unified District serves 13,962 students across 22 schools in Pima County, Arizona, with a student-teacher ratio of 18.8:1. The district operates with per-pupil spending of $9,241, significantly below the state average of $16,140, representing a funding differential of approximately 43 percent.
The district's student population is predominantly Hispanic at 89.2 percent, with 63.8 percent economically disadvantaged students and 23.7 percent English learners. Students with disabilities comprise 14.4 percent of enrollment. These demographic characteristics indicate a student body with substantial academic support needs.
Academic performance metrics show marked disparities with state benchmarks. Math proficiency stands at 14.0 percent compared to the state average of 32.4 percent, while reading proficiency is 22.0 percent against a state average of 40.2 percent. Both areas represent significant performance gaps.
The district's graduation rate of 82.6 percent exceeds the state average of 67.3 percent by approximately 15 percentage points, a notable distinction. The dropout rate of 3.7 percent reflects relatively low attrition.
These data suggest a district serving a high-need population with limited resources per student relative to state averages. While the district demonstrates strength in graduation outcomes, standardized proficiency rates indicate substantial challenges in core academic areas, particularly mathematics. The resource-to-need ratio presents structural constraints for addressing identified academic performance gaps.
This summary was generated by AI from public data sources. Last updated May 5, 2026.
This data is aggregated from state and federal public datasets. While we believe it is accurate, we always recommend confirming it on the corresponding state or federal site. See Data Notes for more.
Total Students
13,962
Schools
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,241
Data Sources: NCES Common Core of Data, NCES F-33 Finance Survey, EDFacts
Federal Data Year: 2024-25
State Data Year: 2024-25
Note: Some data may be unavailable for certain districts or years. Proficiency rates reflect state-specific assessment standards.
Math Proficiency
14.0%
Staff counts are Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) from NCES 2024-25 data.
Source: Arizona Department of Education, 2024-25 School Year. Letter grades represent LEA-level accountability ratings. AASA/AzSCI assessment data, AZELLA for EL students, and 4-year graduation rates by subgroup.