Tucson Unified District is a large urban school system in Pima County, Arizona, serving 40,209 students across 102 schools with a student-teacher ratio of 14.2:1. The district's enrollment is substantially larger than typical Arizona districts and remains relatively stable.
Academically, Tucson Unified performs below state averages in both core subjects. Math proficiency stands at 22.0% compared to the state average of 32.4%, while reading proficiency is 28.0% against a state average of 40.2%. However, the district's graduation rate of 82.7% significantly exceeds the state average of 67.3%, and the dropout rate of 5.2% indicates reasonable student completion outcomes.
The district serves a predominantly Hispanic student population at 65.3%, with White students comprising 17.5%, Black students 7.0%, and Asian students 2.1%. Notable student needs include high economic disadvantage at 78.9%, English learners at 12.7%, and students with disabilities at 15.3%. These demographic characteristics suggest substantial support service requirements.
Financial constraints present a challenge, with per-pupil spending of $11,383 falling significantly below the state average of $16,140, a difference of approximately $4,757 per student. This funding gap may impact resource availability for instruction and services. The district employs 2,823 teachers to serve its large enrollment, reflecting the operational scale required to support this urban student population.
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
40,209
Schools
102
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,383
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
22.0%
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.