Tucson Unified District (4403)

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.