2023 Best School Districts in the Phoenix Area

• Chandler, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.26 out of 5  304 reviews

Sophomore: In the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) I went to Basha High School from 2020-2022, I moved after my sophomore year. The teachers are extremely helpful and friendly. They created a welcoming environment for students. The administrative staff was equally as friendly. My guidance counselor helped me by explaining some of the basics of college and preparing for life after high school. The curriculum was very well structured. Most of the time, there was police on campus to help us feel well protected and safe as we went about our day. The food varied from great to something I couldn't digest. All and all, a pretty basic school within CUSD and a lot of other schools possess similar qualities. It's nothing too extraordinary, but it's definitely a school I wish I never left.... Read 304 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 44

• Students 43,790

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.99 out of 5  115 reviews

Works Here: Scottsdale Unified is a unique school district, with offerings for every student. There are 2 dual language programs (Spanish and Mandarin) across 6 schools, and students have the opportunity to earn a biliteracy seal at the end of high school. There's also STEM focused schools, traditional schools, SPED programs, and preschool!... Read 115 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 30

• Students 21,496

• Gilbert, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  137 reviews

Alum: I think that the gilbert public school district is great! My parents, uncles and siblings all attended schools in this district. The teachers are awesome!... Read 137 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 39

• Students 32,661

• Phoenix, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.96 out of 5  157 reviews

Senior: This district has given me nothing but opportunity, friendship, education, acceptance, and fun. I feel like this district has made so many advancements that other districts I've been in haven't. I never felt like I wasn't able to do anything I've been passionate about. If I wanted to join a club, I did. If the club didn't exist, I could create it. This district, and my school, have provided me with the chance to grow, and evolve into an a more mature version of myself. Not only are the school great, but the teachers are AMAZING! My entire experience at this school, I've not had any bad experience with any of my teachers that couldn't be resolved and eventually end up with us on positive terms. This district, and the Deer Valley High School are 100% an amazing choice.... Read 157 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 40

• Students 32,061

• Mesa, AZ•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.55 out of 5  29 reviews

Senior: I have been here from 7-12 grade. I have made great friends. They offer few but very unique classes. Not many high schools have a martial arts and a ballroom dancing class. I have participated in both the martial arts class and ballroom class, gaining a black belt from said martial arts. The amount of homework provided nearly matches the amount given in college. Even without Dual Enrolling any core classes, the amount of homework is the same. I have spent roughly four to six hours a day in the past just on homework. I feel safe at this school. The teachers are very good at what they do. They fit in the school culture. Despite the campus and student body being small for a high school, our STEM and Arts programs are incredible. Both have received insanely high ratings in their respective places.... Read 29 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 2

• Students 1,455

• Phoenix, AZ•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  147 reviews

Senior: The district meets all the needs of their students from K-12th grades. They have excellent facilities as well as teachers who very much care about their students. For the high schoolers, the district provides amazing CTE classes and prepares their students for the real world as well as their intended careers. Every sport is well funded and very open for any student to join. The fine arts programs in each school have been excellent and opens up opportunities for many students who are looking for careers in the arts. The office staff of many of the schools within the district care about the students such as their mental health and academic progress. I highly recommend this district.... Read 147 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 44

• Students 29,109

• Glendale, AZ•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  205 reviews

Senior: The best part of my experience at Peoria high school was the relationships I built. I am a high achiever in general and I strive to give my best in anything I do. I did not waste one second, took every opportunity and made sure to be a presence on my campus by getting involved. I was the captain of my basketball team and led them to a state championship, STUCO President all four years, first student recipient of Peoria High School Legacy Token, volunteered, donated blood, supported other sports/programs by attending their events (football, soccer, girls’ sports, theatre (plays), band performances) and maintained a 4.0 GPA. I believe high school is what you make of it, and I wanted to make sure my experience was a good one. The worst part of my experience was that I earned Valedictorian and was not allowed to give a speech at our high school graduation. What I would like to see changed is that the Valedictorian be given the opportunity to speak at graduation.... Read 205 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 44

• Students 35,329

• Glendale, AZ•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  158 reviews

Niche User: What I love about Greenway High School is that the programs that we needed before starting college are very helpful and gives us a big opportunities to find out what we like to do . One of the example is dance class. I always been wanting to take dance class but never had the confidence. However, in my Junior year I took dance class online because if the pandemic and I started to really enjoy it. I hated being in school when school is done but when there is a dance school at 7 at school, I didn’t know how fun it can get and how memorable it was, so I decided to take dance class again in my senior year. It was a great experience I had throughout my high school year and I wish that i had taken dance class earlier. I think I will forever remember this experience especially, because I love to dance and learning more style of dance was something I always wanted to try out. I will also remember my dance teacher because she was the nicest person, kind, and gives us a lot of laughters.... Read 158 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 11

• Students 16,462

• Fountain Hills, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  10 reviews

Senior: My experience at Fountain Hills High School has been amazing. It is like a huge family even though it is a small school. Everyone is very friendly and the teachers and administration are great. Every day is always a good day when I come to school, it is very safe and you learn a lot from the teachers. They make everything they teach easy to take in and comprehend.... Read 10 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 4

• Students 1,210

• Gilbert, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.8 out of 5  74 reviews

Senior: The atmosphere at my school specifically is amazing. The people are nice, inclusive, and generous! The staff are the most genuine and friendly people. And the school rivalries for sports and other activities are always friendly.... Read 74 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 16

• Students 12,679

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  25 reviews

Alum: I went through the Cave Creek Unified School District all the way from elementary school through high school. My experience was great! This school district is very involved in the community which I loved! The teachers were always there to help and wanted the best for their students. I was involved in the cheerleading programs at both Sonoran Trails Middle School and at Cactus Shadows High School. Being apart of a team in this district gave me many opportunities to become involved in our community and at school. Many of the coaches and teachers in the district are alumni of the Cave Creek Unified School District, which speaks for how amazing of a community it is.... Read 25 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 8

• Students 4,837

• Mesa, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  187 reviews

Senior: Loved the staff and the many different options you can choose from for electives! The teachers work with students to make sure they are doing their best and getting on top of their work. The school definitely prepares you for college if you take any advanced courses and even allows you to get ahead in college with dual enrollment courses! The atmosphere is friendly and inviting, although I wish they would redecorate the outside because it is still an old building that has been around for ages. I also love the wide selection of books to choose from in the library and how everything is well organized. The librarians are nice and the school even allows you to work at the cafeteria and gives you job opportunities. The school has earned a score of "excellent" and I hope to see more good things come out of Mountain View High School. I hope to see some new improvements and I'm glad that my high school years were spent here. I am about to graduate, and I hope everyone stays happy!... Read 187 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 78

• Students 57,956

• Avondale, AZ•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  124 reviews

Senior: Agua Fria is a very historical school. Being the first founded in the district in 1957, the all original construction and generations of returning families really make the environment rooted at home from where it started. So much history through the walls and even through the staff. We might not have the best football team and have been labeled “overrated” the owls are still strong in our spirit and foundations.... Read 124 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 5

• Students 8,403

• Tempe, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  173 reviews

Junior: My experiences at Desert Vista High School have been memorable and ones I will cherish for the rest of my life. Going into high school, you have no idea what to expect and that is terrifying. When I was a freshman, I didn't have any friends and the only thing I had going for me was my grades as sad as it is. Not even on the first day, but at freshman orientation, a girl came up to me and became one of my future best friends. The majority of teachers at DV have been nothing but supportive of me and my education and with their leadership have guided me not just through my academics, but through lessons of character. I would say that the worst part of my high school experience is the stress and weight that is put on you for your grades and the future. I deal with a lot of stress regarding keeping my grades up and thinking about after high school, but certain trusted teachers help me work through it and focus on one day at a time.... Read 173 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 8

• Students 12,868

• Phoenix, AZ•

• School District

• grade B+

• Total schools 2

• Students 600

• Coolidge, AZ•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.83 out of 5  6 reviews

Freshman: Great community College environment with friendly professors and students. For a first college experience, I felt very welcomed and like my teachers and advisers wanted me there and wanted to see my succeed in every aspect of my education. I feel very lucky that this school is so close to my home and offers the same classes as big universities for so much cheaper because it is a community college. My first semester was seamless and accurately prepared me for the rest of my college career.... Read 6 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 9

• Students 49

• Queen Creek, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.31 out of 5  55 reviews

Senior: My experience with Queen Creek has been great! It is a very inclusive school and is also very welcoming to new students! My favorite part of the school is the many programs that are offered, which gives every student an opportunity to try many different things. One thing that I wish was improved is the choir programs.... Read 55 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 13

• Students 10,269

• Buckeye, AZ•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  114 reviews

Senior: My experience was amazing at Buckeye Union High School. It provided me with multiple opportunities of learning and provides a wide variety of different programs that are needed or can be used in everyday life. I was part of the cheer program, HOSA, Skills USA, and FCCLA. All of these programs made my years awesome because they helped me get connected. Overall, the school is awesome just needs to work on school spirit and work on finding better teachers that are not just there to talk to kids but rather teach.... Read 114 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 5

• Students 4,785

• Mesa, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.67 out of 5  9 reviews

Alum: I had an amazing experience at East Valley Institute of Technology or EVIT. I started my junior year of Highschool in the Criminal Justice program. I stayed in the program for two years and graduated. The teachers and staff were incredible and helpful. Instructors had experience in some form in Criminal Justice . Career and education wise, which made learning from them much more resourceful. The program not only included lectures but also had hands-on activities or lessons. The instructors also provided guest speakers who were either currently or retired from careers that fall under the Criminal Justice field. Having peers who were also interested in learning about the field was a plus. The students get to decide what program they want to learn about. It makes the classroom environment not feel forced like how it feels in a general studies class. The campus was a good size and the programs were spread out appropriately throughout the campus. EVIT also has many options to choose from... Read 9 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 42

• Students 806

• Surprise, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.71 out of 5  125 reviews

Senior: I felt that the Dysart district could do better in the office department but overall a good school. My years in middle school I attended Kingswood elementary up till 7th grade. As I was switching schools it took forever to get me enrolled into sonaran heights elementary. Staff was horrible as I over the years faced issues with learning in school and was in need of help. Teachers watched me struggled, my mother wanted more for me so she took me out later in my 8th grade year. I started high school at shadow ridge where they also made it more complicated to get me enrolled since I had been taken out of the district. But I later on was enrolled and have been at shadow for the past 4 years. I am just now finishing up my senior year of high school and look forward to the many opportunities that other schools have to offer me. From it being new learning, experiences and lessons to where I can understand and hopefully have a better schooling staff.... Read 125 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 26

• Students 23,011

• Queen Creek, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: All four of my children have attended EDUPRIZE, and they've loved it! Our experience at EDUPRIZE has been exceptional. The teachers are invested in my children’s education and growth as learners. Adjustments are made as needed to meet the needs of the student. Small class sizes and leveled learning have enabled my children to gain confidence in their learning abilities. The administration is open-minded and thinks outside the box to make EDUPRIZE a successful educational experience for the students. EDUPRIZE is committed to the whole child. They teach value lessons, communication and leadership skills. Patriotism is also present in their activities. EDUPRIZE education has been a very positive experience for our family.... Read 2 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 2

• Students 3,352

• Maricopa, AZ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.05 out of 5  101 reviews

Alum: I have been a student with MUSD-20 from 2007-2015. Their schools are some of the most diverse schools that I've experienced with students from all different walks of life. It created a healthy atmosphere and opportunity for growth. That being said, the major components that were lacking were the academia, clubs/activities, music/art, and facilities. This is due to the lack of funding from the state, which is no fault of the faculty. In fact, the teachers and faculty were the ones that really make-or-break the overall experience. Some teachers have gone above and beyond to give their students an enriching experience. I've known some that have spent money out-of-pocket for their students. The dedication to teaching and learning from the teachers is astonishing, and deserve much more funding than they are given. Overall, the experience was above average, with the curriculums being taught above standards with more than textbooks and paper homework. These schools show a lot of potential.... Read 101 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 12

• Students 7,683

• Wittmann, AZ•

• School District

• grade B minus

• Total schools 4

• Students 820

• Tolleson, AZ•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  208 reviews

Senior: My experience with Copper Canyon, a high school in the Tolleson Union High School District, was excellent. They supported all options available to students for what they were going to do after high school and reached out for resources. I was going to continue school in college, and they gave me numerous amounts of information about the schools I was interested in. What I liked about the school is that it really has a passion for helping students. The counselor and teachers I had provided the most aid. What I'd like to see more of is more student participation. Doesn't have to be at school 24/7, but the students have a big impact on how the school is viewed. Definitely, there have been times when the school would hold a high-impact event or spirit week and kids would not see the bigger picture of it. Overall, I would recommend the school and hope to see improvement in the future.... Read 208 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 8

• Students 12,442

• Phoenix, AZ•

• School District

• grade B minus

• Total schools 2

• Students 9,004