What share of students in Arizona are proficient in math?

In 2024, 26% of eighth graders in Arizona public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (24th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 25% in reading, compared with 31% and 28% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Arizona, United States: official figures

77.3% of public high school students in Arizona graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 2nd lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

77.3%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

208

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

270

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$12,003

FY2024

Public school enrollment

1,117,630

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

34.7%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Arizona rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Arizona was 77.3% in 2021-22, compared with 76% in 2011-12 and 77.8% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Arizona?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Arizona was 73.3% for economically disadvantaged students, 67.3% for students with disabilities and 60.4% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Arizona?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Arizona was 71.9% for Black, 73.4% for Hispanic and 83.3% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Arizona score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Arizona averaged 208 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 6th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 216 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 26% scored at or above Proficient and 47% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Arizona score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Arizona averaged 254 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 259 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 25% scored at or above Proficient and 35% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Arizona score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Arizona averaged 232 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 7th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 238 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 34% scored at or above Proficient and 30% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Arizona score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Arizona averaged 270 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 23rd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 280 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 26% scored at or above Proficient and 43% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Arizona spend per student?

Public school systems in Arizona spent $12,003 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Arizona going up?

Current spending per pupil in Arizona rose from $8,625 in fiscal 2019 to $12,003 in fiscal 2024, up 39.2% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 6.2%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Arizona spend school money on?

Of the $12,003 spent per pupil in Arizona in fiscal 2024, $6,191 went on instruction and $5,213 on support services; salaries and wages came to $7,084 per pupil and employee benefits $2,257.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Arizona come from?

Public school systems in Arizona received $13.9 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 18.1% from the federal government, 47.3% from the state and 34.7% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Arizona spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Arizona was $13.1 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $10.9 billion was current spending and $1.9 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $5.9 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Arizona?

1,117,630 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Arizona in fall 2023, down 3.0% on fall 2019 (1,152,586) and up 1.4% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Arizona?

Public schools in Arizona had 49,566 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 22.8 pupils per teacher, the most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Arizona in fall 2019: 23.6).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Arizona have a college degree?

34.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Arizona, about 1,830,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 23rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.3 percentage points on 2021 (32.4%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Arizona have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 13.8% of adults 25 and over in Arizona had a graduate or professional degree and 9.2% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Arizona did not finish high school?

89.7% of adults 25 and over in Arizona had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 10.3% without one; that share is 11th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Arizona compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Arizona ranks 48 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
43	Nevada	81.7%
44	Oregon	81.3%
45	Michigan	81.0%
46	Idaho	79.9%
47	Alaska	77.8%
48	Arizona	77.3%
49	District of Columbia	76.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Arizona ranks 38 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
35	Montana	76.4%
36	Rhode Island	75.7%
37	Vermont	75.0%
38	Arizona	73.3%
39	New Hampshire	73.3%
40	Colorado	71.9%
41	Minnesota	71.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Arizona ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
43	Delaware	210
44	Michigan	209
45	District of Columbia	209
46	Arizona	208
47	Oregon	207
48	Oklahoma	207
49	West Virginia	206

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Arizona ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
36	Kansas	255
37	Maine	255
38	California	254
39	Arizona	254
40	South Carolina	254
41	Florida	253
42	Nevada	253

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Arizona ranks 45 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
42	Nevada	233
43	Maine	233
44	Delaware	233
45	Arizona	232
46	West Virginia	232
47	District of Columbia	231
48	Arkansas	230

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Arizona ranks 30 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
27	New York	271
28	Kentucky	271
29	Michigan	270
30	Arizona	270
31	Missouri	270
32	Hawaii	270
33	Rhode Island	270

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Arizona ranks 28 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
25	Kansas	26.3%
26	New York	26.2%
27	Rhode Island	26.0%
28	Arizona	25.8%
29	California	25.3%
30	Maryland	24.7%
31	Maine	24.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Arizona ranks 6 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
3	Oregon	48.3%
4	District of Columbia	48.0%
5	West Virginia	47.4%
6	Arizona	46.5%
7	Oklahoma	46.4%
8	Michigan	45.4%
9	Delaware	44.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Arizona ranks 49 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
45	South Dakota	$12,828
46	Florida	$12,693
47	Mississippi	$12,324
48	Oklahoma	$12,162
49	Arizona	$12,003
50	Utah	$11,347
51	Idaho	$11,060

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Arizona ranks 12 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
9	Utah	+41.6%
10	Georgia	+41.0%
11	District of Columbia	+39.7%
12	Arizona	+39.2%
13	Idaho	+38.5%
14	Massachusetts	+37.6%
15	Maine	+36.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Arizona ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
32	Wisconsin	36.0%
33	West Virginia	35.6%
34	California	35.0%
35	Arizona	34.7%
36	Indiana	32.7%
37	Mississippi	32.5%
38	Michigan	32.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Arizona ranks 1 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
1	Arizona	22.8
2	Utah	22.2
3	California	21.8
4	Nevada	21.0
5	Oregon	18.7
6	Florida	18.3
7	Alaska	18.3

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Arizona ranks 31 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
28	Minnesota	-2.6%
29	Virginia	-2.9%
30	Kansas	-2.9%
31	Arizona	-3.0%
32	Nevada	-3.5%
33	Wyoming	-3.8%
34	Washington	-4.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Arizona ranks 29 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
26	Florida	35.8%
27	Nebraska	35.4%
28	Texas	35.2%
29	Arizona	34.7%
30	Wisconsin	34.6%
31	South Dakota	34.2%
32	North Dakota	34.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Arizona ranks 11 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
8	Kentucky	11.0%
9	Arkansas	10.7%
10	Alabama	10.4%
11	Arizona	10.3%
12	Georgia	10.2%
13	West Virginia	9.9%
14	Oklahoma	9.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Arizona: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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