Total enrollment
725,139
-13,029 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
Maricopa County
Arizona · Public K-12
On the public-school side, Maricopa County (Arizona) totals 1,352 K-12 schools and roughly 725,139 students. Median household income is around $89,300. By level, that breaks down as 810 elementary, 97 middle, and 363 high schools.
4-year change in Maricopa County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
1,167
+10 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Maricopa County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Arizona | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 725,139 | #1 of 15 | #3 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 1,167 | #1 of 15 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 17.8:1 | #11 of 15 | #2,430 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 99.0% | #1 of 8 | #96 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 65.0% | #4 of 15 | #322 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Maricopa County school rankings
Residents
4,559,748
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
1,352
372 districts
Enrollment
725,139
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$89,300
Above Arizona avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.0%
Above Arizona avg
Elementary
810
377,937 students
Middle
97
57,598 students
High
363
233,039 students
Combined / other
82
56,565 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Mesa Unified District (4235)
55,821 students · 372 districts in Maricopa County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Maricopa County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
36.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.5%
civilian labor
Median age
38
22.5% under 18
Test scores in Maricopa County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 693 schools ranked. Arizona state average: 45.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Arizona College Prep Middle School· 91.0%
- BASIS Chandler Primary - North Campus· 89.0%
- BASIS Phoenix· 88.0%
- BASIS Chandler· 87.0%
- BASIS Scottsdale· 87.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Barcelona Elementary School· 15.0%
- Trevor Browne High School· 15.0%
- G. Frank Davidson· 16.0%
- Pat Tillman Middle School· 16.0%
- Sequoia Charter School· 16.0%
Cities in Maricopa County
Phoenix434 schoolsMesa146 schoolsGlendale93 schoolsGilbert76 schoolsChandler70 schoolsTempe56 schoolsScottsdale54 schoolsPeoria45 schoolsPhoenix40 schoolsSurprise34 schoolsBuckeye29 schoolsGoodyear26 schoolsAvondale24 schoolsQueen Creek20 schoolsMesa19 schoolsTolleson15 schoolsLaveen14 schoolsLitchfield Park11 schoolsAvondale10 schoolsQueen Creek10 schoolsScottsdale10 schoolsBuckeye9 schoolsGlendale9 schoolsAnthem7 schoolsEl Mirage7 schoolsChandler6 schoolsGilbert6 schoolsPeoria6 schoolsTonopah6 schoolsFountain Hills4 schoolsFountain Hls4 schoolsTempe4 schoolsWaddell4 schoolsParadise Valley3 schoolsSurprise3 schoolsWickenburg3 schoolsAguila2 schoolsCave Creek2 schoolsCave Creek2 schoolsGila Bend2 schoolsGila Bend2 schoolsGoodyear2 schoolsLaveen2 schoolsSun City2 schoolsTolleson2 schoolsWickenburg2 schoolsWittmann2 schoolsAnthem1 schoolArlington1 schoolCasa Grande1 schoolDesert Hills1 schoolGuadalupe1 schoolLitchfield Pk1 schoolMaricopa1 schoolMorristown1 schoolPalo Verde1 schoolSentinel1 schoolSun Lakes1 schoolWittmann1 schoolYoungtown1 school
About Maricopa County
In Arizona, Maricopa County is a high-population county of about 4,559,748 residents. 1352 public schools across the county serves about 725,139 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $89,300 a year, about 37% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 39% noticeably above the Arizona median.
In terms of grade levels, Maricopa County is built around 810 elementary schools (377,937 students), 97 middle schools (57,598), 363 high schools (233,039), and 82 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Maricopa County is Mesa Unified District (4235), which alone enrolls about 55,821 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 738,168 students in SY 2020-21 versus 725,139 in SY 2024-25. Maricopa County now counts 1167 public schools, up from 1157 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Maricopa County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data