Total enrollment
10,432
+192 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
Santa Cruz County
Arizona · Public K-12
Of the 31 public K-12 schools in Santa Cruz County, the largest district by enrollment is Nogales Unified District (4457) (5,696 students). Total county enrollment runs around 10,432. That works out to 17 elementary, 3 middle, and 10 high schools.
7-year change in Santa Cruz County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
26
-1 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
2%
was 3%
% Hispanic
97%
was 96%
% Black
0%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
31
14 districts
Enrollment
10,432
NCES CCD
Median income
$55,217
Below Arizona avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
17
4,894 students
Middle
3
1,828 students
High
10
3,501 students
Combined / other
1
209 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Nogales Unified District (4457)
5,696 students · 14 districts in Santa Cruz County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Santa Cruz 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+
23.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
12.2%
civilian labor
Median age
38
25.8% under 18
Test scores in Santa Cruz County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 13 schools ranked. Arizona state average: 45.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- San Cayetano Elementary School· 25.0%
- Wade Carpenter Middle School· 25.0%
- Calabasas School· 26.0%
- Challenger Elementary School· 28.0%
- Mary L Welty Elementary School· 28.0%
Cities in Santa Cruz County
About Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County is a low-population Arizona county of about 48,926 residents, home to 31 public schools and roughly 10,432 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $55,217, roughly 23% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 16%. That income level is 14% below the Arizona median.
On the school-mix side, Santa Cruz County comprises 17 elementary schools (4,894 students), 3 middle schools (1,828), 10 high schools (3,501), and 1 combined or other schools.
Nogales Unified District (4457) dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 5,696 students on its own.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment stayed largely flat: 10,240 students in SY 2017-18 versus 10,432 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Santa Cruz County lost 1 school, going from 27 to 26.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Santa Cruz County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Santa Cruz County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data