2026 data 26 schools AZ

Best Schools in BUCKEYE, AZ

26 public K-12 schools in BUCKEYE from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

26 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in BUCKEYE, AZ using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

26
Schools
18,283
Students
Avg Quality
20.5:1
Avg Class Size

How the BUCKEYE Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

BUCKEYE, AZ enrolls 18,283 students across 26 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 5 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 20.5:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in BUCKEYE is Youngker High School, scoring 12/100 (F) with 2,096 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

BUCKEYE schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect BUCKEYE housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

BUCKEYE school enrollment varies 2096× across entities

BUCKEYE school enrollment ranges from 1 students (lowest) to 2,096 students (highest), a spread of 2,095 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme heterogeneity inside a single city — small specialty programs sit alongside large comprehensive campuses, often serving very different family demographics inside walking distance. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

BUCKEYE operates 14 school districts — among the most fragmented governance structures in the country

Each school district has independent budgeting, hiring, and service delivery authority. The fragmentation reflects historical patterns of inter-municipal boundary lines that pre-date modern city growth — students in different parts of the same city can attend different districts with different per-pupil spending, calendars, and graduation requirements. Per-region variation is largest in fragmented systems because each school district sets its own budget, contracts, and priorities without higher-level coordination above the regulatory floor.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

BUCKEYE student-teacher ratio is 20.5:1 — high (typically associated with larger urban scale or staffing constraints that have widened the headcount gap)

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

BUCKEYE has higher-than-average charter school authorisation eligibility — 19.2% of the population qualifies for charter-school enrollment options

charter-school enrollment options eligibility is the federal threshold for charter school authorisation funding allocations, established under the state-specific charter law. Areas above 30% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic charter school authorisation formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

# School Score
1. Youngker High School 12 F
2. Verrado High School 14 F
3. Buckeye Union High School 16 F
4. Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies 15 F
5. Buckeye Elementary School 17 F
6. Verrado Heritage Elementary School 13 F
7. Blue Horizons Elementary School 26 F
8. Great Hearts Academies - Roosevelt 48 D
9. Steven R. Jasinski Elementary School 25 F
10. Verrado Elementary School 18 F
11. John S Mccain Iii Elementary School 24 F
12. Inca Elementary School 23 F
13. Verrado Middle School 17 F
14. Bales Elementary School 22 F
15. Marionneaux Elementary School 24 F
16. Sundance Elementary 20 F
17. Westpark Elementary School 24 F
18. Desert Sunset Elementary School 16 F
19. Sequoia Pathfinder Academy at Verrado Way and I-10 15 F
20. Rainbow Valley Elementary School 20 F
21. Freedom Elementary School 24 F
22. The Odyssey Preparatory Academy 30 F
23. The Odyssey Preparatory Academy - Sienna Hills 30 F
24. Imagine Schools at Buckeye 30 F
25. Liberty Elementary School 26 F
26. Tartesso Elementary School 16 F
27. Festival Foothills Elementary School 25 F
28. Skyview High School 15 F
29. Thrivepoint High School at Buckeye 30 F
30. Buhsd Institute of Online Learning 53 C-
31. Southwest Campus 62 C+
32. West-Mec - Youngker High School
33. West-Mec - Buckeye Union High School
34. West-Mec - Verrado High School

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in BUCKEYE, AZ?

The top-rated school in BUCKEYE is Youngker High School with a quality score of 12/100. There are 26 public schools in BUCKEYE with 18,283 total students.

How many schools are in BUCKEYE, AZ?

BUCKEYE has 26 public schools with a total enrollment of 18,283 students. 5 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 20.5:1.

Other Cities in Arizona

Side-by-side: Compare any two schools or districts in Arizona →

Explore PlainSchools

Related Guides

Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.