46 public K-12 schools in Tempe from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.
46 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2024-25 data.
The highest-ranked of Tempe's 46 public schools is Asu Preparatory Academy Digital, scoring 30/100, against a city average of 37/100. Computed live across every Tempe campus reporting to NCES.
Tempe, AZ enrolls 22,725 students across 46 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 12 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 15.8:1, and the composite quality score, derived from student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted-program availability, and CRDC attendance data, averages 37/100. 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 most-resourced campus in Tempe on this index is Asu Preparatory Academy Digital, at 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index with 3,850 enrolled students. What the index does and doesn't measure; click any school below for its full component breakdown.
Tempe spans 17 districts, each filing its own NCES F-33 return, per-pupil spending can vary between neighbouring campuses. Sort the table below by enrollment, level, or district; click any school for its full profile.
Tempe school enrollment varies 3850× across entities
Tempe school enrollment ranges from 1 students (lowest) to 3,850 students (highest), a spread of 3,849 students. That ratio is extreme even by the standards of already-wide distributions, 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.
Tempe operates 17 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.
Tempe student-teacher ratio is 15.8:1: slightly above the ~15.7 national average, aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 15.7:1
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 Sitting just over the national figure still leaves meaningful room for sub-unit variation that the aggregate number hides. Variation between sub-units within Tempe is typically wider than the Tempe-aggregate figure suggests.
Tempe has higher-than-average charter school authorisation eligibility: 26.1% 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. This area sits below the 30% concentration-grant threshold but well above the 10% baseline, a majority-eligible population without the extra concentration-grant funding tier. A majority-eligible population still draws meaningful federal support, though the funding boost is smaller than in concentration-grant areas.
Most racially and ethnically mixed schools in Tempe
Ranked by the Simpson student-body diversity index (0-100) from NCES race and ethnicity data, where higher means a more evenly mixed student body. It measures mix, not quality.
The highest-ranked school in Tempe is Asu Preparatory Academy Digital with a quality score of 30/100. There are 46 public schools in Tempe with 22,725 total students.
How many schools are in Tempe, AZ? ▼
Tempe has 46 public schools with a total enrollment of 22,725 students. 12 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 15.8:1.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 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.
Read our methodology, which explains how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
