Peoria Unified School District (4237)

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Glendale, Arizona - 44 schools

An equity score of 31/100 ranks Peoria Unified School District (4237) #244 of 437 districts in Arizona (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,168 per pupil, Peoria Unified School District (4237) ranks #488 of 634 Arizona districts by per-pupil spending (Arizona districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

36,527
Total Enrollment
44
Schools
$9,168
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Peoria Unified School District (4237) operates 44 public schools serving 36,527 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Arizona. The school portfolio breaks down into 43 combined, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Maricopa County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,168 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 634 Arizona districts by per-pupil spending. See how Arizona compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 35.4% local, 49.0% state, and 15.6% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 31/100, ranked #244 of 437 in Arizona against a state average of 38, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 7 of 44 schools offering Advanced Placement (70 AP courses district-wide), a 296.9:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 52.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 42.8% White, 42.1% Hispanic or Latino, 5.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Sky View Elementary School, with a diversity index of 66.8/100.

Its largest campus is Liberty High School, enrolling 2,510 students (7% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Gcc Early Childhood Learning Lab, at 13 students, a 193x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Peoria Unified School District (4237) school enrollment varies 193× across entities

Peoria Unified School District (4237) school enrollment ranges from 13 students (lowest) to 2,510 students (highest), a spread of 2,497 students. That ratio is an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Peoria Unified School District (4237) student-counselor ratio is 297:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Peoria Unified School District (4237) is typically wider than the Peoria Unified School District (4237)-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Peoria Unified School District (4237) chronic absenteeism rate is 52.8% — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.6%
Federal
49.0%
State
35.4%
Local

Funding Equity

31
Equity Score
244 / 437
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 44 schools in Peoria Unified School District (4237).

White 42.8%
Hispanic or Latino 42.1%
African American 5.4%
Asian 2.8%
Multiracial 5.2%
Other 1.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 58.3/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Peoria Unified School District (4237)'s schools, above the Arizona average of 47.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Sky View Elementary School 66.8
  2. 2 Desert Palms Elementary School 66.3
  3. 3 Ironwood High School 66.1
  4. 4 Pioneer Elementary School 65.5
  5. 5 Sunflower School 64.9

Programs & Resources

7 / 44
Schools with AP
70 AP courses total
296.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
52.8%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Peoria Unified School District (4237)

School Enrollment
Liberty High School
2,510
Centennial High School
2,026
Sunrise Mountain High School
1,896
Ironwood High School
1,804
Raymond S. Kellis
1,691
Peoria High School
1,397
Lake Pleasant Elementary
1,267
Vistancia Elementary School
1,089
Cactus High School
1,036
Sunset Heights Elementary School
987
Country Meadows Elementary School
972
Oakwood Elementary School
937
Parkridge Elementary
895
Frontier Elementary School
846
Zuni Hills Elementary School
794
Desert Harbor Elementary School
779
Cotton Boll School
756
Apache Elementary School
751
Oasis Elementary School
724
Sun Valley Elementary School
720
Santa Fe Elementary School
698
Coyote Hills Elementary School
695
Paseo Verde Elementary School
689
Marshall Ranch Elementary School
662
Alta Loma School
641
Copperwood School
625
Sahuaro Ranch Elementary School
578
Cheyenne Elementary School
554
Sundance Elementary School
549
Foothills Elementary School
537
Peoria Elementary School
499
Heritage School
478
Sky View Elementary School
467
Ira a Murphy
450
Desert Valley Elementary School
439
Pioneer Elementary School
411
Peoria Traditional School
380
Desert Palms Elementary School
373
Canyon Elementary School
297
Kachina Elementary School
273
Peoria Ecampus
130
Peoria Flex Academy
100
Sunflower School
21
Gcc Early Childhood Learning Lab
13

How Peoria Unified School District (4237) Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arizona districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Gilbert Unified District (4239) Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Deer Valley Unified District (4246) Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Tucson Unified District (4403) Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Peoria Unified School District (4237)'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Arizona

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Compare Peoria Unified School District (4237)

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Compare vs Mesa Unified District (4235) →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Peoria Unified School District (4237)?

Peoria Unified School District (4237) has 44 schools, including 43 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 36,527 students.

How much does Peoria Unified School District (4237) spend per student?

Peoria Unified School District (4237) spends $9,168 per student. The district has an equity score of 31/100, ranking #244 in Arizona.

What is the demographic composition of Peoria Unified School District (4237)?

Peoria Unified School District (4237) students are 42.8% White, 42.1% Hispanic or Latino, 5.4% African American, 2.8% Asian, averaged across 44 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Peoria Unified School District (4237)?

Peoria Unified School District (4237) has an equity score of 31/100, ranking #244 out of 437 districts in Arizona.