Vail Unified District (4413)

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.

Vail, Arizona - 23 schools

An equity score of 25/100 ranks Vail Unified District (4413) #301 of 437 districts in Arizona (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,396 per pupil, Vail Unified District (4413) ranks #462 of 634 Arizona districts by per-pupil spending (Arizona districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

14,533
Total Enrollment
23
Schools
$9,396
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Vail Unified District (4413) operates 23 public schools serving 14,533 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Arizona. The school portfolio breaks down into 8 combined, 6 elementary, 5 high, 4 middle 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 Pima County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,396 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 35.8% local, 54.2% state, and 10.0% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 25/100, ranked #301 of 437 in Arizona against a state average of 38, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 5 of 23 schools offering Advanced Placement (48 AP courses district-wide), a 487.4:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 33.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 46.7% White, 39.2% Hispanic or Latino, 3.7% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Mesquite Elementary School, with a diversity index of 67.1/100.

Its largest campus is Cienega High School, enrolling 1,881 students (13% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Vail Innovation Center, at 61 students, a 31x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Vail Unified District (4413) school enrollment varies 31× across entities

Vail Unified District (4413) school enrollment ranges from 61 students (lowest) to 1,881 students (highest), a spread of 1,820 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity, the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. 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

Vail Unified District (4413) student-counselor ratio is 487:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Vail Unified District (4413) chronic absenteeism rate is 33.7% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Where does the funding come from?

10.0%
Federal
54.2%
State
35.8%
Local

Funding Equity

25
Equity Score
301 / 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 23 schools in Vail Unified District (4413).

White 46.7%
Hispanic or Latino 39.2%
African American 3.7%
Asian 1.5%
Multiracial 8.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 60.9/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Vail Unified District (4413)'s schools, above the Arizona average of 47.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Mesquite Elementary School 67.1
  2. 2 Vail Academy & High School 67.0
  3. 3 Rincon Vista Middle School 65.4
  4. 4 Desert Sky Middle School 64.4
  5. 5 Senita Valley Elementary School 64.3

Programs & Resources

5 / 23
Schools with AP
48 AP courses total
487.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
33.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Vail Unified District (4413)

School Enrollment
Cienega High School
1,881
Mica Mountain High
1,319
Empire High School
886
Andrada Polytechnic High School
836
Old Vail Middle School
811
Desert Willow Elementary School
811
Acacia Elementary School
783
Desert Sky Middle School
743
Esmond Station School
741
Ocotillo Ridge Elementary
723
Rincon Vista Middle School
712
Senita Valley Elementary School
709
Mesquite Elementary School
640
Sycamore Elementary School
640
Vail Academy & High School
625
Corona Foothills Middle School
619
Cottonwood Elementary School
570
Copper Ridge Elementary
366
Vail Inclusive Preschool
151
Civano Community K-8 School
145
Pantano High School
95
Vail Blended Learning
72
Vail Innovation Center
61

How Vail Unified District (4413) Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arizona districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Sunnyside Unified District (4407) Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Kyrene Elementary District (4267) Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Cartwright Elementary District (4282) Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Queen Creek Unified District (4245) Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Tolleson Union High School District (4288) Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Vail Unified District (4413)'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Arizona

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Compare Vail Unified District (4413)

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Mesa Unified District (4235) →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Vail Unified District (4413)?

Vail Unified District (4413) has 23 schools, including 5 high, 4 middle, 6 elementary, 8 combined. Total enrollment is 14,533 students.

How much does Vail Unified District (4413) spend per student?

Vail Unified District (4413) spends $9,396 per student. The district has an equity score of 25/100, ranking #301 in Arizona.

What is the demographic composition of Vail Unified District (4413)?

Vail Unified District (4413) students are 46.7% White, 39.2% Hispanic or Latino, 3.7% African American, 1.5% Asian, averaged across 23 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Vail Unified District (4413)?

Vail Unified District (4413) has an equity score of 25/100, ranking #301 out of 437 districts in Arizona.