Enrollment
982
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tucson, AZ
University High School
Federal NCES profile for University High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040880001441
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
University High School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #121 of 131
- schools in Tucson · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.3:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 982
- students enrolled
University High School has class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, University High School ranks #121 of 131 schools in Tucson, AZ.
School address
District: Tucson Unified District (4403) · Arizona
NCES ID 040880001441 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.3:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+25% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How University High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at University High School
University High School is a large combined-grade school in Tucson, Arizona, enrolling 982 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 91% of state schools at 982 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Its student body is led by White (38%) and Hispanic or Latino (32%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 353 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 23.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Tucson's public schools, it stands alongside Craycroft Elementary School (586 students): University High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (21.3:1 vs 21.7:1).
Tucson Unified District (4403) also operates Tucson Magnet High School (2,938 students) and Pueblo High School (1,821 students) alongside University High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How University High School compares
University High School on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.3:1 | ▲ 25% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 982 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.3:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
982
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
21.3:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 83% in Arizona - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
32.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,545
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,145
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.8 FTE
Per 353 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 38.4%
Hispanic or Latino 32.2%
Asian 15.2%
Two or More 9.9%
African American 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 38.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.5, University High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 23
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Tucson Unified District (4403), which includes University High School.
$11,545
Per student
-12%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 41.8%
State 34.7%
Federal 23.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How University High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson Magnet High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pueblo High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cholla High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sahuaro High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Catalina Online Learning Experience | Similar size | No free-lunch data | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to University High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,938
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,821
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,575
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,250
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,184
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar other schools in Tucson
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arizona, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~982 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on University High School's federal record.
- Compare University High School against another school. Compare schools
- Tucson Unified District (4403)'s spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about University High School
How many students attend University High School?
University High School has 982 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tucson, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at University High School?
The student-teacher ratio at University High School is 21.3:1, which is 25% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of University High School?
The largest demographic group at University High School is White at 38.4% of enrollment, in Tucson, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for University High School?
University High School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does University High School rank among schools in Tucson?
By Resource Investment Index, University High School ranks #121 of 131 schools in Tucson, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Tucson on the city page.
Is University High School a good school?
University High School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Tucson Unified District (4403)?
Besides University High School, Tucson Unified District (4403) also operates Tucson Magnet High School (2,938 students), Pueblo High School (1,821 students), and Cholla High School (1,575 students). See the Tucson Unified District (4403) district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.