Public high schools in Tucson: What are this year's top-rated and most improved?

Public high schools in Tucson: What are this year's top-rated and most improved?Photo: Unsplash
Hoodline
Published on August 13, 2019

How do the public high schools in Tucson stack up?

We analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to find out how schools in your area are performing and which have made the biggest leaps over the past year.

Sahuaro High School's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Tucson, rising from a C+ to a B-, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 545 N. Camino Seco, enrolls 1,810 students. Sahuaro High School serves a somewhat diverse population: 43% of students identify as white and 41% identify as Hispanic. Niche gave the school mixed grades: B- on an A-D scale for academics, C- for administration and C- for clubs and activities.

The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.

Academically, 23% of Sahuaro High School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 24% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 34% in math and 34% in reading.

It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Palo Verde High Magnet School saw its overall rating increase from a C+ to a B-. The school is located at 1302 S. Avenida Vega and is a bit smaller, currently serving 1,235 students, of whom 51% identify as Hispanic, 23% identify as white and 15% identify as black.

Niche gave Palo Verde High Magnet School mixed grades: C+ on an A-D scale for academics, B- for administration and B- for clubs and activities. Palo Verde's latest math proficiency was at 18%, and reading proficiency was 20%. The school's upswing is notable in that it serves a less affluent population, with 64% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 18% more than the city average.

Empire High School also improved, from an A to an A+. The school is located at 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way and has 817 students currently enrolled, of whom 61% identify as white and 28% identify as Hispanic.

Niche gave Empire High School an A+ for administration, with lower grades for academics (A on an A-D scale) and clubs and activities (A-). Empire High School's latest math proficiency was at 72%, and reading proficiency was 62%.

While some public high schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:

  • Catalina Foothills High School, with an overall rating of A+.
  • University High School, with an A+ rating overall.
  • Mountain View High School, rated B+ overall.

This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.