Top Rankings
Higley Unified School District (4248) ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Arizona for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 12 public middle schools serving 11,072 students in Higley Unified School District (4248). This district's average middle testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public middle schools in Arizona.
Public Middle Schools in Higley Unified School District (4248) have an average math proficiency score of 55% (versus the Arizona public middle school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 58% (versus the 40% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Arizona public middle school average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (AZ)
# Schools
16 Schools
1,136 Schools
# Students
12,887 Students
601,819 Students
# Teachers
714 Teachers
23,710 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
District Rank
Higley Unified School District (4248), which is ranked within the top 20% of all 607 school districts in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 96% has increased from 94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#89 out of 631 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
35%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
60%
40%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
37%
24%
Graduation Rate
96%
77%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.58
0.66
# American Indian Students
106 Students
24,869 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
4%
# Asian Students
463 Students
22,000 Students
% Asian Students
4%
4%
# Hispanic Students
2,950 Students
274,625 Students
% Hispanic Students
23%
46%
# Black Students
679 Students
37,295 Students
% Black Students
5%
6%
# White Students
7,741 Students
213,598 Students
% White Students
60%
35%
# Hawaiian Students
66 Students
2,094 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
882 Students
27,338 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
143
6,008
# Students in K Grade:
766
32,719
# Students in 1st Grade:
817
35,076
# Students in 2nd Grade:
908
36,504
# Students in 3rd Grade:
912
36,347
# Students in 4th Grade:
966
38,172
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,002
41,445
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,025
59,688
# Students in 7th Grade:
978
84,224
# Students in 8th Grade:
907
85,183
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,146
36,231
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,126
36,652
# Students in 11th Grade:
1,085
35,943
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,089
37,463
# Ungraded Students:
17
164
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,565 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,421. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,223 is less than the state median of $11,323. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$136 MM
$12,837 MM

Spending
$119 MM
$12,727 MM

Revenue / Student
$10,565
$11,421

Spending / Student
$9,223
$11,323

Best Higley Unified School District (4248) Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Williams Field High School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2076 S. Higley Road
Higley, AZ 85236
(480) 279-8000
Higley, AZ 85236
(480) 279-8000
Grades: 8-12
| 2,195 students
Rank: #22.
Higley High School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4068 E Pecos Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-7300
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-7300
Grades: 8-12
| 2,163 students
Rank: #33.
Higley Traditional Academy
(Math: 63% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3391 E Vest Ave
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-6800
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-6800
Grades: PK-8
| 793 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Centennial Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3507 S Ranch House Pkwy
Gilbert, AZ 85297
(480) 279-8200
Gilbert, AZ 85297
(480) 279-8200
Grades: PK-8
| 622 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Cortina Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
19680 S 188th St
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
(480) 279-7800
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
(480) 279-7800
Grades: PK-8
| 664 students
Rank: #66.
Sossaman Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
18655 E Jacaranda Blvd
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
(480) 279-8500
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
(480) 279-8500
Grades: 7-8
| 1,024 students
Rank: #77.
Coronado Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4333 S Deanza Blvd
Gilbert, AZ 85297
(480) 279-6900
Gilbert, AZ 85297
(480) 279-6900
Grades: PK-8
| 538 students
Rank: #88.
Power Ranch Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4351 S Ranch House Pkwy
Gilbert, AZ 85297
(480) 279-7600
Gilbert, AZ 85297
(480) 279-7600
Grades: PK-8
| 592 students
Rank: #99.
Chaparral Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3380 E Frye Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-7900
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-7900
Grades: K-8
| 749 students
Rank: #1010.
Higley Virtual Academy
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2935 S Recker Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-7000
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-7000
Grades: K-12
| 102 students
Rank: #1111.
Cooley Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1100 S Recker Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-8300
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-8300
Grades: 6-8
| 850 students
Rank: #1212.
Gateway Pointe Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2069 South De La Torre Drive
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-7700
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 279-7700
Grades: PK-8
| 780 students
Recent Articles

Sexual Harassment at Age 6: The Tale of a First Grade Suspension
A six-year old in Aurora, Colorado, was suspended after singing an LMFAO song to a little girl in his class and reportedly “shaking his booty.” We look at the case and the sexual harassment problem in public schools today.

How Scaffolding Could Change the Way Your Child Learns
This article explores the concept of instructional scaffolding, a teaching method that enhances learning by breaking down complex tasks into manageable parts. It highlights how scaffolding supports students in developing critical thinking skills and becoming more independent learners. The article discusses the benefits of scaffolding, including improved engagement and reduced anxiety, and provides strategies for its implementation across various educational levels.

February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and EvolutionWe explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.