Is Poston Butte High School a good school?

Poston Butte High School ranks in the bottom 22.0% of Arizona high schools.

How many students attend Poston Butte High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,393 students attended Poston Butte High School.

What is the racial makeup of Poston Butte High School?

Students at Poston Butte High School are 42% White, 41% Hispanic, 10% African American, 3% Two or more races, 2% American Indian, 1% Asian.

What schools feed into Poston Butte High School?

Poston Butte High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Circle Cross K8 STEM Academy Elementary : Copper Basin

Poston Butte High School

Summary:

Poston Butte High School is a public high school serving grades 7-12 in San Tan Valley, Arizona, with a total enrollment of 1,393 students. The school is part of the Florence Unified School District, which has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Poston Butte High School has faced some challenges in recent years, with its statewide ranking fluctuating from 101 out of 394 Arizona high schools in 2013-2014 to 202 out of 259 in the current 2023-2024 school year, earning a 1-star rating. The school's test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science have generally been below the state and district averages. However, the school has maintained a relatively high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 91.5% to 94.5% over the past few years, and a low dropout rate of 1.2% to 2.2%.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Combs High School and San Tan Foothills High School, Poston Butte High School's performance is generally lower. For example, in 2023-2024, Combs High School had 38% proficiency in 11th-grade English Language Arts and 28% in Mathematics, compared to Poston Butte's 25% and 19%, respectively. The school's performance also varies significantly across different student subgroups, with Asian and Native American students performing relatively well, while Hispanic and White students have struggled in comparison to their peers statewide.

Detail:

Public 7-12

32375 N Gantzel Rd
San Tan Valley, AZ 85143-5110

(480) 474-6100

District: Florence Unified School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
202^nd of 259 Arizona High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $6,884

Feeder schools for Poston Butte High School:

Elementary:	Circle Cross K8 STEM Academy
	Copper Basin

Student/teacher ratio: 19.4

Number of students: 1,393

Racial breakdown:

White:

42.0%

Hispanic:

40.9%

African American:

10.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 44.9%

See top rated Arizona high schools

Compare Poston Butte High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Poston Butte High School ranks worse than 78% of high schools in Arizona. It also ranks first among 3 ranked high schools in the Florence Unified School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 20.69. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Poston Butte High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Poston Butte High School has the largest high school student body size in the Florence Unified School District. Racial makeup is: White (42%), Hispanic (40.9%), African American (10%). (See more...)

Compare Details 44.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Florence Unified School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Poston Butte High School is 19.4, which is the highest among 3 high schools in the Florence Unified School District! (See more...)

Compare Poston Butte High School employs 71.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Poston Butte High School is $6,884. 1 high schools in the Florence Unified School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Poston Butte High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Poston Butte High School 202^nd of 259 Arizona public high schools. (See Poston Butte High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Florence Unified School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Florence Unified School District 245^th of 288 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Poston Butte High School.

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Your rating for Poston Butte High School?

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Rank History for Poston Butte High School

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Rank History for all students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2010	71.45	125^th	403	69.0%
2011	65.12	153^rd	397	61.5%
2012	67.09	159^th	471	66.2%
2013	72.01	145^th	491	70.5%
2014	75.98	101^st	394	74.4%
2015	31.31	166^th	261	36.4%
2016	37.84	203^rd	406	50.0%
2017	29.13	252^nd	416	39.4%
2018	31.69	238^th	420	43.3%
2019	17.06	241^st	285	15.4%
2021	42.38	242^nd	509	52.5%
2022	30.09	268^th	464	42.2%
2023	38.28	255^th	469	45.6%
2024	20.69	202^nd	259	22.0%

See the entire list of Arizona High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2021	54.14	153^rd	374	59.1%
2022	19.33	221^st	282	21.6%
2023	15.85	182^nd	199	8.5%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	44.58	29^th	312	90.7%
2022	41.67	53^rd	258	79.5%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	30.73	107^th	155	31.0%
2021	43.15	174^th	422	58.8%
2022	37.18	174^th	380	54.2%
2023	18.09	172^nd	172	0.0%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	28.50	170^th	253	32.8%
2022	25.03	128^th	168	23.8%
2023	32.64	222^nd	347	36.0%
2024	19.88	135^th	168	19.6%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Migrant students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	93.69	2^nd	44	95.5%
2023	62.83	4^th	10	60.0%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for Female students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	27.19	232^nd	354	34.5%
2019	15.03	217^th	247	12.1%
2021	45.95	219^th	492	55.5%
2022	30.94	261^st	456	42.8%
2023	32.08	266^th	406	34.5%
2024	17.48	166^th	193	14.0%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	26.68	240^th	370	35.1%
2019	16.32	207^th	238	13.0%
2021	36.99	270^th	492	45.1%
2022	25.43	302^nd	455	33.6%
2023	36.55	249^th	429	42.0%
2024	18.05	162^nd	207	21.7%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2021	50.82	124^th	231	46.3%
2022	59.37	94^th	238	60.5%
2023	60.85	56^th	146	61.6%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	34.67	82^nd	122	32.8%
2021	34.03	179^th	306	41.5%
2022	29.43	196^th	301	34.9%
2023	38.05	111^th	201	44.8%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	27.16	209^th	311	32.8%
2019	13.93	178^th	183	2.7%
2021	35.55	278^th	479	42.0%
2022	29.36	285^th	441	35.4%
2023	26.67	276^th	379	27.2%
2024	14.37	144^th	164	12.2%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2021	57.19	59^th	256	77.0%
2022	30.76	140^th	255	45.1%
2023	32.65	71^st	128	44.5%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2021	49.88	33^rd	94	64.9%
2022	20.13	80^th	129	38.0%
2023	32.49	30^th	41	26.8%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for White students at Poston Butte High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	17.80	244^th	291	16.2%
2019	11.90	204^th	217	6.0%
2021	37.53	278^th	448	37.9%
2022	20.65	312^th	409	23.7%
2023	26.89	277^th	371	25.3%
2024	12.73	159^th	174	8.6%

See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Arizona Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Arizona Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1.8)

25%

75%

Reviews:

by a parent
Friday, February 23, 2018

Black families beware! This school is extremely racist and promotes a bullying culture. When it comes to protecting your child, they will not do it. The higher up admin sweeps incidents under the rug and do not address properly parents concerns! I do not recommend this school. The catch 22 is, out here in San Tan Valley, it is the better of the horrible schools out here. Some of the teachers are great. This is not a premier high school. Please believe all of the bad reviews you have read!!! Close Quote

by a student
Thursday, November 10, 2011

I attend here, and have been to quite a few schools. This one (and the FUSD's for that matter) has a unique laptop program, and the staff care more about their students then most teachers. The students are also very supportive, I am a new freshmen and have not gotten one comment yet. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Poston Butte High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2010	526	87	14	199	14	n/a	n/a	840
2011	700	139	34	401	25	3	8	1310
2012	975	215	33	483	21	10	18	1755
2013	928	210	33	513	21	15	16	1736
2014	863	189	34	493	21	20	26	1646
2015	978	191	28	527	28	25	24	1801
2016	1011	185	29	611	30	22	30	1918
2017	833	163	28	606	23	11	21	1685
2018	669	125	22	497	27	5	20	1365
2019	691	127	13	556	38	6	23	1454
2020	662	136	12	581	34	4	57	1486
2021	635	137	22	586	37	10	40	1467
2022	584	142	18	606	34	14	36	1434
2023	585	139	16	570	30	13	40	1393

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Poston Butte High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	840	40.0	21.0	48.6
2011	1310	58.5	22.3	46.9
2012	1755	71.0	24.6	47
2013	1736	76.7	22.6	45.3
2014	1646	72.1	22.8	44.8
2015	1801	80.0	22.5	28.8
2016	1918	84.0	22.8	11.7
2017	1685	83.2	20.2	50.7
2018	1365	81.6	16.7	50
2019	1454	70.4	20.6	49.9
2020	1486	67.8	21.9	48.9
2021	1467	73.4	19.9	n/a
2022	1434	73.6	19.4	15.6
2023	1393	71.7	19.4	44.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Poston Butte High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	840	40.0	21.0	48.6
2011	1310	58.5	22.3	46.9
2012	1755	71.0	24.6	47
2013	1736	76.7	22.6	45.3
2014	1646	72.1	22.8	44.8
2015	1801	80.0	22.5	28.8
2016	1918	84.0	22.8	11.7
2017	1685	83.2	20.2	50.7
2018	1365	81.6	16.7	50
2019	1454	70.4	20.6	49.9
2020	1486	67.8	21.9	48.9
2021	1467	73.4	19.9	n/a
2022	1434	73.6	19.4	15.6
2023	1393	71.7	19.4	44.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Poston Butte High School

Year	Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Total Expenditures from Federal Funds	Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$268 (4.9%)	$28 (0.5%)	$565 (10.3%)	$4,730 (86.0%)	$473 (8.6%)	$5,203 (94.6%)	$5,500
2021	$306 (4.3%)	$329 (4.7%)	$940 (13.3%)	$5,646 (80.0%)	$775 (11.0%)	$6,421 (91.0%)	$7,055
2022	$376 (5.5%)	$309 (4.5%)	$1,060 (15.4%)	$5,283 (76.7%)	$915 (13.3%)	$6,199 (90.0%)	$6,884

Data source: Arizona Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Poston Butte High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 241^st of 285 High schools	Ranks 255^th of 469 High schools	30.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1454	1393	4.2%
African American	127	139	9.4%
American Indian	38	30	21.1%
Asian	13	16	23.1%
Hispanic	556	570	2.5%
Pacific Islander	6	13	116.7%
White	691	585	15.3%
Two or More Races	23	40	73.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	49.9%	44.9%	5%

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				AASA English Language Arts (2024)	AASA Mathematics (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	AASA English Language Arts 11th Grade	AASA Mathematics 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Poston Butte High School	Public	7-12	32375 N Gantzel Rd	San Tan Valley	85143	Pinal County	Florence Unified School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 474-6100	1,393	72	19.4	44.9%	585 (42.0%)	139 (10.0%)	570 (40.9%)	16 (1.1%)	30 (2.2%)	13 (0.9%)	40 (2.9%)	20.7	202^nd of 259 public high schools	22.0%		38.3	255^th of 469 public high schools	45.6%	53	25.0	19.0	$6,884	$376	$309	$1,060	$5,283	$915	$6,199
CAVIT - Poston Butte High School	Public	9-12	32375 N Gantzel Rd	Queen Creek	85143	Pinal County	Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology	No	(n/a)	No	No	(928) 645-2737	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)				$00			$00
Ridgeview College Preparatory High School	Public, Charter	9-12	1645 W Skyline Drive	San Tan Valley	85142	Maricopa County	American Charter Schools Foundation dba Ridgeview	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 360-4518	196			36.2%	87 (44.4%)	23 (11.7%)	68 (34.7%)	3 (1.5%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.1%)	44.3	133^rd of 259 public high schools	48.6%		32.4	288^th of 469 public high schools	38.6%	155	46.0	26.0	$16,468	$2,570	$2,744	$7,884	$5,138	$6,017	$11,154
San Tan Foothills High School	Public	7-12	1255 W Silverdale Rd	Queen Creek	85142	Maricopa County	Florence Unified School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(480) 474-6240	824	48	17.0	40.9%	379 (46.0%)	72 (8.7%)	304 (36.9%)	18 (2.2%)	14 (1.7%)	9 (1.1%)	28 (3.4%)	11.6	237^th of 259 public high schools	8.5%		39.9	247^th of 469 public high schools	47.3%	10	19.0	9.0	$6,841	$247	$238	$731	$5,106	$1,250	$6,357
CAVIT - San Tan Foothills High School	Public	9-12	1255 W Silverdale Rd	Queen Creek	85142	Maricopa County	Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology	No	(n/a)	No	No	(928) 645-2737	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)				$00			$00
EVIT American Leadership Academy Ironwood K-12	Public	9-12	850 W Combs Rd	Queen Creek	85140	Pinal County	East Valley Institute of Technology	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(480) 344-9898	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Combs Center for Success High School	Public	9-12	38300 N Gantzel Rd	San Tan Valley	85140	Pinal County	J O Combs Unified School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 882-3540	73	2	36.5	34.2%	34 (46.6%)	3 (4.1%)	27 (37.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.8%)								(n/a)			$4,200	$50		$100	$4,099	$50	$4,149
EVIT - Crismon High School	Public	9-12	21942 E Riggs Rd	Queen Creek	85142	Maricopa County	East Valley Institute of Technology	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(480) 987-5580	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Queen Creek High School	Public	9-12	22149 E Ocotillo Rd	Queen Creek	85142	Maricopa County	Queen Creek Unified District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 987-5973	2,233	100	22.3	15.0%	1,422 (63.7%)	64 (2.9%)	583 (26.1%)	44 (2.0%)	22 (1.0%)	8 (0.4%)	90 (4.0%)	80.8	49^th of 259 public high schools	81.1%		75.1	95^th of 469 public high schools	79.7%	46	59.0	56.0	$6,784	$226	$22	$474	$5,561	$975	$6,536
EVIT - Queen Creek High School	Public	9-12	22149 E Ocotillo Rd	Queen Creek	85142	Maricopa County	East Valley Institute of Technology	No	(n/a)	No	No	(480) 461-4000	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)				$00			$00

Poston Butte High School

Poston Butte High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Florence Unified School District:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Poston Butte High School

Rank History for all students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for Migrant students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for Female students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for Male students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for Asian students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for African American students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for Native American students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Poston Butte High School

Rank History for White students at Poston Butte High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Poston Butte High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Poston Butte High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Poston Butte High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Poston Butte High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Poston Butte High School

Rankings

Student Body

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