Is University High School a good school?

Yes! University High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 10 th of 270 Arizona high schools.

How many students attend University High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 400 students attended University High School.

What is the racial makeup of University High School?

Students at University High School are 63% Hispanic, 14% African American, 10% Asian, 8% White, 5% Two or more races.

University High School

Summary:

University High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Tolleson, Arizona, part of the Tolleson Union High School District. With a diverse student population, the school has consistently ranked among the top high schools in Arizona, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and placing in the state's top 30 schools over the past several years.

University High School's academic performance is exceptional, with 91% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 82% in mathematics, far surpassing the district and state averages. The school also maintains an impressive 98.5% four-year graduation rate and a 0.0% dropout rate, indicating a high level of student engagement and support. Notably, University High School ranks among the top high schools in Arizona for various student subgroups, including female students, male students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

When compared to other high schools in the Tolleson Union High School District, University High School stands out as an exceptional institution. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's 11th-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate was 91%, compared to 33% at West Point High School and 18% at Tolleson Union High School. This highlights the school's ability to consistently deliver outstanding academic outcomes for its diverse student population.

Detail:

Public 9-12

9419 W Van Buren St
Tolleson, AZ 85353-2804

(623) 478-4380

District: Tolleson Union High School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
10^th of 270 Arizona High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,747

Student/teacher ratio: 25.0

Number of students: 400

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

63.3%

African American:

14.3%

Asian:

9.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 12%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details University High School ranks better than 96.3% of high schools in Arizona. It also ranks first among 7 ranked high schools in the Tolleson Union High School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 97.88. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at University 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 Racial makeup is: Hispanic (63.2%), African American (14.2%), Asian (9.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at University High School is 25. 6 high schools in the Tolleson Union High School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare University High School employs 16 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at University High School is $8,747. 6 high schools in the Tolleson Union High School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

University High School:

SchoolDigger ranks University High School 10^th of 270 Arizona public high schools. (See University High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Asian students:

Hispanic students:

Tolleson Union High School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Tolleson Union High School District 239^th of 297 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for University High School

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Rank History for all students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2013	93.67	13^th	491	97.4%
2015	85.28	28^th	261	89.3%
2016	96.20	11^th	406	97.3%
2017	98.22	12^th	416	97.1%
2018	96.68	12^th	420	97.1%
2019	95.43	12^th	285	95.8%
2021	99.41	16^th	509	96.9%
2022	98.74	13^th	464	97.2%
2023	96.73	23^rd	469	95.1%
2024	97.88	10^th	270	96.3%

See the entire list of Arizona High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	98.15	1^st	374	99.7%
2022	94.88	3^rd	282	98.9%

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

Rank History for Special Education students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	67.17	44^th	380	88.4%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	99.22	3^rd	253	98.8%
2022	99.81	1^st	168	99.4%
2023	99.77	3^rd	347	99.1%
2024	100.00	1^st	172	99.4%

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

Rank History for Female students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	97.11	8^th	354	97.7%
2019	94.75	14^th	247	94.3%
2021	98.74	17^th	492	96.5%
2022	98.06	17^th	456	96.3%
2023	92.76	19^th	406	95.3%
2024	96.19	10^th	200	95.0%

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

Rank History for Military Connected students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	89.90	1^st	125	99.2%

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

Rank History for Male students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	98.09	10^th	370	97.3%
2019	97.14	8^th	238	96.6%
2021	99.41	17^th	492	96.5%
2022	98.32	15^th	455	96.7%
2023	98.77	14^th	429	96.7%
2024	97.74	9^th	219	95.9%

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

Rank History for Asian students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	93.33	3^rd	83	96.4%
2019	84.90	9^th	44	79.5%
2021	79.78	47^th	231	79.7%
2022	88.45	31^st	238	87.0%
2024	78.54	6^th	30	80.0%

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

Rank History for African American students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2021	93.71	16^th	306	94.8%
2022	97.48	12^th	301	96.0%
2023	96.91	3^rd	201	98.5%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	99.39	4^th	311	98.7%
2019	98.17	2^nd	183	98.9%
2021	99.51	16^th	479	96.7%
2022	99.51	13^th	441	97.1%
2023	97.96	7^th	379	98.2%
2024	99.90	2^nd	170	98.8%

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

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	61.87	30^th	94	68.1%
2022	57.04	51^st	129	60.5%

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

Rank History for White students at University High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AZ State Percentile
2018	98.69	3^rd	291	99.0%
2019	93.83	13^th	217	94.0%
2021	98.68	13^th	448	97.1%
2022	97.39	16^th	409	96.1%

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

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Enrollment information for University High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2011	81	40	45	243	7	3	1	420
2012	91	34	45	255	7	3	1	436
2013	102	37	41	273	5	1	1	460
2014	103	32	40	310	2	4	4	495
2015	104	23	39	345	3	3	7	524
2016	79	25	41	312	4	5	11	477
2017	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	4
2018	56	29	54	344	3	4	13	503
2019	51	28	62	315	3	3	15	477
2020	47	37	69	307	3	2	20	485
2021	47	38	64	277	2	1	9	438
2022	41	38	57	257	1	1	10	405
2023	31	42	53	240	0	1	12	379
2024	30	57	39	253	1	0	20	400

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 University High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2011	420	13.2	31.8	52.4
2012	436	13.4	32.5	53.7
2013	460	13.6	33.8	60
2014	495	14.2	34.8	58.2
2015	524	19.0	27.5	n/a
2016	477	17.0	28.0	46.5
2017	4	17.0	0.2	n/a
2018	503	17.4	28.9	n/a
2019	477	17.0	28.0	n/a
2020	485	19.0	25.5	12
2021	438	18.0	24.3	n/a
2022	405	17.0	23.8	n/a
2023	379	17.0	22.2	n/a
2024	400	16.0	25.0	n/a

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 University High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2011	420	13.2	31.8	52.4
2012	436	13.4	32.5	53.7
2013	460	13.6	33.8	60
2014	495	14.2	34.8	58.2
2015	524	19.0	27.5	n/a
2016	477	17.0	28.0	46.5
2017	4	17.0	0.2	n/a
2018	503	17.4	28.9	n/a
2019	477	17.0	28.0	n/a
2020	485	19.0	25.5	12
2021	438	18.0	24.3	n/a
2022	405	17.0	23.8	n/a
2023	379	17.0	22.2	n/a
2024	400	16.0	25.0	n/a

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 University 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	$252 (4.1%)	$110 (1.8%)	$613 (10.0%)	$4,824 (78.5%)	$962 (15.6%)	$5,787 (94.1%)	$6,148
2020	$365 (5.6%)	$419 (6.4%)	$1,150 (17.5%)	$5,057 (76.9%)	$731 (11.1%)	$5,788 (88.1%)	$6,572
2021	$544 (6.7%)	$317 (3.9%)	$1,406 (17.3%)	$5,609 (69.2%)	$1,640 (20.2%)	$7,249 (89.4%)	$8,110
2022	$1,175 (13.4%)	$688 (7.9%)	$3,038 (34.7%)	$5,972 (68.3%)	$912 (10.4%)	$6,884 (78.7%)	$8,747

Data source: Arizona Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on University 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 12^th of 285 High schools	Ranks 23^rd of 469 High schools	0.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	477	379	20.5%
African American	28	42	50%
American Indian	3	0	100%
Asian	62	53	14.5%
Hispanic	315	240	23.8%
Pacific Islander	3	1	66.7%
White	51	31	39.2%
Two or More Races	15	12	20%

Schools Near University High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				AASA English Language Arts (2024)	AASA Mathematics (2024)	AzSCI Science (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	AzSCI Science 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
University High School	Public	9-12	9419 W Van Buren St	Tolleson	85353	Maricopa County	Tolleson Union High School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 478-4380	400	16	25.0		30 (7.5%)	57 (14.3%)	253 (63.3%)	39 (9.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.0%)	97.9	10^th of 270 public high schools	96.3%		96.7	23^rd of 469 public high schools	95.1%	13	91.0	82.0	62.0	$8,747	$1,175	$688	$3,039	$5,972	$912	$6,884
Tolleson Union High School	Public	9-12	9419 W Van Buren St	Tolleson	85353	Maricopa County	Tolleson Union High School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 478-4200	2,467	101	24.4		87 (3.5%)	258 (10.5%)	2,000 (81.1%)	33 (1.3%)	33 (1.3%)	13 (0.5%)	43 (1.7%)	15	242^nd of 270 public high schools	10.4%		30.8	296^th of 469 public high schools	36.9%	54	18.0	17.0	9.0	$10,168	$1,201	$697	$3,098	$7,113	$1,158	$8,271
West-MEC - Tolleson Union High School	Public	9-12	9419 W Van Buren St	Tolleson	85353	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 478-4200	15				8 (53.3%)	6 (40.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.7%)								(n/a)					$00			$00
Tolleson Virtual High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	9801 W Van Buren St	Tolleson	85353	Maricopa County	Tolleson Union High School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	No	(623) 478-4022	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
West-MEC - Sierra Linda High School	Public	9-12	9801 W Van Buren St	Tolleson	85353	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 474-7000	10				4 (40.0%)	2 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (40.0%)								(n/a)					$00			$00
Sierra Linda High School	Public	9-12	9801 W Van Buren St	Tolleson	85353	Maricopa County	Tolleson Union High School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 474-7000	1,860	88	21.1		58 (3.1%)	182 (9.8%)	1,546 (83.1%)	17 (0.9%)	23 (1.2%)	9 (0.5%)	25 (1.3%)	10.8	260^th of 270 public high schools	3.7%		23.1	350^th of 469 public high schools	25.4%	90	17.0	9.0	6.0	$9,862	$1,315	$705	$3,336	$6,721	$1,120	$7,841
Hope High School	Public, Charter	9-12	7620 W Lower Buckeye Rd Ste 10	Phoenix	85043	Maricopa County	Blueprint Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(623) 772-8013	165				14 (8.5%)	46 (27.9%)	102 (61.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)								(n/a)					$00			$00
Precision Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	7318 W Lynwood St	Phoenix	85035	Maricopa County	Avondale Learning dba Precision Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 936-8682	83				2 (2.4%)	4 (4.8%)	77 (92.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					$00			$00
Midtown High School	Public, Charter	9-12	7318 W Lynwood St	Phoenix	85035	Maricopa County	Vista Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 963-8682	10				0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					$00			$00
West-MEC West Point High School	Public	9-12	11620 W Encanto Blvd	Avondale	85392	Maricopa County	West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(623) 738-0058	8				5 (62.5%)	1 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (25.0%)								(n/a)					$00			$00

University High School

University High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Tolleson Union High School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for University High School

Rank History for all students at University High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at University High School

Rank History for Special Education students at University High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at University High School

Rank History for Female students at University High School

Rank History for Military Connected students at University High School

Rank History for Male students at University High School

Rank History for Asian students at University High School

Rank History for African American students at University High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at University High School

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at University High School

Rank History for White students at University High School

Enrollment information for University High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at University High School

Student/Teacher Ratio University High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for University High School

Impact of COVID-19 on University High School

Rankings

Student Body

Schools Near University High School

Frequently Asked Questions about University High School

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