Sahuaro High School

Summary:

Sahuaro High School is a public high school located in Tucson, Arizona, serving grades 8-12 with a total enrollment of 1,432 students. The school is part of the Tucson Unified School District, which has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Sahuaro High School's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is generally lower than the Tucson Unified District and the state of Arizona averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 28% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in AASA/English Language Arts, compared to 31% for the district and 38% for the state. The school's performance on science assessments (AzSCI) is also below the district and state averages, with only 11% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in 2022-2023. Sahuaro High School's four-year graduation rate has fluctuated in recent years, ranging from 84.7% in 2021-2022 to 89.3% in 2022-2023, and its dropout rate has also varied, from 1.3% in 2019-2020 to 4.4% in 2021-2022.

In comparison, Palo Verde High Magnet School, another Tucson Unified District school, has similar academic performance and student demographics, but a lower four-year graduation rate (71.7% in 2022-2023) and a higher dropout rate (8.2% in 2022-2023). Meanwhile, Academy of Tucson High School, a public charter school, outperforms Sahuaro High School in academic measures, with 57% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in AASA/English Language Arts and 34% in AASA/Mathematics in 2023-2024. The school also has a higher four-year graduation rate (90.7% in 2021-2022) and a lower dropout rate (0.4% in 2019-2020).


Detail:

Public 8-12

 545 N Camino Seco
       Tucson, AZ  85710-3067


(520) 731-7100

District: Tucson Unified District

SchoolDigger Rank:
218th of 259 Arizona High Schools


Feeder schools for Sahuaro High School:

Elementary:    Anna Henry Elementary School
    Gale Elementary School
    Harold Steele Elementary School
    Soleng Tom Elementary School
Middle:    Gridley Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  21.1 Help
Number of students:  1,432

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
47.8%
White:
30.5%
African American:
9.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  54% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Sahuaro High School ranks worse than 84.2% of high schools in Arizona. It also ranks 7th among 10 ranked high schools in the Tucson Unified District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.65. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Sahuaro High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (47.8%), White (30.5%), African American (9.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 54% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sahuaro High School is 21.1. 10 high schools in the Tucson Unified District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Sahuaro High School employs 67.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Sahuaro High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Sahuaro High School 218th of 259 Arizona public high schools. (See Sahuaro 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:


Tucson Unified District:

SchoolDigger ranks Tucson Unified District 207th of 288 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Sahuaro High School

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Rank History for all students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 88.72 48th 395 87.8%
2010 84.24 70th 403 82.6%
2011 80.85 82nd 397 79.3%
2012 78.84 92nd 471 80.5%
2013 74.85 123rd 491 74.9%
2014 72.34 120th 394 69.5%
2015 19.76 228th 261 12.6%
2016 33.42 221st 406 45.6%
2017 31.54 233rd 416 44.0%
2018 39.69 195th 420 53.6%
2019 29.92 184th 285 35.4%
2021 30.91 311th 509 38.9%
2022 26.68 292nd 464 37.1%
2023 28.64 318th 469 32.2%
2024 17.65 218th 259 15.8%
See the entire list of Arizona High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.63 63rd 76 17.1%
2021 16.67 271st 374 27.5%
2022 45.64 147th 282 47.9%
2023 9.26 194th 199 2.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.67 23rd 45 48.9%
2022 41.67 53rd 258 79.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.14 103rd 155 33.5%
2021 93.34 14th 422 96.7%
2022 57.59 74th 380 80.5%
2023 27.97 109th 172 36.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Special Education Students!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 24.31 129th 168 23.2%
2023 24.12 275th 347 20.7%
2024 15.70 150th 168 10.7%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 28.02 72nd 150 52.0%
2023 24.58 45th 60 25.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.97 201st 354 43.2%
2019 29.37 165th 247 33.2%
2021 40.71 247th 492 49.8%
2022 23.99 313th 456 31.4%
2023 30.46 276th 406 32.0%
2024 16.11 171st 193 11.4%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Foster Care students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 30.47 48th 116 58.6%
2023 84.71 2nd 25 92.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Foster Care Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 33.78 89th 125 28.8%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 39.89 174th 370 53.0%
2019 25.80 170th 238 28.6%
2021 21.70 388th 492 21.1%
2022 26.55 296th 455 34.9%
2023 23.20 317th 429 26.1%
2024 13.74 181st 207 12.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 50.33 137th 231 40.7%
2022 17.29 200th 238 16.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.38 59th 122 51.6%
2021 24.04 202nd 306 34.0%
2022 53.52 103rd 301 65.8%
2023 14.62 185th 201 8.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 39.68 153rd 311 50.8%
2019 43.14 79th 183 56.8%
2021 26.16 346th 479 27.8%
2022 24.25 315th 441 28.6%
2023 24.92 288th 379 24.0%
2024 24.46 124th 164 24.4%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 80.44 29th 255 88.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 57.91 29th 129 77.5%
2023 20.65 36th 41 12.2%
See the entire list of Best Arizona High Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for White students at Sahuaro High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.66 174th 291 40.2%
2019 10.32 207th 217 4.6%
2021 43.26 251st 448 44.0%
2022 17.34 324th 409 20.8%
2023 23.47 290th 371 21.8%
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.

Sahuaro High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Arizona Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Open Quote School does not provide text books or online access to material. How are the kids supposed to study and succeed? Close Quote



Enrollment information for Sahuaro High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 1803 40 41 281 24 n/a n/a -181 2008
1990 1710 60 40 286 33 n/a n/a -299 1830
1991 1676 65 39 155 23 n/a n/a -211 1747
1992 1497 71 39 169 21 n/a n/a 0 1797
1993 1432 79 32 206 15 n/a n/a 0 1764
1994 1378 84 43 197 13 n/a n/a 0 1715
1995 1375 83 44 249 18 n/a n/a 0 1769
1996 1375 83 44 249 18 n/a n/a 0 1769
1997 1379 81 48 285 20 n/a n/a 0 1813
1998 1391 110 60 265 17 n/a n/a 0 1843
1999 1336 124 60 259 20 n/a n/a 0 1799
2000 1355 130 68 288 21 n/a n/a 0 1862
2001 1384 154 65 311 17 n/a n/a 0 1931
2002 1470 134 72 375 14 n/a n/a 0 2065
2003 1470 134 72 375 14 n/a n/a 0 2065
2004 1380 135 69 390 18 n/a n/a 0 1992
2005 1312 123 78 366 17 n/a n/a 0 1896
2006 1333 136 77 397 11 n/a n/a 0 1954
2007 1226 135 67 387 14 n/a n/a 0 1829
2008 1196 117 75 382 17 n/a n/a 0 1787
2009 1157 130 61 376 18 n/a n/a 0 1742
2010 1110 130 52 373 19 n/a n/a 0 1684
2011 1072 134 28 456 16 13 39 0 1758
2012 1037 125 28 531 16 17 54 0 1808
2013 976 129 30 603 20 9 63 0 1830
2014 927 115 31 635 16 12 84 0 1820
2015 797 96 29 673 14 8 97 0 1714
2016 764 100 36 712 20 5 102 0 1739
2017 782 118 42 750 14 6 98 0 1810
2018 680 130 41 721 13 7 99 0 1691
2019 680 130 41 738 13 10 100 0 1712
2020 592 131 41 797 9 8 117 0 1695
2021 524 115 36 749 11 9 112 0 1556
2022 506 138 38 694 15 9 103 0 1503
2023 437 137 35 684 18 10 111 0 1432

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 Sahuaro High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 2008 77.7 25.8 n/a
1990 1830 86.1 21.2 n/a
1991 1747 74.8 23.3 n/a
1992 1797 75.2 23.8 n/a
1993 1764 72.8 24.2 n/a
1994 1715 72.0 23.8 n/a
1995 1769 73.6 24.0 n/a
1996 1769 73.6 24.0 n/a
1997 1813 75.8 23.9 n/a
1998 1843 75.0 24.6 n/a
1999 1799 75.4 23.9 n/a
2000 1862 78.6 23.7 n/a
2001 1931 81.6 23.7 n/a
2002 2065 90.2 22.9 n/a
2003 2065 90.2 22.9 n/a
2004 1992 89.4 22.3 16.5
2005 1896 76.6 24.8 17.7
2006 1954 85.8 22.8 16.8
2007 1829 84.6 21.6 13.6
2008 1787 82.2 21.7 1.1
2009 1742 80.4 21.7 17.7
2010 1684 76.0 22.1 22.3
2011 1758 71.0 24.7 26.7
2012 1808 68.8 26.2 29.8
2013 1830 75.4 24.2 33.9
2014 1820 72.6 25.0 37.1
2015 1714 73.0 23.4 38.5
2016 1739 73.0 23.8 n/a
2017 1810 79.6 22.7 39.4
2018 1691 80.0 21.1 40.9
2019 1712 77.2 22.1 38.9
2020 1695 80.2 21.1 45
2021 1556 67.4 23.0 n/a
2022 1503 73.6 20.4 26.1
2023 1432 67.8 21.1 54

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 Sahuaro High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 2008 77.7 25.8 n/a
1990 1830 86.1 21.2 n/a
1991 1747 74.8 23.3 n/a
1992 1797 75.2 23.8 n/a
1993 1764 72.8 24.2 n/a
1994 1715 72.0 23.8 n/a
1995 1769 73.6 24.0 n/a
1996 1769 73.6 24.0 n/a
1997 1813 75.8 23.9 n/a
1998 1843 75.0 24.6 n/a
1999 1799 75.4 23.9 n/a
2000 1862 78.6 23.7 n/a
2001 1931 81.6 23.7 n/a
2002 2065 90.2 22.9 n/a
2003 2065 90.2 22.9 n/a
2004 1992 89.4 22.3 16.5
2005 1896 76.6 24.8 17.7
2006 1954 85.8 22.8 16.8
2007 1829 84.6 21.6 13.6
2008 1787 82.2 21.7 1.1
2009 1742 80.4 21.7 17.7
2010 1684 76.0 22.1 22.3
2011 1758 71.0 24.7 26.7
2012 1808 68.8 26.2 29.8
2013 1830 75.4 24.2 33.9
2014 1820 72.6 25.0 37.1
2015 1714 73.0 23.4 38.5
2016 1739 73.0 23.8 n/a
2017 1810 79.6 22.7 39.4
2018 1691 80.0 21.1 40.9
2019 1712 77.2 22.1 38.9
2020 1695 80.2 21.1 45
2021 1556 67.4 23.0 n/a
2022 1503 73.6 20.4 26.1
2023 1432 67.8 21.1 54

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 Sahuaro High School

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $420 (5.4%) $88 (1.1%) $928 (11.9%) $6,128 (78.4%) $1,177 (15.1%) $7,305 (93.5%) $7,813
2020 $171 (3.2%) $54 (1.0%) $396 (7.4%) $4,537 (84.6%) $603 (11.2%) $5,140 (95.8%) $5,365

Data source: Arizona Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sahuaro 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 184th of 285 High schoolsRanks 318th of 469 High schools
 3.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts (Sahuaro High School)2224
 2%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Tucson Unified District)2336
 13%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Arizona)2941
 12%
11th Grade Mathematics (Sahuaro High School)2219
 3%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Tucson Unified District)2425
 1%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Arizona)3332
 1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students17121432
 16.4%
African American130137
 5.4%
American Indian1318
 38.5%
Asian4135
 14.6%
Hispanic738684
 7.3%
Pacific Islander1010
White680437
 35.7%
Two or More Races100111
 11%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients38.9%54%
 15.1%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Sahuaro High School

Students at Sahuaro High School are 48% Hispanic, 31% White, 10% African American, 8% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian.

Sahuaro High School ranks in the bottom 15.8% of Arizona high schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,432 students attended Sahuaro High School.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arizona Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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