K-12 Education:
A Strong Foundation

Pima County understands that a productive workforce results from an excellent educational system that offers variety and choice for a wide range of future workers and professionals.

Pima County has 229 public schools in 18 districts with 151,736 students (2006-2007 enrollment figures; source: Office of the Pima County School Superintendent). Tucson has more than 80 charter schools offering a wide range of coursework to both elementary and secondary students (source: Office of the Pima County Superintendent). Arizona's strong charter school system provides a no-cost alternative to private education.

All public schools - districts and charters - have curricula aligned with the Arizona Academic Standards. The standards are the concepts and performance objectives students are expected to know and be able to do in nine subject areas: language arts (reading and writing), mathematics, science, social studies, technology, foreign and native languages, the arts, comprehensive health, and workplace skills.

In order to assess learning in the reading, writing, mathematics, and science academic standards as required by state and federal law, Arizona schools use the Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) test. Sudents in grades three through eight are tested each spring with a version of AIMS; passing the test is not required for promotion at these grade levels.

AIMS becomes a high stakes test in high school; students must pass all parts of it in order to graduate. It is given for the first time at the end of the tenth grade and students who do not pass it on their first attempt continue to take it twice a year until they succeed.

There are over 50 private elementary and secondary schools in the Tucson region. Private schools in Arizona are self-regulating. Some private schools qualify for accreditation by the North Central Association, the nation's largest accrediting agency, or by the Arizona Association of Independent Schools (source: 2006 Book of Lists).

The City's Metropolitan Education Commission (MEC) makes suggestions and serves as an advocate in all areas as they affect the educational welfare of Tucson and Pima County. MEC works to empower and advocate for students, their teachers, and and their families; acknowledge individuals and groups within the community whose exemplary service to students and to education merits such special recognition; and to promote graduation from high school as a first step toward an enriched future for students and a realistic sense of their place within the community.

Pima County residents are supportive of K-12 education. That was demonstrated most recently when voters approved the creation of a new school district devoted to career and technical education (Pima County JTED - Joint Technological Education District). Voters have also approved 25 overrides and 32 bond issues for school districts in the last 10 years (source: Office of the Pima County Superintendent).


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