SE Arizona News

Of the many ethnicities represented in Arizona schools, the most prevalent ethnic group among students enrolled in Gila County schools in 2021-22 were White, according to the Arizona Department of Education.

Of the 7,827 students attending Gila County schools, 38.2% were White. Latino students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 29.6% of Gila County students.

In the previous school year, White students still were the most common group in Gila County, representing 39.5% of the student body.

Young Elementary School had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, which included 35.2% of White students, 33.1% of American Indian or Alaskan Native students, 28.5% of Latino students, and 2.1% of Multi-racial or non-Hispanic students.

In the 2021-22 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county increased 12.8% when compared to the previous year.

In 2022 Arizona had roughly one teacher for every 19 students, compared to the national average of one teacher for 16 students. Teachers handling a higher number of students was found to have negative consequences for students’ school performance.

WalletHub claimed Arizona’s school system ranked among the worst across U.S. for class size, performance, funding, safety, and instructors’ credentials.

School name	Most prevalent ethnic group	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Copper Rim Elementary School	Latino	41.2%	684
Dr. Charles A. Bejarano Elementary School	Latino	53.3%	199
Globe High School	White	35.2%	520
High Desert Middle School	Latino	34.8%	362
Julia Randall Elementary School	White	60.6%	551
Lee Kornegay Intermediate School	Latino	50.9%	216
Miami Junior Senior High School	Latino	54.4%	491
Payson High School	White	68.5%	797
Pine Strawberry Elementary School	White	83.7%	98
Rice Elementary School	American Indian or Alaskan Native	99.7%	577
Rim Country Middle School	White	66.1%	567
San Carlos Alternative High School	American Indian or Alaskan Native	100%	71
San Carlos High School	American Indian or Alaskan Native	99.4%	342
San Carlos Middle School	American Indian or Alaskan Native	100%	373
Tonto Basin Elementary	White	87%	77
Young Elementary School	White	80.5%	41