SE Arizona News

Of the many ethnicities represented in Arizona schools, the most prevalent ethnic group among students enrolled in Gila County schools in 2022-23 were white, according to the Arizona Department of Education.

Of the 7,281 students attending Gila County schools, 37% were white. Latino students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 29.7% of Gila County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Gila County, representing 38.2% of the student body.

High Desert Middle School had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, which had 37% Latino students, 30.6% white students, and 29.6% American Indian or Alaska Native students.

In the 2022-23 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county dropped 7% when compared to the previous year.

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

A 2023 study from Scholaroo.com ranked Arizona last out of all U.S. states in terms of educational success, giving the state poor marks for school quality, student success, and teacher-to-student ratio.

School name	Most prevalent ethnic group	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Biyaagozhoo Center	American Indian or Alaska Native	93.3%	15
Copper Rim Elementary School	Latino	40.8%	763
Destiny School	American Indian or Alaska Native	39.6%	338
Dr. Charles A. Bejarano Elementary School	Latino	55%	238
Globe High School	Latino	34.1%	498
Hayden High School	Latino	81.3%	91
High Desert Middle School	Latino	37%	405
Julia Randall Elementary School	White	61.5%	574
Lee Kornegay Intermediate School	Latino	51.5%	200
Leonor Hambly K-8	Latino	88.2%	221
Liberty High School	White	40.6%	64
Miami Junior Senior High School	Latino	57%	495
Payson High School	White	66.7%	790
Pine Strawberry Elementary School	White	85.4%	96
Rice Elementary School	American Indian or Alaska Native	99.5%	641
Rim Country Middle School	White	61.9%	493
San Carlos Middle School	American Indian or Alaska Native	99.1%	321
Tonto Basin Elementary	White	79.8%	84
Young Elementary School	White	67.6%	37