SE Arizona News

Of the many ethnicities represented in Arizona schools, the most prevalent ethnic group among students enrolled in Gila County schools in 2023-24 were white, according to the Arizona Department of Education.

Of the 7,286 students attending Gila County schools, 36.9% were white. Latino students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 29.6% of Gila County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Gila County, representing 37% of the student body.

Globe High School had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, which had 34.6% Latino students, 30.7% American Indian or Alaska Native students, and 30.7% white students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county increased by 0.1% when compared to the previous year.

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.

Additionally, WalletHub claimed Arizona’s school system ranked among the worst across the 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	41.4%	746
Destiny School	American Indian or Alaska Native	46.8%	370
Dr. Charles A. Bejarano Elementary School	Latino	56.5%	239
Globe High School	Latino	34.6%	508
Hayden High School	Latino	80.2%	86
High Desert Middle School	Latino	35.8%	402
Julia Randall Elementary School	White	59.4%	571
Lee Kornegay Intermediate School	Latino	53.4%	262
Leonor Hambly K-8	Latino	84.3%	217
Liberty High School	Latino	38.9%	72
Miami Junior Senior High School	Latino	55.2%	424
Payson High School	White	65.4%	749
Pine Strawberry Elementary School	White	82%	111
Rim Country Middle School	White	61.2%	487
San Carlos Alternative High School	American Indian or Alaska Native	100%	27
San Carlos Middle School	American Indian or Alaska Native	98.1%	311
San Carlos High School	American Indian or Alaska Native	100%	418
Tonto Basin Elementary	White	82.6%	69
Young Elementary School	White	76.6%	47