The numbers confirm what metro-area public school districts across Arizona say: They are losing students.
Recently released data from the Arizona Department of Education indicates the six largest school districts in Pima County, three in the metro Tucson area — Amphitheater, Tucson Unified School District, and Sunnyside have lost students over the last five years.Three other suburban districts — Marana, Sahuarita and Vail — have all grown.
Some district administrators say the declining enrollment and resulting drop in state funding are forcing them to close neighborhood schools or right-size their districts. Tucson’s two oldest school districts: Amphi and TUSD will face this in 2026. Right-sizing school districts — an appropriate amount of campuses for the number of students they serve — is an issue for every Arizona school district.
Next week, Amphitheater Public Schools superintendent Todd Jaeger will make his formal recommendation to the Governing Board to close four schools in the 22-school district…