Top Rankings
Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Arizona for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 3,245 students in Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254). This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Arizona.
Public Schools in Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the Arizona public school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 26% (versus the 41% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 73% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Arizona public school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (AZ)
# Schools
6 Schools
2,476 Schools
# Students
3,245 Students
1,124,009 Students
# Teachers
146 Teachers
50,048 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
22:1
22:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254), which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 607 school districts in Arizona (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has decreased from 95% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#399 out of 631 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(22-23)26%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
26%
40%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
12%
24%
Graduation Rate
(22-23)92%
77%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.53
0.66
% American Indian
1%
5%
% Asian
n/a
3%
% Hispanic
63%
48%
% Black
5%
6%
% White
27%
34%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $9,168 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,421. The school district revenue/student has declined by 30% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,023 is higher than the state median of $11,323. The school district spending/student has declined by 30% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$30 MM
$12,837 MM
Spending
$42 MM
$12,727 MM
Revenue / Student
$9,168
$11,421
Spending / Student
$13,023
$11,323
Best Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Tartesso Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
29677 W Indianola Ave
Buckeye, AZ 85396
(623) 474-5400
Buckeye, AZ 85396
(623) 474-5400
Grades: K-8
| 376 students
Rank: #22.
Tonopah Valley High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
38201 W Indian School Rd
Tonopah, AZ 85354
(623) 474-5201
Tonopah, AZ 85354
(623) 474-5201
Grades: 7-12
| 882 students
Rank: #33.
Winters Well Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
35220 W Buckeye Rd
Tonopah, AZ 85354
(623) 474-5301
Tonopah, AZ 85354
(623) 474-5301
Grades: K-5
| 581 students
Rank: #44.
Ruth Fisher Middle School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
38201 W Indian School Rd
Tonopah, AZ 85354
(623) 474-5500
Tonopah, AZ 85354
(623) 474-5500
Grades: PK-12
| 734 students
Rank: n/an/a
30919 W. White Tanks Vista Dr
Buckeye, AZ 85396
(623) 474-5601
Buckeye, AZ 85396
(623) 474-5601
Grades: PK-5
| 672 students
Rank: n/an/a
38201 W Indian School Rd
Tonopah, AZ 85354
(623) 474-5110
Tonopah, AZ 85354
(623) 474-5110
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254)?
Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) manages 6 public schools serving 3,245 students.
What is the rank of Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254)?
Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) is ranked #391 out of 607 school districts in Arizona (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Arizona school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254)?
63% of Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) students are Hispanic, 27% of students are White, 5% of students are Black, 3% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254)?
Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) has a student/teacher ratio of 22:1, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 18:1.
What is Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254)'s spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $13,023 is higher than the state median of $11,323. The school district spending/student has declined by 30% over four school years.
Recent Articles

The Link Between Education and Incarceration: The NAACP Report
Education and the rate of incarceration have been linked in a recent NAACP report. Learn about the report and the troubling findings.

The Debate Over Mandatory AP Exams: Balancing Academic Rigor and Student Well-being
Some public schools are forcing students in AP courses to take the AP exam. Here's a look at both sides of the debate and the potential benefits in store for both students and high schools.

The 15 Biggest Failures of the American Public Education System
The world is in a constant state of change and those who fail to adjust fall behind. Unfortunately, the American public education system has not kept up with the times and is currently facing a number of serious problems. Keep reading to learn about the biggest failures affecting the modern U.S. public education system as well as some of the trends that could spark change.