Apache Junction Unified District (4443), AZ

Original Research by School Decision on Apache Junction Unified District (4443)

Apache Junction Unified District serves students from preschool through twelfth grade across a cluster of communities in eastern Pinal County, including Apache Junction itself, Gold Canyon, portions of San Tan Valley, and a sliver of Mesa. The district enrolls a student body that is roughly half white and slightly more than two-fifths Hispanic, with smaller shares of multiracial, Black, and Native American students. Enrollment data for free or reduced-price meal status and for students with disabilities or English learner designation were not available, so a full picture of economic and special-education need is incomplete.

On state assessments in the most recent year, proficiency rates in math and English language arts were low across every tested grade. In math, the share of students meeting the state’s proficiency bar declined steadily from elementary to middle school, reaching a single-digit proportion by eighth grade. In English language arts, rates hovered around a quarter of students or less in upper elementary and middle grades, with only third and fourth graders reaching the high twenties or low thirties. Science proficiency in grades five and eight was also low. When placed alongside other districts in Pinal County, the district’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint of that group. Chronic absenteeism, at a rate well above the county median, is a related concern that families may want to explore further with the district.

The district does not report a four-year graduation rate in the available data, so that measure could not be assessed.

Recent voter-approved investments signal a push to strengthen the district’s infrastructure and academic programming. In November 2024, residents approved a bond for safety and security enhancements, facility improvements, and technology upgrades across all schools. Two years earlier, voters extended a maintenance and operations budget override, providing ongoing annual funds for educational programs, teacher salaries, and student services. The district also adopted new English Language Arts curricula for the 2023-2024 school year and a new math curriculum for the following year, replacing outdated materials district-wide. These curriculum changes represent a deliberate effort to update core instruction.

The housing market across the district’s zip codes is mixed. Home values and rents span a wide range, from more affordable levels in parts of Apache Junction to higher-priced areas in Gold Canyon and Mesa. Overall, district-weighted home values and rents sit near the national median, and the price-to-income and rent-to-income ratios suggest that homeownership is a stretch for the typical household, while renting is more manageable.

The district runs several elementary schools, a junior high, and Apache Junction High School, with one school listed as inactive. No data on advanced coursework, career and technical education, or dual-enrollment offerings were provided, so a parent interested in high school pathways would want to check directly with the high school.

Apache Junction Unified District faces measurable challenges in academic achievement and student attendance, yet recent ballot measures and curriculum overhauls show an active effort to address them. A family considering this district should weigh the low test performance and high absenteeism against the recent infusion of capital and updated instructional materials, and should seek current information on programs not captured here.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,710

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 42%

Black 2%

White 49%

Asian 1%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

23%

—

Gr 4

32%

—

Gr 5

25%

—

Gr 6

17%

—

Gr 7

17%

—

Gr 8

17%

—

Math

Gr 3

34%

—

Gr 4

22%

—

Gr 5

24%

—

Gr 6

—

Gr 7

—

Gr 8

—

Science

Gr 5

23%

—

Gr 8

—

Schools in this District

7 schools are officially reported under this district.

Cactus Canyon Junior High

Four Peaks Elementary School

Superstition Mountain Elementary School

Apache Junction High School

Desert Vista Elementary School

Peralta Trail Elementary School

Mountain Shadows Education Center - Closed

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

40%

Grade 3

29%

Grade 4

25%

Grade 5

10%

Grade 6

12%

Grade 7

10%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

27%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

24%

Grade 5

20%

Grade 6

24%

Grade 7

18%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

21%

Grade 5

14%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$452,025

Year-over-year change-1.2%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$357K to $562K

vs. state typical1.07x

vs. national typical1.23x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
85118	Gold Canyon	$485K	-1.3%	63.2%
85119	Apache Junction	$397K	+0.0%	21.1%
85120	Apache Junction	$357K	-2.5%	10.0%
85140	San Tan Valley	$433K	-2.2%	4.4%
85212	Mesa	$562K	-1.1%	1.3%
85209	Mesa	$446K	-1.3%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,901/mo

Year-over-year change-0.1%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$1,671 to $2,185/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
85118	Gold Canyon	$1,983	—	63.2%
85119	Apache Junction	$1,714	+2.2%	21.1%
85120	Apache Junction	$1,671	-5.0%	10.0%
85140	San Tan Valley	$2,057	+0.2%	4.4%
85212	Mesa	$2,185	-1.0%	1.3%
85209	Mesa	$1,938	+0.0%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,281/mo

Home price / national median income5.4x

Annual rent / national median income27.2%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$380/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$423,746 (-1.6% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.