Lake Havasu Unified District (4368), AZ

Original Research by School Decision on Lake Havasu Unified District (4368)

Lake Havasu Unified District is a mid-sized public district in Mohave County, serving students from preschool through twelfth grade. It covers the Lake Havasu City area and the smaller community of Topock. The district operates a handful of elementary schools, a middle school, a comprehensive high school, an online program, and a recently opened classical academy for younger grades. The student body is predominantly white with a substantial Hispanic population and smaller shares of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Data on economic disadvantage and special education enrollment were not reported, so a parent would need to follow up with the district directly for that context.

Academically, the district’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits just above the midpoint among Mohave County’s districts, placing it in the middle of the pack for the area. In elementary grades, math proficiency reaches roughly half of students in fifth grade, while in third and fourth grades it hovers around two-fifths. English language arts proficiency is similar, peaking in sixth grade at just over half and dropping to a little more than a third in third and eighth grades. Science proficiency in fifth grade is about two-fifths, and in eighth grade it is about a third. A notable soft spot appears in middle school math: seventh and eighth grade proficiency rates are around a quarter, noticeably lower than the elementary grades. A parent may want to look into what interventions or supports the middle school offers for students struggling in math.

The district’s chronic absenteeism rate is in the top quartile among county districts, meaning a relatively low share of students are chronically absent compared to peers. That is a positive indicator for student engagement and consistent attendance. Per-pupil current spending is in the lower range among Mohave County districts, which may matter to families concerned about class sizes or resource allocation, though the data does not indicate how that translates into classroom experience.

State assessment data covers only grades three through eight; high school test results were not included in the available information, and the four-year graduation rate was also missing. Without that data, it is difficult to assess how well the district prepares students for graduation and college or career readiness in the upper grades.

The housing market in the district’s catchment area is slightly above the state median home value, with notable variation by zip code. Lake Havasu City is a well-known Colorado River resort community with a mix of year-round residents and seasonal visitors. Rents in the area are modestly above the national context, and the overall cost of housing relative to income is comparable to many western Sunbelt communities.

Recently, the district opened Oro Grande Classical Academy, a public school serving grades PK through six that follows a classical liberal arts curriculum. This adds an explicit choice for families within the district who prefer a traditional, content-rich approach to elementary education, distinct from the standard elementary offerings.

Overall, Lake Havasu Unified District presents a typical middle-tier academic profile for Mohave County, with elementary proficiency that is adequate but not high, and middle school math that warrants a closer look from parents. The low chronic absenteeism rate is a clear strength. A family considering this district would likely want to visit individual schools, especially the middle and high school, and ask about math support, gifted or advanced coursework, and college-going culture, since those details are not captured in the standardized data.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

5,205

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 28%

Black 1%

White 66%

Asian 1%

Two+ 3%

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

28%

—

Gr 4

40%

—

Gr 5

35%

—

Gr 6

47%

—

Gr 7

33%

—

Gr 8

33%

—

Math

Gr 3

40%

—

Gr 4

41%

—

Gr 5

42%

—

Gr 6

40%

—

Gr 7

15%

—

Gr 8

22%

—

Science

Gr 5

34%

—

Gr 8

32%

—

Schools in this District

10 schools are officially reported under this district.

Havasupai Elementary School

Thunderbolt Middle School

Smoketree Elementary School

Starline Elementary School

Lake Havasu High School

Nautilus Elementary School

Oro Grande Classical Academy

Daytona Middle School

Jamaica Elementary School

Havasuonline

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

44%

Grade 3

44%

Grade 4

50%

Grade 5

42%

Grade 6

24%

Grade 7

25%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

34%

Grade 3

45%

Grade 4

39%

Grade 5

51%

Grade 6

41%

Grade 7

37%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

39%

Grade 5

34%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$469,589

Year-over-year change+0.3%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$267K to $509K

vs. state typical1.11x

vs. national typical1.28x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
86404	Lake Havasu City	$509K	-0.7%	53.0%
86406	Lake Havasu City	$493K	-1.2%	29.5%
86436	Topock	$267K	+9.3%	11.4%
86403	Lake Havasu City	$388K	-1.6%	6.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,740/mo

Year-over-year change+4.6%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,480 to $1,787/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
86404	Lake Havasu City	$1,787	+4.9%	53.0%
86406	Lake Havasu City	$1,709	+4.1%	29.5%
86403	Lake Havasu City	$1,480	+3.8%	6.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,370/mo

Home price / national median income5.6x

Annual rent / national median income24.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$629/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.