Education - Education & Child Care

Managing ongoing statewide budget cuts is probably the biggest challenge the education system faces here. Nearly all of the school districts serving Pima County are financially strapped and under pressure. On top of this, Arizona spends less on education than most other states do. As a result, Tucson has a vast number of private and charter schools as alternatives to public education.

Despite underfunding of public education, however, Tucson has some fine public schools and school districts. It also has some of the nation’s best private schools and leads the nation in number of charter schools.

For youngsters who are not yet ready for school, Tucson has numerous child-care options, from day-care centers operated by religious organizations or private businesses to preschools affiliated with the YMCA or local school districts. We also have resources for finding the child care that’s right for you and your child.

Opportunities for higher education in Tucson are almost limitless. Whether you’re looking for a degree from a top-notch university, career training, or just some courses to improve yourself, you’ll find it here. We have the University of Arizona, ranked as one of the top in several fields of study, including anthropology, astronomy, pharmacy, and creative writing. We have one of the nation’s largest multicampus community colleges. And we have a slew of schools that offer training and degrees in nearly every career imaginable.

Here we provide a general overview of the school districts that serve Tucson as well as some of the private schools and charter schools in the area. You’ll also find profiles of colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning. Finally, we wrap up the chapter with a look at the child-care scene in Tucson.