Private schools in Arizona operate with more independence than many families expect. The state does not run them, rank them or assign students to them. Each school sets its own admission rules, tuition, calendar and curriculum, and you deal with the school directly. This page covers private school listings across the state, from large Phoenix-area campuses to small church-run schools in towns such as Show Low and Nogales. Below you will find how the system is organised, how metro and rural choices differ, and what to check before you apply.

Who Oversees Private Schools in Arizona

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) oversees public and charter schools. It does not license, inspect or approve the curriculum of K-12 private schools. There is no state "private school license" to look for, so a school's appearance on a list is not a seal of quality.

State law still sets the frame. Under the compulsory attendance statute, A.R.S. 15-802, children generally must attend school between ages 6 and 16, and a private school can satisfy that duty. Private schools also follow rules that apply to any place where children gather. Local city and county officials enforce building and fire codes, and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) sets school immunization requirements. At enrollment, schools typically ask for immunization records or a signed exemption form.

Because the state does not verify quality, voluntary accreditation carries real weight. Common accreditors include Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Montessori programs may hold recognition from the American Montessori Society or Association Montessori Internationale. Catholic schools answer to their diocese, such as Phoenix or Tucson. Ask any school which accreditor it uses, then confirm that claim with the accrediting organization.

A private school is not the same as homeschooling. Families who homeschool in Arizona file an affidavit of intent with their county school superintendent and teach at home. A private school is a separate institution with its own staff, rules and enrollment process, and that is what the listings here cover.

Early childhood programs add one more layer. A preschool or child care program that cares for children during set hours may need a child care license from ADHS, depending on how it operates. If you are considering a program such as Resurrection Lutheran Preschool in Oro Valley, ask whether it is licensed and how you can verify that.

Private Schools in Metro Phoenix, Tucson and Rural Arizona

Listings cluster where people live. Maricopa County holds the largest share, spread across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert and Glendale. In Phoenix, All Saints' Episcopal Day School is at 6300 North Central Avenue. Camelback Desert School is at 9606 East Kalil Drive in Scottsdale, and Chandler Christian School is at 301 North Hartford Street. The West Valley adds St. John Vianney Catholic School in Goodyear and Montessori West Preparatory School in Litchfield Park, while Annunciation Catholic School serves the north Valley town of Cave Creek.

The second hub is Pima County. Tucson has the bulk of the listings, including Ascension Lutheran Church and School on West Magee Road. Oro Valley, on Tucson's northern edge, adds Resurrection Lutheran Preschool. Metro families usually have several schools within a short drive, so comparing tuition, schedule and teaching approach matters more than distance.

Many listings are faith-based, including Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Seventh-day Adventist and nondenominational Christian schools, alongside Montessori and independent options. Ask whether families outside the sponsoring church are welcome, whether chapel or religion classes are required, and how that shapes admissions.

Outside those two metros, choices thin out and travel matters. In Yavapai County, Prescott Adventist Christian School and Verde Valley SDA Church School in Cottonwood serve different parts of the county. In Navajo County, Mountain Christian School is in Show Low. Farther afield you will find Our Saviour Lutheran School in Lake Havasu (Mohave County), Mount Calvary Lutheran Church and School in Flagstaff (Coconino County), Southwestern Christian School in Yuma and Sonshine Christian School in Nogales (Santa Cruz County).

Rural schools tend to be small, often tied to a church, and may offer fewer grade levels or combined classrooms. Many do not run bus routes, so ask about transportation, before-care and after-care early. Apache, Navajo and Coconino counties include large parts of the Navajo Nation, and distances between towns there can be long. A longer daily drive is common in the mountain and border counties.

Paying for Private School in Arizona: ESAs and Tuition Tax Credits

Arizona has two main public tools that help families with tuition. Neither replaces the school's own financial aid, which you should ask about at every campus.

The first is the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, administered by ADE. Since a 2022 expansion, K-12 students can qualify, and families can use account funds for approved expenses, including private school tuition. You apply through ADE, and the account is managed online. Participation involves an agreement with the state, so read it before you sign. Award amounts vary by student and by year, so check current figures with ADE rather than relying on a number you saw elsewhere.

The second is the school tuition organization (STO) tax credit. Arizona taxpayers can donate to a certified STO and claim a state income tax credit through the Arizona Department of Revenue. The STO then awards scholarships to students at private schools. Application rules and credit limits change over time, so check the Department of Revenue's current guidance and the STO's own requirements.

Not every private school accepts ESA students or works with every STO. Confirm that before you pay an application fee or enrollment deposit.

What to Check Before You Enroll in an Arizona Private School

Phone the school first, then visit in person. These points save time:

Use the phone number in each listing for first contact. Visit while classes are in session so you can see how teachers and students interact. Ask how the school handles outdoor activities during extreme heat, since summer and early fall temperatures in Phoenix, Yuma and Lake Havasu can be severe.

Private schools in Arizona are licensed and regulated by the state's department of education, which sets minimum standards for safety, curriculum, and accreditation while allowing institutions significant freedom in operations and admissions. Arizona may also offer education savings account or voucher programs that provide public funding assistance to eligible families attending private schools.

Private Schools locations are available in 66 cities across Arizona. They are spread across 14 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of private schools include Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, reflecting larger population centers where demand for diverse educational options tends to support a wider range of private school institutions.

Families in Arizona exploring private school options should contact each school's admissions office to request a prospectus, schedule a tour, and learn about financial aid availability, as tuition and assistance programs vary significantly from one institution to the next.

Private Schools by Counties

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Families in Arizona comparing private school options should check each school's accreditation status through the state department of education and request standardized test score data, graduation rates, and college placement outcomes. Many private schools in Arizona hold open house events in the fall that are open to prospective families without an appointment.

Browse Private Schools by county across Arizona to find the nearest location.

Finding a Private School Beyond Phoenix and Tucson

Most Arizona private schools publish a phone number but no staff directory, so a short call is the fastest way to get answers. Start with the county where you live or plan to move. Pinal County, for example, includes St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School at 501 East 2nd Street in Casa Grande, reachable at 520-836-7247.

In Cochise County, Veritas Christian Community School is at 215 Taylor Drive in Sierra Vista, and its listed number is 520-417-1113. In Navajo County, Mountain Christian School is at 3171 East Show Low Lake Road (928-537-1050). Southwestern Christian School, at 3261 South Avenue 6 East in Yuma, lists 928-726-3086. Schools change numbers and hours, so treat our listing as a starting point and confirm by phone.

Relocating families should ask about mid-year admission. Sierra Vista is home to Fort Huachuca, and Yuma sits near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. Military moves rarely follow the school calendar. In any town, ask how the school evaluates transfer records, whether it tests new students, and how it places children who arrive partway through a term.

Bring a short list of questions to every call: grades served, class size, tuition and fees, ESA acceptance, accreditation and extended-care hours. Write down the answers so you can compare schools side by side.

Private School Questions Arizona Families Ask

No. Arizona does not license K-12 private schools or accredit them the way it oversees public and charter schools. The Arizona Department of Education handles public school accountability, but a private school sets its own curriculum, hiring standards and calendar. That puts the burden of checking quality on you. Ask whether the school holds accreditation from a group such as Cognia or ACSI, or follows a diocesan or Montessori standard, then contact that organization to confirm. Also ask how teachers are hired, how the school measures student progress, and where graduates go next. Preschool programs may need a separate child care license from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Generally, yes. Arizona's school immunization rules, backed by guidance from the Arizona Department of Health Services, apply to children entering schools and child care, and private schools ask for records at enrollment. Arizona also allows exemptions, including medical exemptions and personal-belief exemptions, each documented on the proper form. A school may ask for either the immunization record or the exemption paperwork before the first day. Call the school office to learn exactly what it needs and how long it takes. Your pediatrician or your county health department can supply records. Handle this early so paperwork does not delay the start of school.

Many families do. The Empowerment Scholarship Account program, administered by the Arizona Department of Education, is open to K-12 students and lets families use account funds for private school tuition and other approved education expenses. You apply through the state, and payments to the school are made through an online system. Not every private school participates, and some have waitlists or admission requirements that apply regardless of funding. Before you apply, ask the school whether it accepts ESA funds, what it charges beyond them, and when payments are due. Program rules and award amounts change, so check current guidance from the Department of Education.

The state does not set a calendar for private schools, so each campus decides. Many Arizona schools begin in late July or early August and finish in May. Popular campuses in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson often take applications months ahead, sometimes during the winter before the school year, and may keep waitlists. Smaller schools in towns such as Show Low or Nogales may accept students later, though space in certain grades can still be limited. Call the admissions office and ask about opening dates, interviews or placement testing, and financial aid deadlines, which are sometimes earlier than enrollment deadlines.

Rural schools tend to be smaller and are often church-affiliated. In counties such as Navajo, Cochise and Mohave, a town may have only one or two private options, and some serve a limited range of grades. Classes can be small, but advanced courses, sports and specialized services may be fewer than at larger Phoenix or Tucson campuses. Transportation is usually the family's responsibility, and distances between towns can be long. Ask about combined-grade classrooms, what happens when a student finishes the highest grade offered, and whether the school has ties to a nearby high school.

Some listings show only a mailing address, such as the PO Box entries for Hi-Star Center For Children in Glendale, Our Lady Of Guadalupe Academy in Queen Creek and Montessori West Preparatory School in Litchfield Park. A PO Box is for mail, not visits. Call the phone number in the listing and ask for the campus street address and visitor hours. Check the address on a map before you go, and confirm the office is staffed on the day you plan to visit. Ask where to park and which entrance visitors use. If nobody answers, leave your name, your child's grade and a good callback time.