Vail Unified School District, Arizona
| Vail Unified School District |
|---|
 |
| Vail,Arizona |
| District details |
| Superintendent:John Carruth |
| # of school board members:5 |
| Website:Link |
Vail Unified School District is aschool district inArizona.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district’s…
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Budget
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
 | This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Pleasecontact us with any updates. |
John Carruth is the superintendent of the Vail Unified School District. Carruth was appointed superintendent in November 2019. His previous career experience includes serving as an assistant/associate superintendent, director of special education, assistant principal, and teacher.[1]
Past superintendents
- Calvin Baker was the superintendent of the Vail Unified School District from 1988 to 2020. Baker's previous career experience includes working as a principal.[2]
School board
The Vail Unified School District Governing Board consists of five members elected to four-year terms. Board members are elected at large.[3]
| Office | Name | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|
| Vail Unified School District, At-large | Jennifer Anderson | January 1, 2023 |
| Vail Unified School District, At-large | Edward Buster | January 1, 2023 |
| Vail Unified School District, At-large | Christopher King | January 1, 2021 |
| Vail Unified School District, At-large | Allison Pratt | |
| Vail Unified School District, At-large | Callie Tippett |
Elections
Board members are elected on a staggered basis during even-numbered years.
Three seats on theVail Unified School District school board inArizona were up for general election onNovember 5, 2024. The filing deadline for this election wasJuly 8, 2024.
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students.Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The Vail Unified School District Governing Board maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[4]
| “ | PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS All regular and special meetings of the Board shall be open to the public. The Board invites the viewpoints of citizens throughout the District, and considers the responsible presentation of these viewpoints vital to the efficient operation of the District. The Board also recognizes its responsibility for the proper governance of the schools and therefore the need to conduct its business in an orderly and efficient manner. The Board therefore establishes the following procedures to receive input from citizens of the District: A. Any individual desiring to address the Board shall complete a form (Request to Address Board) and give this form to the Superintendent prior to the start of the Board meeting. B. The Board President shall be responsible for recognizing speakers, maintaining proper order, and adhering to any time limit set. Questions requiring investigation shall be referred to the Superintendent for later report to the Board. Questions or comments on matters that are currently under legal review will not receive a response. C. If considered necessary, the President shall set a time limit on the length of the comment period. In order to ensure that each individual has an opportunity to address the Board, the President may also set a time limit for individual speakers. D. Personal attacks upon Board members, staff personnel, or other persons in attendance or absent by individuals who address the Board are discouraged. Policies KE, KEB, KEC, and KED are provided by the Board for disposition of legitimate complaints, including those involving individuals. Upon conclusion of the open call to the public, individual members of the Board may respond to any criticism made by an individual who has addressed the Board. E. Presentations for unsolicited services will not be permitted. Companies or businesses offering services of possible interest to the District should send information to the District Office for distribution to appropriate School District officials. The Superintendent shall ensure that a copy of this policy is posted at the entrance to the Board meeting room, and that an adequate supply of forms is available.[5] | ” |
District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by theNational Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of theU.S. Department of Education.[6]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $16,316,000 | $1,165 | 10% |
| Local: | $58,443,000 | $4,175 | 36% |
| State: | $88,628,000 | $6,331 | 54% |
| Total: | $163,387,000 | $11,671 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $155,446,000 | $10,902 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $131,550,000 | $9,226 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $68,572,000 | $4,809 | 44% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $20,569,000 | $1,442 | 13% |
| Administration: | $15,119,000 | $1,060 | 10% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $27,290,000 | $1,914 | 18% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $14,102,000 | $989 | |
| Construction: | $7,914,000 | $555 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $5,384,000 | $377 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $4,125,000 | $289 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025[7] | $47,369 | $76,866 |
| 2023-2024[8] | $46,440 | $75,359 |
| 2020-2021[9] | $40,842 | $48,440 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by theU.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result,proficiency levels are not comparable between different states andyear-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[10]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 52 | 55-59 | 35-39 | 43 | 20-29 | 54 | 58 |
| 2018-2019 | 71 | 85-89 | 55-59 | 66 | 40-59 | 69 | 76 |
| 2017-2018 | 73 | 80-84 | 60-64 | 68 | 40-49 | 73 | 77 |
| 2016-2017 | 70 | 75-79 | 57 | 64 | 40-49 | 75 | |
| 2015-2016 | 64 | 70-74 | 46 | 56 | 40-49 | 70 | |
| 2014-2015 | 60 | 65-69 | 39 | 53 | 30-39 | 65 | |
| 2013-2014 | 84 | 85-89 | 72 | 80 | 60-69 | 87 | |
| 2012-2013 | 84 | 90-94 | 73 | 80 | 70-79 | 87 | |
| 2011-2012 | 84 | 90-94 | 75 | 78 | 70-79 | 87 | |
| 2010-2011 | 85 | 90-94 | 80 | 81 | >=80 | 88 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 57 | 60-64 | 40-44 | 50 | 40-49 | 60 | 62 |
| 2018-2019 | 68 | 75-79 | 55-59 | 61 | 40-59 | 67 | 73 |
| 2017-2018 | 67 | 75-79 | 55-59 | 60 | 40-49 | 69 | 72 |
| 2016-2017 | 64 | 65-69 | 55 | 58 | 40-49 | 68 | |
| 2015-2016 | 60 | 65-69 | 45 | 52 | 30-39 | 66 | |
| 2014-2015 | 51 | 55-59 | 32 | 43 | 20-29 | 57 | |
| 2013-2014 | 92 | 90-94 | 86 | 90 | 70-79 | 94 | |
| 2012-2013 | 92 | 90-94 | 86 | 90 | 80-89 | 93 | |
| 2011-2012 | 92 | >=95 | 86 | 89 | >=90 | 94 | |
| 2010-2011 | 92 | 90-94 | 89 | 89 | >=80 | 94 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 89 | >=80 | >=90 | 88 | PS | 80-89 | 89 |
| 2018-2019 | 90 | >=90 | >=90 | 90 | >=50 | >=80 | 90 |
| 2017-2018 | 90 | >=80 | >=90 | 92 | PS | 80-89 | 89 |
| 2016-2017 | 92 | >=80 | >=90 | 90-94 | PS | 92 | |
| 2015-2016 | 94 | >=80 | >=90 | 90-94 | PS | 96 | |
| 2014-2015 | 91 | >=80 | >=90 | 85-89 | >=50 | 91 | |
| 2013-2014 | 86 | 60-79 | 80-89 | 80-84 | >=50 | 90 | |
| 2012-2013 | 88 | >=80 | >=90 | 85-89 | >=50 | 88 | |
| 2011-2012 | 92 | >=80 | >=90 | 90-94 | >=50 | 92 | |
| 2010-2011 | 91 | >=90 | >=90 | 85-89 | PS | 93 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 14,831 | 2.0 |
| 2022-2023 | 14,533 | 1.9 |
| 2021-2022 | 14,258 | 4.3 |
| 2020-2021 | 13,642 | -1.1 |
| 2019-2020 | 13,792 | 2.9 |
| 2018-2019 | 13,393 | 7.2 |
| 2017-2018 | 12,424 | -3.4 |
| 2016-2017 | 12,848 | 4.6 |
| 2015-2016 | 12,254 | 0.4 |
| 2014-2015 | 12,201 | 3.5 |
| 2013-2014 | 11,779 | 2.9 |
| 2012-2013 | 11,440 | 13.2 |
| 2011-2012 | 9,928 | -6.9 |
| 2010-2011 | 10,615 | 5.1 |
| 2009-2010 | 10,069 | 4.7 |
| 2008-2009 | 9,594 | 5.9 |
| 2007-2008 | 9,027 | 10.2 |
| 2006-2007 | 8,109 | 9.9 |
| 2005-2006 | 7,305 | 11.0 |
| 2004-2005 | 6,500 | 13.1 |
| 2003-2004 | 5,648 | 9.7 |
| 2002-2003 | 5,102 | 18.2 |
| 2001-2002 | 4,173 | 20.3 |
| 2000-2001 | 3,324 | 8.4 |
| 1999-2000 | 3,045 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Vail Unified School District (%) | Arizona K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.4 | 4.2 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.7 | 3.2 |
| Black | 3.9 | 5.8 |
| Hispanic | 39.0 | 48.2 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Two or More Races | 7.9 | 4.3 |
| White | 46.8 | 33.9 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere.
Staff
As of the 2023-2024 school year, Vail Unified School District had 819.80 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 18.09.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 14.80 |
| Kindergarten: | 37.50 |
| Elementary: | 401.45 |
| Secondary: | 366.05 |
| Total: | 819.80 |
Vail Unified School District employed 39.56 district administrators and 63.56 school administrators as of the 2023-2024 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 39.56 |
| District Administrative Support: | 74.44 |
| School Administrators: | 63.56 |
| School Administrative Support: | 70.78 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 423.15 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 3.00 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 31.41 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 11.20 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 20.21 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 33.03 |
| Library/Media Support: | 0.00 |
| Student Support Services: | 265.65 |
| Other Support Services: | 304.80 |
Schools
| SCHOOL NAME | NUMBER OF STUDENTS | GRADES |
|---|---|---|
| Acacia Elementary School | 734 | KG-5 |
| Andrada Polytechnic High School | 726 | 9-12 |
| Cienega High School | 1,872 | 9-12 |
| Civano Community K-8 School | 144 | KG-8 |
| Copper Ridge Elementary | 374 | PK-5 |
| Corona Foothills Middle School | 596 | 6-8 |
| Cottonwood Elementary School | 531 | KG-6 |
| Desert Sky Middle School | 761 | 6-8 |
| Desert Willow Elementary School | 759 | KG-5 |
| Empire High School | 888 | 9-12 |
| Esmond Station School | 739 | PK-8 |
| Mesquite Elementary School | 677 | KG-5 |
| Mica Mountain High | 1,306 | 9-12 |
| Ocotillo Ridge Elementary | 724 | PK-5 |
| Old Vail Middle School | 802 | 6-8 |
| Pantano High School | 98 | 9-12 |
| Pantano Middle School | 0 | |
| Rincon Vista Middle School | 714 | 6-8 |
| Senita Valley Elementary School | 710 | PK-8 |
| Sycamore Elementary School | 677 | KG-5 |
| Vail Academy & High School | 564 | KG-12 |
| Vail Blended Learning | 71 | 6-12 |
| Vail Inclusive Preschool | 279 | PK-PK |
| Vail Innovation Center | 85 | KG-12 |
Noteworthy events
2021: Recall effort against school board members fails to qualify for ballot
An effort to recall two of the five members of theVail Unified School District Governing Board inArizona did not go to a vote in 2021. Both recall petitions failed to qualify for the ballot.[11]
The effort began in April 2021. Board PresidentJon Aitken and ClerkClaudia Anderson were named in the recall petitions. To get the recalls on the ballot, recall supporters would have had to collect 4,364 signatures per board member by August 27, 2021.[12][13]
The recall effort started after parents and community members held protests over the school district's requirement to wear masks. After a protest led to the cancelation of a board meeting, Superintendent John Carruth said, "Providing education during this pandemic has produced an endless series of new challenges that must be overcome."[14]
Contact information
Vail Unified School District
13801 E. Benson Hwy. #B
Vail, AZ 85641
Phone: 520-879-2000
About school boards
Education legislation in Arizona
Bills are monitored byBillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| Arizona | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Vail Unified School District
- Arizona School Boards Association
- Arizona Department of Education
Footnotes
- ↑Vail School District, "Superintendent Calvin Baker to Retire after Nearly 33 Years Leading Vail — John Carruth Appointed as Next Superintendent," November 6, 2019
- ↑LinkedIn, "Calvin Baker," accessed November 5, 2019
- ↑Vail School District, "Board Members," accessed March 22, 2021
- ↑Arizona School Boards Association, "Vail Unified School District No. 20 Public Participation at Board Meetings," accessed May 18, 2021
- ↑Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑[https://www.vailschooldistrict.org/page/salary-guidesVail School District, "Vail School District #202024-2025 CERTIFIED SALARY GUIDE," accessed April 25, 2025]
- ↑Vail School District, "2023-2024 CERTIFIED SALARY GUIDE," accessed February 6, 2024
- ↑Vail School District, "Salary Guides," accessed May 5, 2021
- ↑U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
- ↑Pima County School Superintendent, "Recall Election Information," accessed August 30, 2021
- ↑Pima County School Superintendent, "Recall Election Information," accessed June 8, 2021
- ↑Vail Unified School District, "Board Members," accessed June 8, 2021
- ↑KOLD News 13, "Vail Superintendent responds to protest, urges parents to focus on what unites them," April 29, 2021
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