PHX Reporter

There were 55 American Indian or Alaskan Native students enrolled in Union Elementary District schools in the 2022-23 school year, 19.6% more than the previous year, according to the Arizona Department of Education.

Data showed that Union Elementary District welcomed 1,684 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, American Indian or Alaskan Native students comprised 3.3% of the student body to be the second least represented ethnicity in the district.

Union Elementary District roughly covers schools within Maricopa County and has a main office in Tolleson.

Among the three schools in Union Elementary District, Dos Rios Elementary School recorded the highest enrollment of American Indian or Alaskan Native students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 30 students.

A 2023 study from Scholaroo.com ranked Arizona last out of all U.S. states in terms of educational success, giving the state poor markets for school quality, student success, and teacher-to-student ratio.

In 2022 Arizona had roughly one teacher for every 19 students, compared to the national average of one teacher for 16 students. Teachers handling a higher number of students was found to have negative consequences for students’ school performance.

Year	Total District Enrollment	Total American Indian or Alaskan Native Students	American Indian or Alaskan Native %
2021	1,638	41	2.5%
2022	1,698	46	2.7%
2023	1,684	55	3.3%