Phoenix Union High School District, Arizona
Phoenix Union High School District |
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Phoenix, Arizona |
District details |
Superintendent: Thea Andrade |
# of school board members: 7 |
Website: Link |
Phoenix Union High School District is a school district in Arizona.
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. Please contact us with any updates. |
Thea Andrade is the superintendent of the Phoenix Union High School District. Andrade was appointed superintendent in 2023. Andrade's previous career experience includes working various administrative roles in the district, including a chief achievement officer, executive director, and area supervisor. Prior to her time at PUHSD, she worked as a principal and a teacher.
Past superintendents
- Chad E. Gestson was the superintendent of the Phoenix Union High School District from 2015 until 2023. Gestson's previous career experience includes working as an elementary school assistant principal and a middle school principal.[2]
- Kent Scribner was the superintendent of the Phoenix Union High School District from 2008 to 2015.[3] Scribner's previous career experience included working as the superintendent of the Isaac School District #5 and as the executive director of the department of human resources for the Tempe Elementary School District.[4]
School board
The Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board consists of seven members elected to four-year terms. Five members are elected by district, and two members are elected at large.[5]
Office | Name | Date assumed office |
---|---|---|
Phoenix Union High School District, At-large | Aaron Marquez | January 1, 2021 |
Phoenix Union High School District, At-large | Francisco Pastor-Rivera | January 24, 2025 |
Phoenix Union High School District, Ward 1 | Jeremiah Cota | |
Phoenix Union High School District, Ward 2 | Signa Oliver | January 1, 2023 |
Phoenix Union High School District, Ward 3 | Debbie Cross | December 31, 2024 |
Phoenix Union High School District, Ward 4 | Ceyshe Napa | January 1, 2023 |
Phoenix Union High School District, Ward 5 | Lizette Mier | December 5, 2024 |
Elections
Board members are elected on a staggered basis in November of even-numbered years.
Two seats on the Phoenix Union High School District school board in Arizona were up for special general election on March 11, 2025.
The election was originally on the ballot on November 5, 2024, but the results for the two at-large seats were voided after election ballots were printed with an error in instructions. The redo election was rescheduled to be held on March 11, 2025, with the same candidates who appeared on the ballot in November.
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 Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[6]
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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. D. Any citizen who wishes to appear before the Board regarding an item on the agenda, as well as items not on the agenda, may have an opportunity to appear before the Board. Discussion shall be limited to three (3) minutes, unless the Governing Board President determines that a shorter time is necessary to expedite an orderly conduct of the meeting. In the event that an individual(s) or group(s) appear before the Board to present similar information that is repetitive or substantially repetitive from meeting to meeting, the chair may direct that the individual(s) or group(s) submit their concern(s) and/or information in writing for Governing Board review. E. 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. F. All presentations must be given in person. No electronic presentations will be allowed. 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.[7] |
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School board meetings
The following articles were produced by Citizen Portal using artificial intelligence to analyze public meetings. Citizen Portal publishes articles based on the availability of meeting broadcasts, so the number of articles provided may vary by district. Although these articles are not produced or edited by Ballotpedia, they are included here as a supplemental resource for readers.
District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[8]
SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
---|---|---|---|
Federal: | $55,296,000 | $2,045 | 13% |
Local: | $275,234,000 | $10,180 | 64% |
State: | $98,551,000 | $3,645 | 23% |
Total: | $429,081,000 | $15,870 |
TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
---|---|---|---|
Total Expenditures: | $399,894,000 | $14,790 | |
Total Current Expenditures: | $318,182,000 | $11,768 | |
Instructional Expenditures: | $161,387,000 | $5,969 | 40% |
Student and Staff Support: | $53,441,000 | $1,976 | 13% |
Administration: | $47,681,000 | $1,763 | 12% |
Operations, Food Service, Other: | $55,673,000 | $2,059 | 14% |
Total Capital Outlay: | $59,942,000 | $2,217 | |
Construction: | $32,418,000 | $1,199 | |
Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $607,000 | $22 | |
Interest on Debt: | $16,583,000 | $613 |
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[9] | $53,000 | $95,130 |
2023-2024[10] | $52,200 | $93,694 |
2021-2022[11] | $47,017 | $86,882 |
2020-2021[12] | $46,551 | $86,022 |
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 the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[13]
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 | 10 | 25-29 | 7 | 10 | <=5 | 15-19 | 15-19 |
2018-2019 | 37 | 55-59 | 20 | 38 | 35-39 | 35-39 | 45-49 |
2017-2018 | 38 | 40-44 | 26 | 38 | 35-39 | 35-39 | 55-59 |
2016-2017 | 30 | 40-44 | 19 | 31 | 30-34 | 35-39 | |
2015-2016 | 13 | 20-24 | 10 | 13 | 6-9 | 25-29 | |
2014-2015 | 33 | 40-44 | 25 | 33 | 35-39 | 35-39 | |
2013-2014 | 51 | 55-59 | 39 | 52 | 45-49 | 56 | |
2012-2013 | 50 | 45-49 | 42 | 50 | 45-49 | 60 | |
2011-2012 | 49 | 45-49 | 42 | 50 | 45-49 | 60 | |
2010-2011 | 47 | 50-54 | 37 | 47 | 50-54 | 56 |
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 | 15 | 20-29 | 12 | 14 | 6-9 | 20-29 | 25-29 |
2018-2019 | 33 | 45-49 | 25 | 33 | 25-29 | 40-44 | 50-54 |
2017-2018 | 30 | 40-44 | 21 | 29 | 25-29 | 40-44 | 50-54 |
2016-2017 | 23 | 35-39 | 17 | 22 | 20-24 | 35-39 | |
2015-2016 | 20 | 30-34 | 15 | 19 | 10-14 | 35-39 | |
2014-2015 | 47 | 40-44 | 46 | 46 | 50-54 | 55-59 | |
2013-2014 | 79 | 65-69 | 69 | 80 | 70-74 | 82 | |
2012-2013 | 76 | 50-54 | 68 | 77 | 70-74 | 82 | |
2011-2012 | 71 | 45-49 | 64 | 72 | 70-74 | 75 | |
2010-2011 | 66 | 50-54 | 61 | 67 | 70-74 | 75 |
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 | 81 | 90-94 | 79 | 82 | 75-79 | 75-79 | 74 |
2018-2019 | 80 | 75-79 | 76 | 81 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 70-74 |
2017-2018 | 82 | 80-84 | 79 | 83 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 |
2016-2017 | 83 | 75-79 | 85 | 84 | 70-74 | 75-79 | |
2015-2016 | 84 | 75-79 | 80 | 85 | 60-64 | 75-79 | |
2014-2015 | 79 | 70-74 | 76 | 81 | 65-69 | 72 | |
2013-2014 | 76 | 55-59 | 72 | 78 | 60-64 | 76 | |
2012-2013 | 74 | 60-64 | 72 | 76 | 70-74 | 71 | |
2011-2012 | 75 | 65-69 | 76 | 77 | 70-74 | 76 | |
2010-2011 | 79 | 70-74 | 78 | 80 | 70-74 | 79 |
Students
Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
---|---|---|
2022-2023 | 27,900 | 0.0 |
2021-2022 | 27,890 | 3.1 |
2020-2021 | 27,037 | -2.1 |
2019-2020 | 27,603 | 0.1 |
2018-2019 | 27,573 | 1.1 |
2017-2018 | 27,268 | -0.6 |
2016-2017 | 27,423 | 1.1 |
2015-2016 | 27,109 | 0.8 |
2014-2015 | 26,900 | 1.2 |
2013-2014 | 26,582 | 2.7 |
2012-2013 | 25,854 | -0.1 |
2011-2012 | 25,881 | 3.6 |
2010-2011 | 24,949 | -1.0 |
2009-2010 | 25,187 | -0.5 |
2008-2009 | 25,305 | -4.7 |
2007-2008 | 26,483 | 2.8 |
2006-2007 | 25,733 | 2.8 |
2005-2006 | 25,010 | 0.9 |
2004-2005 | 24,776 | 3.2 |
2003-2004 | 23,989 | 1.6 |
2002-2003 | 23,616 | 3.5 |
2001-2002 | 22,779 | 2.6 |
2000-2001 | 22,192 | 2.1 |
1999-2000 | 21,726 | 0.0 |
RACE | Phoenix Union High School District (%) | Arizona K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
---|---|---|
American Indian/Alaska Native | 2.3 | 4.2 |
Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.3 | 3.1 |
Black | 9.4 | 5.7 |
Hispanic | 81.3 | 47.6 |
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.3 | 0.4 |
Two or More Races | 1.5 | 4.2 |
White | 4.0 | 34.9 |
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 census here.
Staff
As of the 2022-2023 school year, Phoenix Union High School District had 1,448.44 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 19.26.
TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
---|---|
Prekindergarten: | 0.00 |
Kindergarten: | 0.00 |
Elementary: | 0.00 |
Secondary: | 1,448.44 |
Total: | 1,448.44 |
Phoenix Union High School District employed 29.00 district administrators and 72.00 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.
TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
---|---|
District Administrators: | 29.00 |
District Administrative Support: | 125.00 |
School Administrators: | 72.00 |
School Administrative Support: | 163.00 |
TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
---|---|
Instructional Aides: | 220.78 |
Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 30.00 |
Total Guidance Counselors: | 97.00 |
Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 97.00 |
Librarians/Media Specialists: | 14.00 |
Library/Media Support: | 0.00 |
Student Support Services: | 344.01 |
Other Support Services: | 544.36 |
Schools
Contact information
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Phoenix Union High School District
4502 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 602-764-1100
About school boards
Education legislation in Arizona
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
Arizona | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Phoenix Union High School District
- Arizona School Boards Association
- Arizona Department of Education
Footnotes
- ↑ Phoenix Union, "Administrative Team," accessed December 5, 2023
- ↑ Phoenix Union, "Administrative Team," accessed March 31, 2021
- ↑ KTAR News, "Stanton calls resignation of PUHSD superintendent ‘a great loss,'" August 13, 2015
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Kent P. Scribner," accessed October 7, 2019
- ↑ Phoenix Union, "Governing Board," accessed March 17, 2021
- ↑ Arizona School Boards Association, "Phoenix Union High School District No. 210 Public Participation at Board Meetings," accessed April 18, 2025
- ↑ 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 June 17, 2024
- ↑ Phoenix Union, "Certified Staff Salary Schedule (209 Days) - 2024-2025 School Year," accessed April 18, 2025
- ↑ Phoenix Union, "Certified Staff Salary Schedule (209 Days)," accessed February 6, 2024
- ↑ Phoenix Union, "Certified Staff Salary Schedule," accessed May 4, 2021
- ↑ Phoenix Union, "Certified Staff Salary Schedule," accessed May 4, 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
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