Education

Education is very important to the Davis-Monthan community. Whether it is career development, on-the-job training, personal education or ensuring your children get the best education possible, the base is here to assist you.

For professional military education and adult education, the base Education Center, located on 5355 E. Granite Street in Building 2441, is your first stop for education assistance. You may contact education counselors at 520-228-2645 or DSN 312-228-2645 or email 355FSS.FSDE.Education@us.af.mil 

There are nine major public-school districts in the Tucson area, with 110 schools in the Tucson Unified School District alone. There is one elementary school on the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base installation, Borman Elementary School. There is also a charter school on the installation, the Sonoran Science Academy, which offers classes from 6th through 12th grades. Sonoran Science Academy is a college prep charter school and has been recommended for full accreditation during the 2011-2012 school year. The school district websites list school test results for the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards for elementary, middle and high schools and warrant considerable observation. A wide range of scores exists across these districts. For questions regarding child education, please email the Child and Youth Education Services school liaison, Elizabeth (Betsy) Fleming, at elizabeth.fleming.1@us.af.mil, or visit her office in the Mission Support Group Building 3200, Room 116.

District Contact Information:

• Tucson Unified School District: 520-225-6000. Special Education (ages 3-5 years): 520-232-8314. Special Education (K-12): 520-225-6610.

• Vail School District: 520-879-2000. Special Education (ages 3-5 years): 520-879-2082. Special Education (K-12): 520-879-2052.

• Sahuarita Unified School District: 520-625-3502. Special Education: 520-625-3502, ext. 1011.

• Marana Unified School District: 520-682-3243. Special Education: 520-682-4782.

• Sunnyside Unified School District: 520-545-2000. Special Education (ages 3-5 years): 520-545-3670. Special Education (K-12): 520-545-2094.

• Catalina Foothills School District: 520-209-7500. Special Education: 520-209-7714.

• Amphitheater Unified School District: 520-696-5000. Special Education (ages 3-5 years): 520-696-6420. Special Education (K-12): 520-696-5230.

• Flowing Wells School District: 520-696-8801. Special Education: 520-696-8836.

• Tanque Verde School District: 520-749-5751. Special Education: 520-749-5751, ext. 202.

Registration Requirements

Bring the following documents at the time of registration:

• Student's original certificate of birth or certified copy

• Record of immunization (See additional information below.)

• Document of recent physical within one year of date of entry (applicable to middle/high school age children for participation in sports teams)

• Legal proof of residence (letter from housing, settlement or rental contract or utility bill)

• Individual Education Plan for a student with special needs/disability (It is best if evaluations are current within the last 12 months.)

• Legal documents (as needed, to include court custody, adoption or foster care)

• Records from previous school or the correct address for request of records (It is recommended that you hand carry records from the previous school.)

Please note that students entering kindergarten must have reached their fifth birthday on or before September 1 of the year in which they enroll.

Immunizations – Upon entry or transfer into a school setting, documented proof of immunization is required, as listed on the following website.

Bus service, meals, before- and after-school programs and school sports programs are conditioned on the choice of school and can be found at each individual school website. All public districts have these services available.

COVID-19 precautions are currently in place.

There are 11 major public school districts in the Tucson area. Located on base Borman Elementary School, grades K-5, is a traditional school in Tucson Unified School District and Sonoran Science Academy, a private (tuition-free) charter school, grades 6-12th. Palo Verde High School and Roberts Naylor K-8 school are the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) neighborhood school that also serve the educational needs. DMAFB students attend public, private, home school and charter schools throughout the Tucson area. Arizona allows open enrollment, meaning you can opt for your children to attend a different school if they have open slots outside of the Davis-Monthan AFB neighborhood schools. Please keep in mind you may be responsible for providing transportation if accepted under the Arizona open enrollment program. Contact the School Liaison (520) 228-6040 for additional information about educational options and opportunities.

Local schools are experiencing challenges due to COVID-19 precautions.

For children with special needs, such as those having any type of learning disability as well as falling on the autism spectrum, additional information about available programs may be obtained from each district's main office or website. For more information on Arizona Exceptional Student Services, please visit their website. You may also contact the Exceptional Family Member Program coordinator at 228-5690 for more information.

Virtual Learning

Several school districts provide virtual learning/distance learning opportunities for students. There are numerous charter schools that offer full-time online curriculum.

For a list of local virtual academies, contact the Child and Youth Education Services school liaison at 520-228-6040.

To obtain a copy of the affidavit and the full requirements for homeschooling in Arizona, visit the home school website.

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base hosts a homeschoolers group semi-monthly. Contact the school liaison for details.

Tucson Area Home-School Resources

Home-schooling is instruction provided at home by parents, tutors or home-school cooperatives. Parents should inform themselves completely about time commitments, curricula, relevant state laws and available resources. Keep in mind that mandatory requirements regarding home-schooling vary by state.

In Arizona, an Affidavit of Intent, stating that the child is home-schooled, must be filed with the county school superintendent within thirty days of the beginning of home instruction. The county school superintendent must be notified within thirty days of the termination of instruction of home school. Children between the ages of 6 and 16 are required to receive instruction in the state of Arizona.

Tucson-Area Private Schools

There are 40+ private schools in the Tucson area. Tuition varies from school to school. You can contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center for a list of area schools and contact numbers/websites.

Tucson-Area Charter Schools

Charter schools are public, nonsectarian schools which aim to provide educational innovation, improve academic achievement and establish a multicultural environment without regard to economic status. They operate as either non-profit or profit organizations and are independent of the local board of education. Charter schools are open to all students, but schools may impose class-size caps. Charter schools are required to provide for children with special needs. As mentioned in the introduction, the Sonoran Science Academy is located on the installation on Ironwood Street, next to the Mirage Club, and offers instruction to grades 6-9. The contact number for the school is 520-300-5699.

For a list of all area charter schools, their addresses, phone numbers and websites, you can contact the A&FRC.

Unique Opportunities

Magnet Schools

There are magnet programs available in Tucson. Tucson Unified School District offers eight magnet elementary schools, two magnet middle schools and seven magnet high schools.

Alternative Education

Each school district offers its own alternative education and can be found on the specific district's website as listed previously.

English Language Learners

For instruction in English as a second language, contact Pima County Adult Education Office at 520-740-8695.

Grading System

Most of the schools in Tucson are still using the standard grading system of A-F. However, many are moving toward a rubric system of grading from 4, 3, 2, 1.

Special-Needs Resources

Parent Information Network Specialists

Parent consultants with the Arizona Department of Education Exceptional Student Services serve every county in Arizona. PINS provide essential information for parents to actively participate in their child's special education. PINS offer training and resources to educators, college students, service providers, community agencies and parent organizations. PINS assist parents and community partners to understand the special education process and related issues. PINS are consultants who provide on-site and phone consultation, training, resources and information and referrals to support parents of special education students. PINS also assist educators and service providers to meet the needs of parents and encourage them to work with parents as equal partners.

For PINS in Pima and Santa Cruz counties, please call 520-572-0896.

Pilot Parents

Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona is committed to providing encouragement and support to families who have children with special needs so that their children can reach their maximum potential within the family and society. Pilot Parents is located at 2600 N. Wyatt Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85712. You can reach them by phone at 520-324-3152.

School Performance

Arizona uses a measure called AZ LEARNS to evaluate a school's individual progress. This rating ranges from underperforming to excelling. There are five measures used to determine an AZ LEARNS rating.