Private school in the Old Pueblo, paid for the Arizona way
Between the state ESA, tax-credit scholarships from Tucson's own STOs and school aid, most Pima County families have more options than they think. We track 87 local schools, 83 of them on at least one STO list.
ESA range, grades 1-12, 2025-26 (ADE estimate; the 2026-27 chart isn't posted yet). ADE sets each award from a charter-school funding formula, so two Tucson second graders can land at different points in this range; money arrives in four quarterly deposits, and disability categories carry much larger amounts.
Pima County schools on an STO list. Matched against each STO's published list in Oct 2026.
Original STO credit, married filing jointly. Tax year 2026, with gifts accepted through April 15, 2027.
ESA students statewide for 2026-27. ADE's count as of October 5, 2026.
One path at a time: a fourth grader at a Tucson parish school
The ESA and an STO scholarship can't both go to the same child in one year, so here's the ESA path on its own.
Illustrative tuition; confirm with your school. The alternative is STO aid instead of the ESA, never both for one child in the same year.
Where Tucson families find the money
Nine sources, from the state account to the diocese's STO to child care help for preschoolers. Each page says who qualifies and how to apply.
Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)
Arizona deposits state education money into an account the parent controls, which can pay private tuition, tutoring, curriculum and more.
Who qualifies →Tax credit · award variesSTO Scholarships from the Individual Tax Credits
Arizona taxpayers redirect part of their state income tax to School Tuition Organizations, which turn it into private-school scholarships.
Who qualifies →State ESA · higher amountsESA for Students with Disabilities
The original form of the ESA, with amounts tied to the disability category in a student's IEP, MET report or 504 plan.
Who qualifies →Catholic STO · need-basedArizona's Catholic Tuition Support Organization (CTSO)
The Diocese of Tucson's own School Tuition Organization, giving need-based scholarships at Catholic schools across southern Arizona.
Who qualifies →Corporate credit · income-testedCorporate STO Scholarships (Low-Income and Disabled/Displaced)
Arizona businesses can redirect corporate tax to STOs for two targeted scholarship pools: low-income students and students with disabilities or in foster care.
Who qualifies →School aidSchool-Based Tuition Assistance
Discounts and aid that schools fund themselves: parish rates, sibling discounts, staff discounts and need-based grants.
Who qualifies →All 9 funding sources What the ESA pays for ESA vs. STO calculator
Three situations we hear about most
A child with an IEP
Disability ESA amounts can run several times the base figure. See which local schools specialize and what the account pays for.
Special needs →ESA or STO?
Compare the two paths for your grade and tuition before you sign anything.
ESA calculator →Orders to Davis-Monthan
Military children have their own ESA category and qualify for more STO money.
Military guide →87 private schools across Pima County
Sorted by type and by part of town, with STO listings, federal enrollment records and the questions to ask each school.
Catholic Schools
Parish elementary schools of the Diocese of Tucson, from St. John the Evangelist on Ajo Way to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton near Shannon Road, plus the Catholic high schools: Salpointe, St. Augustine, San Miguel and Immaculate Heart.
15 schools →Christian Schools
Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, Adventist, Episcopal and nondenominational schools, along with classical Christian academies such as Veritas and Tucson Baptist, spread from the Thornydale corridor to Vail.
37 schools →Independent Schools
Schools with no religious affiliation: college-prep day schools near Craycroft and River Road, Waldorf and progressive elementary programs, small learning-differences schools and a handful of early-childhood centers.
32 schools →Special-Needs Schools
Tucson schools whose names or federal records point to autism support, behavior programs or learning differences, from Broadway Boulevard to Green Valley.
6 schools →Private High Schools
Every private school in our records that runs through grade 12: the four Catholic high schools, Christian K-12 campuses, The Gregory School and several small alternative programs.
17 schools →Preschool & Kindergarten Programs
Church preschools, early-childhood centers and stand-alone kindergartens whose highest grade is K or below, many on the northwest side and in Tanque Verde.
16 schools →By community: Central Tucson, the University & the West Side · Northwest Tucson, Oro Valley & Marana · Catalina Foothills & the East Side · South Side, Sahuarita, Green Valley & Vail
Partner with Tucson Edu Funding
If you run a Tucson school, church preschool or microschool, claim your listing so families with ESA or STO funding already in hand can find you.
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Read →Oct 8, 2026Pima Community College's New Dual-Enrollment Fee: What It Means for Tucson High Schoolers
Starting in 2027-28, Pima Community College will charge $10 per credit for dual-enrollment courses that are now free at participating high schools. How the change works, who it affects, and where the ESA fits.
Read →Oct 5, 2026TUSD Is Reimagining Its Schools. What Tucson Parents Weighing Private School Should Know
Tucson Unified is planning consolidations and grade changes after years of enrollment decline, and Amphitheater already closed four schools. Here's how the ESA, STO scholarships and Pima County private schools fit into a family's decision.
Read →See which Tucson funding sources fit your family
Answer a few quick questions and a School Funding Advisor will call you back with options for your child's grade and school. No obligation and no cost.