(520) 555-0174
Home › Schools › Christian Schools › Catalina Foothills & the East Side
Christian Schools · Catalina Foothills & the East Side

Desert Christian School

Christian School for grades PK-12 in Tucson. On 5 STO school lists. Below you'll find how the main funding paths fit, what public records show and questions worth asking on a tour.

Where this comes from. School listings were checked on October 12, 2026. Enrollment and grades come from the U.S. Department of Education's Private School Survey (NCES, 2023-24 and 2021-22); STO listings come from the published school lists of Arizona School Tuition Organizations. CTSO's list was not part of our match. No public source shows tuition or which schools take ESA payments, so confirm both with the school.

How the funding fits

$4,718–$6,205
$7,105–$10,540
ESA ranges (2025-26 est.) for the grades served here (K, grades 1-12). Used instead of, not on top of, an STO scholarship.
5
STO lists that include this school (Oct 2026)
503
Students reported to the federal survey (2023-24)

Every Arizona student from kindergarten through 12th grade can open an Empowerment Scholarship Account. The latest ADE chart, labeled 2025-26 (ADE estimate; the 2026-27 chart isn't posted yet), puts the range for the grades Desert Christian School serves at $4,718–$6,205 (K) and $7,105–$10,540 (grades 1-12); where a student lands depends on grade and the public school they would otherwise attend. A qualified private school is paid from the account once it is set up as a ClassWallet vendor, and because the state keeps no list of those schools, ask Desert Christian School directly before you count on it.

Takes STO scholarships from: ACSTO, APESF, APSTO, IBE, School Choice Arizona (per each STO's published school list, Oct 2026). Each STO decides its own awards, so apply separately to each one and expect no guarantee. Keep in mind that STO aid is the alternative to the ESA: a parent who signs an ESA contract agrees not to take an STO scholarship for that child in the same year.

Preschoolers are enrolled here too. The universal ESA doesn't begin until kindergarten, so ask about the school's own preschool pricing and whether it takes DES child care assistance or Quality First scholarships.

Many Tucson church schools offer a member or congregation rate and see families supported by ACSTO, IBE and other STOs, so ask how the school combines its discounts with ESA or STO funding.

Check my funding for this school →

From the public records

According to the federal Private School Survey (2023-24), the school had 503 students, 47.6 full-time-equivalent teachers, a 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio and grades PK-12, with a Christian (no specific denomination) religious orientation.

Memberships/accreditation listed by: ACSI, Cognia. These come from the associations' public directories. A membership listing is not always the same as accreditation, so ask Desert Christian School for its current status.

Questions for your visit

  1. Is Desert Christian School set up as a ClassWallet vendor so ESA tuition can be paid directly?
  2. What does tuition cost for my child's grade, and which required fees can the ESA cover?
  3. Which STOs do your families apply to, including CTSO or IBE, and what are their dates?
  4. Do you offer member, parish, sibling or need-based discounts on the remaining balance?
  5. Do students take Pima Community College or other dual-enrollment courses, and which costs can the ESA pay?

Nearby schools with full profiles

We list 24 private schools in Catalina Foothills & the East Side, and 22 of them are on at least one STO school list.

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.

Start the funding check →