Maricopa County Schools

Access to education has a long history in Maricopa. The county is home to dozens of well-established education organizations, many of which back to the late 1900s. In recent decades Maricopa's public education system has developed into one of the most comprehensive and accessible in the nation, home to approximately 59 local school districts, hundreds of thousands of students. Maricopa County's post-secondary education system also offers a number of excellent colleges and universities, including Phoenix' Arizona State University, the nation's largest university in terms of enrollment.

Public schools in Maricopa County are overseen by the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools, and in turn the Arizona Department of Education. Under the guidance of the Superintendent, more than 700 schools throughout the county combine for higher than national average test scores, and one of the most progressive curriculums in the U.S., emphasizing technological proficiency, and a strong arts tradition.

Maricopa's independent education bodies include the Arizona Education Association, with its diverse membership of education system employees dating back to 1892, and the Arizona Educational Foundation, which strives to improve education by focusing resources from the private sector.

Maricopa County's booming economy is fueled in part by its healthy post-secondary education network, with includes more than a dozen colleges, one state universities, and several trades schools offering top research facilities amid the most modern learning environments.

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