Prescott Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Clark Tenney has taken the public position that Prescott Unified School District is “in the top tier” of Arizona schools. At the same time, district leadership is preparing to place another bond and override measure on the next ballot.
Before taxpayers are asked to shoulder more debt, we must face the facts.
Enrollment Decline
Graph: Prescott Unified enrollment has dropped by over 1,200 students in the past decade, with further decline expected in the October 2025 census
Enrollment has steadily dropped. In 2012, PUSD had 5,160 students. In 2016, there were 4,301 students. By 2024, only 3,881 students were enrolled. (Source: Arizona Department of Education, AZ Report Cards – Prescott Unified District )
The 2025 census, taken in October has not yet been released. But given the waiting lists at Prescott’s top charter schools and parochial schools like Trinity Christian, we shouldn’t expect much good news on enrollment. Parents, including growing numbers of homeschool families, are voting with their feet.
Demographics Matter
Arizona’s student population is roughly 46% Hispanic, 42% White, 5% Black, and 4% Asian. Prescott Unified is 70% White, 20% Hispanic, 2% Black, and 2% Asian.
This skew makes PUSD look stronger than it is. White students consistently outperform Hispanics and Blacks on state proficiency tests. The disparities are stunning. Asians consistently outperform all other groups, especially in math. These patterns have been consistent over many years of testing. But the real story is the low performance of all district school students, both at PUSD and across the state. When compared to similar demographics statewide, Prescott’s performance is mediocre.
Achievement Gaps
Proficiency rates tell the story: White students: ~40% ELA (English Language Arts), ~37% Math, meaning over half are below grade level; Hispanic students: ~28% ELA, ~25% Math; African American students: ~20% ELA, ~15% Math, and Asian students: ~44% ELA, ~63% Math.
The Asian subgroup proves that money is not the answer. Success comes from rigorous instruction and high expectations, not bigger budgets.
You can’t only brag about the top students and ignore the fact that over half of our kids are below grade‑level proficiency. ‘Every Child, Every Day’ must mean all children — not just the most successful.
Spending Without Results
Taxpayers are still repaying the $15 million bond from 2015 (https://www.prescottschools.com/family-community/2015-bond-override).
Millions in COVID relief (ESSER I, II, III) and state post-COVID recovery funds were spent, yet achievement gaps remain.
The Auditor General’s FY 2024 report shows that instructional spending statewide fell to 52.6% – the lowest since 2001. (https://www.azauditor.gov/arizona-school-district-spending-fiscal-year-2024-analysis-and-data-file).
PUSD spends only 55% on instruction, down from 62.6% in 2003.
More money, more raises, more debt — no improvement.
Certified Teachers vs. Results
PUSD prides itself on only hiring certified teachers. Yet charter, private, parochial and home schools—often taught by subject matter experts or parents without certification—consistently outperform PUSD. Parents have every right to ask, what is the value of a teaching certificate if it doesn’t lead to competence in the classroom?
Stop Celebrating Mediocrity
District leaders may argue a new override or bond would cost “less than $10 per month.” That figure is extremely conservative. The true burden will be far higher once interest and long‑term obligations are factored in.
A school system where more than half the kids are below proficiency deserves neither our trust nor our money.
The Arizona Miracle
Mississippi proved reform is possible. Through phonics‑based instruction, strict third‑grade reading standards, and teacher coaching, it transformed outcomes — the “Mississippi Miracle”.
Arizona can have its own miracle. Not through more overrides and bonds, but through accountability, transparency, and evidence‑based teaching.
Conclusion
The economic and cultural life of our community depends on an educated workforce. We all want our young people to thrive and prosper. Your humble author submits that it’s going to take more than money to create the education system they deserve.
+ Reader comments are invited.
Sources: Arizona Auditor General, Arizona Department of Education AZ Report Cards, Nation’s Report Card (NAEP), Arizona MAP Dashboard, Prescott Unified School District Bond & Override, The Conversation (Mississippi Miracle).
8 thoughts on “Prescott Needs Accountability Before More Debt – Linda Conn”
Anyone remember Red for Ed? In the last few years Arizona has dramatically increased education spending. No improvement in student outcomes. In PV and Chino, parents revolted and elected conservative members to their school boards. We’re still waiting for the PUSD governing board to start working for parents instead of shilling for the education establishment.
Here we go again—the education money grab. For years the United States has been the top spender in the world on public education.
But our student scores on international tests place us way down the list. Even countries like Poland and Russia have better schools than the United States.
PUSD is down to five schools. Why not just convert our district schools to charters and be done with school bonds and budget overrides forever?
An excellent article that documents and exposes that the Prescott Unified School District answer to low student performance and lower student enrollment is to throw more money at an under performing system.
As a former teacher, I couldn’t agree more with Ms. Conn. Its well established that spending on public schools is unrelated to student outcomes.
The top spending districts in the country have some of the worst schools.
States like Idaho that spend the least have the top schools. Student outcomes are strongly correlated with family values and ethnicity, not spending.
The schools are coddling the children too much. These kids don’t want to learn because they have the thinking that they don’t have to do anything they don’t want to do. I was taught that before I step out into the street I stop, look and listen but not so today. The school buses now have big stop signs telling all motorists to stop while the kids stand around in the street on their cell phones. They even have attendants on the school buses because the kids are so unruly. To me if a kid doesn’t want to learn then fine, just hold them back a year. We are raising a generation of spoiled ignorant kids and they parents don’t really care because they are too self absorbed with themselves!
It’s time to hack out entire layers of useless money-grabbing bureaucrats in the public education system, not just in Prescott, but all over the US.
Assistant/Vice Principal? We don’t need no stinking Assistant/Vice Principal!
After spending 21 years on a Board of Education, I consistently opposed the growth of administrators. With declining enrollment and the creation of the state lottery the problem still was not solved. Liberal board members continued to throw dollars into worthless “Programs” and ineffective administrators. Board members must have the courage to down-size the administration and put the money directly into the classrooms and “teaching” staff! Here’s a novel approach, tie salary improvements to student performance!
What we all need is for all of the old timers with their old thinking to move on and out to be replaced by new fresh blood with the brains to think past the end of their noses. Everything the city does has caused only more problems, no long term thinking at all. Traffic, hotels, streets, congestion, parking, water, you name it, all bad thinking.
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