Private school in the Valley, paid for
Every Arizona K-12 student can apply for an ESA, and dozens of STOs offer tax-credit scholarships as another route, but not both for the same child in the same year. We lay out the choice and list 323 Valley schools, 253 of them on STO lists.
ESA range, grades 1-12, 2025-26 (ADE estimate; the 2026-27 chart isn't posted yet). ADE works out each child's figure from the charter-school funding formula, pays it in four quarterly deposits, and sets far higher figures for most disability categories.
Valley schools on an STO list. Out of 323 in our directory, matched to 11 STOs' published lists (Oct 2026).
Diocese of Phoenix schools. Parish elementary and Catholic high schools on the diocese's list.
ESA students statewide. Enrolled for 2026-27 as of Oct 5, 2026, per ADE; renewals are still coming in.
One child, one path: a parish school example
A Gilbert family picks the ESA for a fourth-grader at a parish school. Here is how the range falls against an illustrative tuition.
Illustrative. Because the family chose the ESA, this child takes no STO scholarship this year; a sibling could take the STO path instead. Confirm tuition with the school and the amount in your ADE award letter.
Where Valley families find the money
The ESA and STO scholarships do the heavy lifting. Parish rates, corporate scholarships and child-care help fill in around them.
Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)
A state-funded account, open to every Arizona K-12 student, that pays private tuition and other approved costs through ClassWallet.
Who qualifies →Tax credit · up to $1,570 per coupleSTO Tax-Credit Scholarships (Original Individual Credit)
Scholarships paid by School Tuition Organizations from Arizonans' state income-tax credits, awarded to students at the STO's listed schools.
Who qualifies →Tax credit · up to $1,561 per coupleSwitcher ("PLUS") STO Scholarships
A second Arizona tax credit, open to donors who have already maxed out the original credit, that funds scholarships for students switching into private school.
Who qualifies →State ESA · higher amountsESA for Students with Disabilities
The same ESA, paid at a higher rate set by the disability category in a child's IEP, MET report or 504 plan.
Who qualifies →Diocese of Phoenix STOCatholic Education Arizona Scholarships
The School Tuition Organization for the Diocese of Phoenix's Catholic schools, with need-based scholarships applied for through FACTS.
Who qualifies →Pre-K · income-basedPreschool & Child Care Assistance
DES child care assistance, First Things First Quality First scholarships and Maricopa County Head Start, for the years before the ESA starts.
Who qualifies →All 10 funding sources What the ESA pays for ESA vs. STO calculator
Three things Phoenix parents ask us first
My child has autism or an IEP
Disability ESAs can be several times the base amount, and the Valley has specialist schools from Goodyear to Gilbert.
Special-needs schools →ESA or STO for us?
Put the two paths side by side for your grade, tuition and number of children.
ESA vs. STO calculator →We live out in Queen Creek or San Tan Valley
The fastest ESA growth in the state is here; microschools often fill the gap where campuses are scarce.
East Valley microschools →323 private schools across the Valley
Search by community, type and STO list. 194 schools have a full profile built from federal and STO records.
Catholic Schools
Parish elementary schools run under the Diocese of Phoenix, plus Valley Catholic high schools such as Brophy, Xavier, Seton and Bourgade.
45 schools →Christian Schools
Lutheran, Adventist, Episcopal, Baptist, nondenominational and classical Christian campuses, from small church K-8s in Glendale to multi-campus systems in Gilbert and Scottsdale.
100 schools →Independent Schools
Secular private schools: college-prep day schools in Paradise Valley and Arcadia, bilingual and international schools, gifted programs and small specialty academies.
162 schools →Montessori Schools
Montessori programs from Mesa to Peoria, many of which start at age 3 and run through elementary or middle school.
41 schools →Special-Needs Schools
Valley schools built around autism, learning disabilities, hearing or vision loss and therapeutic support, several with campuses in two or three suburbs.
42 schools →Private High Schools
Catholic prep schools, Christian high schools, Torah high schools and small college-prep or therapeutic high schools across the metro.
91 schools →Jewish & Islamic Schools
Jewish day schools and yeshivas in central and north Phoenix and Scottsdale, and Islamic academies in south Phoenix, Tempe and Glendale.
16 schools →Preschool & Kindergarten Programs
Church preschools, Montessori children's houses and early-learning centers whose top grade is kindergarten or below.
57 schools →By community: Central Phoenix · North Phoenix, Cave Creek & Anthem · South Phoenix, Laveen & Ahwatukee · Scottsdale, Paradise Valley & Fountain Hills · Tempe & Chandler · Mesa & Apache Junction · Gilbert, Queen Creek & San Tan Valley · Glendale, Peoria & Surprise · Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye & the West Valley · Pinal County
Partner with Phoenix Edu Funding
Run a school, parish or microschool in Maricopa or Pinal County? Make sure ESA and STO families can find you.
From the Phoenix Edu Funding blog
Dual enrollment for Valley private-school teens: what Maricopa Community Colleges charges and how the ESA can pay
How dual enrollment works across the ten Maricopa Community Colleges, what it costs per credit, and how Phoenix-area ESA families can use the account for college classes in high school.
Read →Oct 8, 2026ESA or Catholic Education Arizona? How Diocese of Phoenix families make the one-or-the-other choice
The Diocese of Phoenix tells families to choose the ESA or STO scholarships for each child each year. What the rule means at parish K-8s and Catholic high schools, and how Catholic Education Arizona aid works.
Read →Oct 5, 2026Why Queen Creek, San Tan Valley and Maricopa lead Arizona's ESA growth, and what it means for families there
News coverage of ADE data puts Queen Creek, San Tan Valley and the city of Maricopa at the top of Arizona's ESA growth. What the numbers show and what southeast Valley families should do next.
Read →See which path fits your child
Answer a few questions about grade, school and area, and a School Funding Advisor will call to walk through the ESA, STO and other options for your family. There is no charge.