Why the Valley is the center of the program
The ESA is a statewide program, but the Phoenix suburbs are where it has grown fastest. Reporting on ADE data in early 2026 found that four of the five ZIP codes adding the most ESA students were in Queen Creek and San Tan Valley, and that Queen Creek, the city of Maricopa, Buckeye, Goodyear and Surprise led annual growth. Dysart Unified, which serves much of the Luke Air Force Base area, and Queen Creek Unified were among the districts with the largest share of students leaving for the account. In other words, if you live in the East Valley or the far West Valley, many of your neighbors already have one.
Who can apply and what you need
Any Arizona child eligible for kindergarten through grade 12 qualifies; a kindergartner must be five by January 1 of the contract year. You do not need to have attended a public school, and income is not considered. ADE asks for a full-color birth certificate and proof of a physical Arizona address, such as a utility bill from the last 60 days; a P.O. box will not do. You can apply while your child is still in a district school, but you must withdraw before the first deposit. Apply at ADE's ESA portal any time of year, and remember that an application finished after March 31 starts on or after July 1.
How much the account holds
ADE's newest posted chart, labeled 2025-26 (ADE estimate; the 2026-27 chart isn't posted yet), shows $4,718–$6,205 for kindergarten and $7,105–$10,540 for grades 1-12 for a student without a disability, with small add-ons for K-3 and English learners. The chart is a range because the formula is tied to what a charter school would receive for that child. The 2026-27 chart has not been posted, so plan with the range and confirm your child's number in your award letter. Students with disabilities receive considerably more; see our special-needs guide.
Paying a Valley school through ClassWallet
Private schools that serve many ESA families typically register as ClassWallet vendors so they can bill the account directly. Your part is to confirm the school is set up, approve the invoice, and keep enough balance in the account when the bill arrives. Because deposits come quarterly and some schools bill a full year or semester at enrollment, ask the business office whether it will bill quarter by quarter. Arizona does not publish a list of schools that take ESA payments, so never assume; call and ask.
The ESA or an STO scholarship, not both
Every ESA parent signs a contract each year promising not to accept a School Tuition Organization scholarship for that child that year. For most Valley elementary schools the ESA is the larger number. At a high-tuition high school, or for a family with a long STO history, the comparison can go the other way. You make the call child by child: one sibling can use the ESA while another keeps STO scholarships. Our calculator puts the two paths side by side.
Using leftover money
If tuition at a parish school or small Christian academy is below your award, the unspent part rolls forward in the account. Valley families use it for tutoring, curriculum, AP and college-entrance exam fees, required uniforms bought through the school, and dual-enrollment tuition at Maricopa Community Colleges for older students. Spending is checked, and the auto-approval of small reimbursements does not make an unallowed purchase allowed, so read the handbook rules before you buy.
Next step
Ready to find out which funding fits? Take the short funding check and a School Funding Advisor will call to go over the ESA, STO and school-aid options for your child, with the dates that matter.