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School district · Arizona · LEAID 0400082

Colorado River Union High School District (4381)

Colorado River Union High School District (4381) sits in the lowest third of Arizona districts on estimated teacher pay at $44,473 (above only 1% of in-state peers with reliable estimates). Per-pupil spending, enrollment, and budget for Colorado River Union High School District (4381) come from the NCES Common Core of Data F-33 finance survey (FY2023).

$44,473
Est. avg teacher salary

Well below benchmark

$11,929
Per-pupil spending
1,906
Students enrolled
1st
Pct. in AZ
$44,473

Colorado River Union High School District (4381) sits in the lowest third of Arizona districts on estimated teacher pay at $44,473 (above only 1% of in-state peers with reliable estimates). Estimated average teacher salary is $44,473, below the national average of $70,245, serving 1,906 students (NCES CCD F-33, FY2023).

  • Lower-third pay in state: Colorado River Union High School District (4381) sits in the lowest third of Arizona districts on estimated teacher pay at $44,473 (above only 1% of in-state peers with reliable estimates).
  • 1st percentile for Arizona
  • 4th percentile nationally
  • 27% of spending reaches instructional salaries
  • Arizona ranks #29 of 49 on the salary estimate and #16 of 49 on enrollment in the same reliable-district pool.
  • Colorado River Union High School District (4381) ranks #150 of 152 Arizona districts by estimated teacher salary and #126 of 152 by per-pupil spending. Safford Unified District (4218) pay #1 at $99,366 is not Red Mesa Unified District (4159) spending #1 at $38,950 per pupil
  • +33.7% estimated-basis panel FY2019→FY2023 (not applied to the FTE figure above)

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Instructional payroll mix vs Arizona median

Among 213 Arizona districts that break out F-33 program salary totals, Colorado River Union High School District (4381)'s instructional payroll puts 11.1% into vocational programs , 9.4 points above the state median of 1.7%. That heavier vocational share usually means career/technical programs claim more of the teacher-salary pool than at a typical Arizona peer.

Program Colorado River AZ median Gap
Regular program 80.9% 84.0% -3.1 pp
Special education 7.1% 10.8% -3.7 pp
Vocational programs 11.1% 1.7% +9.4 pp
Other programs 0.9% 0.0% +0.9 pp

Shares are of this district's reported F-33 teacher-salary program totals (Z35–Z38), compared with the median share across 213 in-state peers with a positive program sum. NCES LEAID 0400082 · FY2023.

LEAID 0400082 · NCES CCD F-33 FY2023

Colorado River F-33 compensation desk

SALARY-LOW -30% vs state RANK-ST-LOW P1 in state RANK-NAT-LOW P4 national PPE-LOW $12K/pupil ENR-SMALL 1,906 students INSTR-LOW 27% instr BASIS-EST Enroll-estimated PHOTO-NEAR Near Sahuarita FY-2023-LIGHT FY2023 book

FY2023: $44,473 estimated average teacher salary · P1 in Arizona · P4 nationally · 27% instructional salary share. Nearest salary peer: Sahuarita (+$3,005est. salary).

Salary neighbourhood chart for Colorado River

Salary neighbourhood · Colorado River

Colorado River trails most of its in-state peer set; the chart plots it against the top and bottom pay poles for context (NCES F-33 FY2023, not a full state reprint).

est. salary
Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey As of FY2023
Appropriate use & corrections
National salary distribution for Colorado River

Colorado River Union High School District (4381)'s estimated salary vs. every US district

NCES F-33 estimate, reliable-salary districts only

$44,473 4th percentile higher than 4% of 10,684 US districts

Show national distribution $30,000–$40,000: 155 US districts (1%). Below this entry. $40,000–$50,000: 1,360 US districts (13%). This entry sits in this band. $50,000–$60,000: 2,382 US districts (22%). Above this entry. $60,000–$70,000: 2,402 US districts (22%). Above this entry. $70,000–$80,000: 1,633 US districts (15%). Above this entry. $80,000–$90,000: 1,097 US districts (10%). Above this entry. $90,000–$100,000: 662 US districts (6%). Above this entry. $100,000–$110,000: 371 US districts (3%). Above this entry. $110,000–$120,000: 249 US districts (2%). Above this entry. $120,000–$130,000: 156 US districts (1%). Above this entry. $130,000–$140,000: 112 US districts (1%). Above this entry. $140,000–$150,000: 57 US districts (1%). Above this entry. $150,000–$160,000: 25 US districts (0%). Above this entry. $160,000–$170,000: 13 US districts (0%). Above this entry. $170,000–$180,000: 10 US districts (0%). Above this entry. $180,000–$190,000: 0 US districts (0%). Above this entry. This district $30,000 $190,000 every reliable-salary US district, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $10K-wide band; taller bars hold more US districts. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, FY2023 · FY2023

Colorado River in Arizona's lower-third pay band

Same 152 districts with a usable salary and a comparable per-pupil figure (NCES F-33 FY2023)

est. avg salary

What this shows Colorado River Union High School District (4381) ranks #150 of 152 Arizona districts by estimated teacher salary and #126 of 152 by per-pupil spending. Safford Unified District (4218) pay #1 at $99,366 is not Red Mesa Unified District (4159) spending #1 at $38,950 per pupil

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, FY2023 As of FY2023

The same districts by per-pupil spending

Colorado River Union High School District (4381) is marked; a high spending bar is not a high pay bar

per pupil

What this shows Red Mesa Unified District (4159) leads spending at $38,950 per pupil; Safford Unified District (4218) leads pay.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, FY2023 As of FY2023

What stands out about Colorado River Union High School District (4381)

  • It ranks in the bottom 5% nationally for estimated teacher pay, above only 4% of districts.
  • Estimated teacher pay here rose +33.7% between FY2019 and FY2023, outpacing Arizona's statewide +25.8% by 7.9 points, a growth rate faster than 74% of the 199 Arizona districts with a comparable FY2019 baseline.

Arizona sits close to national prices

Nominal district estimate
$44,472.718

The FY2023 salary estimate shown in the hero.

Arizona price level
100.7 / 100

BEA all-items regional price parity; 100 is the U.S. average.

National-price equivalent
$44,145

-1% versus the nominal figure.

Prices in Arizona sit close to the national average, so the nominal and national-price figures tell nearly the same story here. That is not true in the most and least expensive states.

Regional price parity: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2023 all-items RPP by state. The adjustment applies a statewide index to a district figure, so it captures how Arizona compares nationally, not how this district compares with others in its own state. Compare every state on this basis.

How this salary figure is calculated
Full NCES reading for Colorado River Union High School District (4381)

What the Numbers Say About Colorado River Union High School District (4381)

Colorado River Union High School District (4381) is a small school district in Arizona, serving 1,906 students at an estimated per-pupil spending of $11,929. Estimated average teacher salary, derived from reported teacher salary expenditure (F-33 items Z35-Z38) divided by teacher FTE, is $44,473, placing the district in the lower-spending tier of NCES F-33 respondents. NCES LEAID 0400082 references the FY2023 Common Core of Data Local Education Agency Finance Survey.

Relative to the Arizona statewide average of $63,921, teacher pay in Colorado River Union High School District (4381) runs materially below the state benchmark, a 30.4% gap, and below the national instructional-salary estimate of $70,245 (36.7% differential). Among enrolling districts in Arizona, it pays more than 1% of them. Arizona itself ranks #29 of 49 nationally on average teacher compensation, which shapes the funding ceiling districts operate under.

On the budget side, Colorado River Union High School District (4381) reports $22.7M in total expenditure against $27.1M in revenue, with instructional salaries accounting for 27% of spending, a compensation-to-budget ratio that signals how much of each tax dollar reaches classroom educators. Regular-program teacher salary outlay is $4.6M, special-education teacher pay is $0.4M.

How does Colorado River Union High School District (4381) compare?

Estimated average teacher salary versus a peer district, the Arizona average, and the national average. Pick any in-state district to compare.

Colorado River Union High School District (4381) $44,473
Mesa Unified District (4235) $67,420
Arizona avg $63,921
National avg $70,245

Colorado River Union High School District (4381) pays -34.0% less than Mesa Unified District (4235) · per-pupil $11,929 vs $14,903

Derived from NCES F-33 teacher salary expenditure (Z35-Z38) and CCD Staff Universe teacher FTE (FY2023); a small minority use the documented fallback. Unreliable service entities are excluded.

Data-derived comparison paths

Find comparable Arizona districts

On pay, Colorado River Union High School District (4381) sits closest to Sahuarita Unified District (4411); on per-pupil investment, its nearest match is Globe Unified District (4208). These are not simply nearby districts: each group is selected from the same NCES FY2023 dataset using a matching salary or per-pupil-investment signal and a comparable enrollment range.

Closest on estimated pay
  1. Sahuarita Unified District (4411)
  2. Buckeye Elementary District (4269)
  3. Heber-Overgaard Unified District (4392)
  4. Benson Unified School District (79226)
  5. Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District (4487)
  6. Prescott Unified District (4466)
  7. Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410)
  8. Payson Unified District (4209)
  9. Mayer Unified School District (4473)
  10. Fountain Hills Unified District (4247)
  11. Riverside Elementary District (4257)
Closest on per-pupil investment
  1. Globe Unified District (4208)
  2. Avondale Elementary District (4272)
  3. Buckeye Elementary District (4269)
  4. Union Elementary District (4277)
  5. Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410)
  6. Crane Elementary District (4501)
  7. Prescott Unified District (4466)
  8. Fowler Elementary District (4273)
  9. Sierra Vista Unified District (4175)
  10. Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District (4487)
  11. Cave Creek Unified District (4244)

Similar estimated teacher pay

Similar per-pupil investment

Out-of-state districts near Colorado River Union High School District (4381)'s smaller enrollment

Two out-of-state peer sets for Colorado River Union High School District (4381): closest on enrollment (1,906 students here) and closest on estimated average teacher salary ($44,473 here). Rows stay link-disjoint so each axis is a distinct neighborhood.

Similar enrollment

Nearest other districts by NCES student count (floored at ≥200).

Similar estimated salary

Nearest other districts by F-33-derived average teacher salary, distinct from the enrollment row.

Enrollment and salaries from NCES CCD F-33; estimated teacher pay can diverge widely at the same student count because of state funding, cost of living, and local bargaining.

Revenue & Expenditure

$27.1M
Total Revenue
$22.7M
Total Expenditure
$6.2M
Instruction Salaries
27% of total spending

Instructional Salary by Program

$4.6M
Regular Program
$0.4M
Special Education
$0.6M
Vocational
$0.1M
Other Programs

The teacher salaries behind this page's average are the ones NCES reports for 4 programs in Colorado River Union High School District (4381): the regular program, special education, vocational programs and other programs. Every program category NCES breaks out separately carries a figure here. Together they are 91% of everything the district spends on instructional salaries; the other 9% pays instructional aides, paraprofessionals, substitutes and other instructional staff who are not counted as teachers here.

Arizona Teacher Pay Overview

The highest average among comparably sized Arizona districts belongs to Safford Unified District (4218) at $99,366. At the other end, Colorado River Union High School District (4381) anchors the bottom of the 128-district field, so the gap between it and the state's ceiling is close to the full spread the state average is drawn from. On BEA's price parity Arizona sits near the national average, so its salaries need less adjustment than most; Virginia and Colorado are its nearest price peers.

View all Arizona districts →

Other Arizona Districts

Smaller-district sample from 153 Arizona peers; bar length shows pay magnitude within this enrollment band.

Palominas Elementary School District 49 (4180)
$58,566
870 students
Tombstone Unified District (4168)
$61,770
864 students
Winslow Unified District (4387)
$62,876
1,862 students
Thatcher Unified District (4219)
$55,913
1,849 students
Cottonwood-Oak Creek Elementary District (4487)
$52,123
1,799 students
Holbrook Unified District (4389)
$68,463
1,790 students

This is a sample of 6 from 153 Arizona districts with enrollment and salary data reliable enough to compare in the NCES CCD F-33 survey.

Frequently Asked Questions about Colorado River Union High School District (4381)
What is the average teacher salary in Colorado River Union High School District (4381)?

The estimated average teacher salary in Colorado River Union High School District (4381) is $44,473 (NCES CCD FY2023). Colorado River Union High School District (4381) reports staffing below the district level, so the figure uses reported teacher salary expenditure divided by an estimated teacher FTE (enrollment ÷ the national 15:1 ratio).

How does Colorado River Union High School District (4381) teacher pay compare to the Arizona average?

Colorado River Union High School District (4381) pays 30.4% less than the Arizona state average of $63,921. The district's average is $44,473.

How does Colorado River Union High School District (4381) teacher pay compare to the national average?

Colorado River Union High School District (4381) pays 36.7% below the national average of $70,245. The district average is $44,473.

What is the per-pupil spending in Colorado River Union High School District (4381)?

Colorado River Union High School District (4381) spends approximately $11,929 per student annually (NCES FY2023), covering instructional salaries, support services, and administration.

What percentage of Colorado River Union High School District (4381)'s budget goes to teacher salaries?

Instructional salaries account for 27% of Colorado River Union High School District (4381)'s total expenditure of $22.7M (NCES FY2023).

Next read for Colorado River Union High School District (4381)
Disclaimer & data sources

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher

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Editorial standards & source notes

According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. Colorado River Union High School District (4381)'s salary and finance figures are computed directly from its FY2023 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2023.