High Stakes, Higher Salaries: State 48 News Tracks School Chief Pay vs. Student Success

Some Arizona superintendents can earn nearly half a million dollars while student proficiency sinks below 25%. State 48 News investigates the disconnect between pay and performance.

Every year, it’s the same complaint: “Arizona ranks last in education.”

But it’s more than a rumor—Arizona was ranked dead last in public education in a 2024 Consumer Affairs study, citing overcrowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, and low student performance.

At the same time, a months-long investigation by State 48 News reveals some public school superintendents are earning between $250,000 and nearly $500,000 a year—funded by taxpayers.

And it doesn’t stop there.

Under Arizona law, superintendents are also entitled to performance bonuses—with at least one district awarding up to $72,000 annually.

We’re not targeting any one individual. We understand the demands of leading a school district in one of the most underfunded systems in the nation. But we’re following the money—asking how compensation packages are structured, who approves them, and why these details aren’t more transparent to the public.

*Here’s a quick snapshot of potential compensation for superintendents.