This year, more than 20,000 students will return to schools with 9th Grade On-Track programs due to $3.4 million of grant funding included in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. This is up from 4,900 students during the 2025-2026 school year who attended schools with 9th Grade On-Track programs.
Districts with newly implemented or expanded 9th Grade On-Track programs include Holbrook Unified, Mesa Public Schools, J.O. Combs Unified, Tolleson Union, Casa Grande Union, and Apache Junction Unified. These districts join Phoenix Union and Mingus Union that already have 9th Grade On-Track programs.
9th Grade On-Track programs provide early intervention to freshman students at risk of falling behind through tailored academic support.
Research shows that finishing freshman year on-track for graduation leads to students being “3x more likely to graduate on-time.” At Phoenix Union’s Camelback High School, 9th Grade On-Track programs improved graduation rates by nearly 20 points and nearly doubled the on-track rate. Across the Phoenix Union district, 9th Grade On-Track programs increased enrollment in dual enrollment classes by more than 300%. Taken together, these benefits help students be better prepared for college, a career, or the military.
“Thousands more high school students getting access to this program is a big win,” said Stand for Children Arizona Executive Director Rebecca Gau. “However, there are still tens of thousands of Arizona students who continue to attend schools without these programs. And at a cost of $150 per student, it has a great return on investment. The Arizona legislature must restore funding for 9th Grade On-Track so that every high school student can benefit.”
