For many families, the search for a Gilbert home starts with a school question. Gilbert is served by more than one public district, it has a strong set of charter and classical options, and it sits next to Chandler and Mesa, two cities known for major technology employers. That mix gives families real choice, and it also means the right answer depends on the address, the grade level, and what your child wants to study. This guide explains how Gilbert’s school landscape works and how its public, charter, and STEM options connect to established neighborhoods and the nearby tech corridors.
The details below come from district and city pages, school-listing data, and published rankings as of early November 2026. Rankings differ by publisher and year, boundaries change, and enrollment is never guaranteed, so confirm every detail with the district or school before you make an offer.
How Gilbert’s School Landscape Works
Most of Gilbert is served by Gilbert Public Schools, which school-listing data shows operating about 38 schools and about 32,000 students, or by Higley Unified School District, with about 16 schools and about 13,000 students. The City of Mesa’s education page reports that both districts have earned A grades from the Arizona Department of Education. A few Gilbert addresses are served by other districts, including Chandler Unified, which operates Perry High School on East Queen Creek Road, and small areas fall in Mesa Public Schools.
Arizona law allows families to apply for open enrollment in public schools based on available space, so a boundary school is a starting point and not a limit. Schools of choice and charter schools use their own applications, lotteries, or waitlists, so treat each one separately.
Public, Charter, and Choice Options
| Option Type | Examples | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Gilbert Public Schools high schools | Gilbert High, Highland, and Campo Verde | Assigned by address, with open enrollment based on space, and Highland ranks among the largest schools in Gilbert |
| Gilbert Public Schools schools of choice | Gilbert Classical Academy (grades 7 to 12), Neely Traditional Academy, and Gilbert Early College | Each has its own enrollment steps, and Gilbert Classical Academy draws the strongest rankings among Gilbert district high schools |
| Higley Unified high schools | Higley High on East Pecos Road and Williams Field High on South Higley Road | Serve southeast Gilbert, and Higley High has been the district’s highest-rated high school in U.S. News rankings |
| Charter schools | American Leadership Academy Gilbert North (K to 12), Great Hearts Arete, Leading Edge Academy Gilbert Early College, Desert Hills High, and Freedom Preparatory Academy | Admission and waitlists vary by school, and American Leadership Academy Gilbert North has been the highest-ranked charter in town |
| Chandler Unified in Gilbert | Perry High School on East Queen Creek Road | Perry sits in Gilbert but belongs to Chandler Unified, so the city line does not always match the school line |
Rankings help frame the conversation. Gilbert Public Schools reported that U.S. News recognized Gilbert Classical Academy in 2025 as the second-highest-ranking public school district high school in Arizona, and Niche placed it among the top 20 public high schools in the state in 2026. Neely Traditional Academy has been named a Blue Ribbon school. Treat these as starting points, then tour the schools that interest you.
STEM and Career Pathways
Gilbert’s STEM story is more distributed than a single flagship program. Gilbert Public Schools has been aligning STEM learning from kindergarten through high school, with Project Lead The Way and biomedical pathways, and it plans new STEM courses at several junior high schools in the 2026 to 2027 school year. Career and technical education adds another layer, and the East Valley Institute of Technology, which serves students from 11 East Valley districts, offers a STEM Academy developed with Boeing, Honeywell, and Intel on its Mesa campuses.
| Pathway | Where It Happens | Details |
|---|---|---|
| District STEM pathways | Gilbert Public Schools, from elementary through high school | Includes Project Lead The Way and biomedical options, with new junior high STEM courses planned for 2026 to 2027 |
| Career and technical education | Gilbert Public Schools high schools | The district reports 21 programs serving more than 5,500 high school students in Gilbert and Mesa, including sports medicine, agriscience, and digital photography |
| EVIT STEM Academy | EVIT campuses in Mesa | Developed with Boeing, Honeywell, and Intel to prepare students for high-tech manufacturing, aviation, and engineering fields, and tuition-free for students in participating districts |
| Higley Unified CTE | Higley and Williams Field high schools | Programs include criminal justice, and EVIT also offers satellite courses at both campuses |
Gilbert may not have a single signature STEM school the way some cities do, but it has many routes to STEM and career training. The best fit depends on your child’s interests, grade level, and the specific high school, so match the program to the child before you match the home to the school.
Schools and Gilbert’s Neighborhoods
- Downtown and central Gilbert: Gilbert Classical Academy sits near downtown on North Burk Street and North Greenfield Road, close to Neely Traditional Academy, and Gilbert High School is a short drive away. Families in the established neighborhoods around the Heritage District often have both zoned and choice options nearby.
- Southeast Gilbert: Williams Field and Higley High Schools serve newer communities near Higley Road, where homes are generally newer and parcels often belong to master-planned associations.
- Gilbert addresses in Chandler Unified: Perry High School serves some southwest Gilbert addresses, so families there should check Chandler Unified boundaries and open enrollment steps.
- Near the tech corridors: Gilbert borders Chandler and Mesa, which host major technology employment areas, including Chandler’s Price Road Corridor and Mesa’s Elliot Road Tech Corridor. Test the commute for any home, and weigh it alongside your school plans.
Which Path Suits Your Family?
You want a neighborhood school with predictable enrollment and transportation
You value large-campus athletics, clubs, and a wide range of electives
You are interested in district CTE and STEM pathways
You would rather avoid applications, lotteries, and waitlists
Your child thrives with a classical, college-prep, or early college model
You are comfortable with an application process and a possible waitlist
You are willing to commute to a campus that is not the nearest one
You have toured the school and confirmed that the culture fits your child
Before you write an offer, look up the home’s boundary schools on the district’s boundary tool and call the schools you care about to confirm current capacity and enrollment steps. A listing description is not a guarantee, and boundaries can change, so a five-minute check can protect a decision that affects your family for years.
A Quick Checklist
- Confirm the district: Check whether the address is in Gilbert Public Schools, Higley Unified, Chandler Unified, or Mesa Public Schools.
- Find the boundary schools: Use the district’s boundary tool for the exact address.
- Ask about open enrollment: Request current capacity and approval steps before you register at a non-boundary school.
- Compare program options: Ask about STEM, CTE, and EVIT offerings at each high school.
- Tour your top choices: Visit boundary, choice, and charter schools and compare how each feels.
- Plan the commute: Test the drive to school and to work at the times you would actually travel.
Working with an Agent Who Knows Gilbert’s Schools
School decisions and home decisions are closely linked in Gilbert, and the difference between two neighborhoods can come down to a district line, a school of choice, or an open enrollment policy. Dawn Forkenbrock is a REALTOR with The Forkenbrock Group who works across the East Valley, including Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Mesa, and Tempe, which helps families compare school systems across city lines.
Whichever school path you choose, treat the boundary and enrollment steps as part of your due diligence, and ask for the details in writing from the district or school. That habit prevents surprises after you close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which school districts serve Gilbert, Arizona?
Most of Gilbert is served by Gilbert Public Schools or Higley Unified School District. Gilbert Public Schools has roughly 40 schools and about 32,000 students according to school-listing data, and Higley Unified has about 16 schools and about 13,000 students. Some Gilbert addresses are served by Chandler Unified, which operates Perry High School on East Queen Creek Road, and small areas are served by Mesa Public Schools. Confirm the district and boundary schools for any address before you make an offer.
What are Gilbert’s top public and charter high schools?
Gilbert Classical Academy, a Gilbert Public Schools school serving grades 7 through 12, has drawn the strongest rankings, including a 2025 U.S. News recognition as the second-highest-ranking public school district high school in Arizona according to the district. Higley High School has been the highest-rated Higley Unified high school in U.S. News rankings, and American Leadership Academy Gilbert North has been the highest-ranked charter in town. Rankings vary by publisher and year, so use them as a starting point and tour the schools yourself.
What STEM and career programs are available in Gilbert?
Gilbert Public Schools has been expanding STEM pathways from kindergarten through high school, including Project Lead The Way and biomedical courses, and it offers 21 career and technical education programs serving more than 5,500 high school students in Gilbert and Mesa. The East Valley Institute of Technology also offers a STEM Academy developed with Boeing, Honeywell, and Intel on its Mesa campuses, and it serves students from 11 East Valley districts. Program offerings change by school and year, so confirm what your child’s school offers.
Can my child attend a school outside our boundary in Gilbert?
Often, yes. Arizona law allows families to apply for open enrollment in public schools based on available space, and each district sets its own process and deadlines. Schools of choice inside a district and charter schools generally have separate applications, lotteries, or waitlists. Check each school for current steps and capacity, and do not assume a seat until you have written approval.
How close is Gilbert to the East Valley’s tech corridors?
Gilbert borders Chandler and Mesa, which host major technology employment areas, including Chandler’s Price Road Corridor and Mesa’s Elliot Road Tech Corridor. Commute times vary widely by neighborhood and by the time of day you travel, so test the drive for any home you consider and compare it with your school plans.
Do schools affect home values in Gilbert?
Schools are one factor among many, and no single number captures the effect. Buyers often value strong boundary schools, but open enrollment, charter options, home condition, lot, and location also shape prices. Ask your agent for recent sales in the neighborhoods you like, and compare the boundary schools, nearby choice options, and the commute for your household.
👉 You can also check out this helpful video for a closer look at what Gilbert, AZ has to offer:
Searching for a Gilbert home with the right school options? Grab the buyer guide or reach out and we can map out your search.