West-MEC - Western Maricopa Education Center (80923)

Located at 5487 N 99th Ave in Glendale, Arizona, the Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) operates as an open public special education and vocational district within the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metropolitan area. Designated as a non-charter public entity serving a large suburban setting—with 5.1 percent of its geographic coverage categorized as rural—the district offers programming across 7th through 12th grade. Across its network, West-MEC encompasses 60 operational schools providing career-focused and technical instruction tailored to older students preparing for future career paths.

For the 2024–2025 school year, district membership totals 174 students, with active enrollment concentrated in the upper high school grades: 5 students in 10th grade, 73 in 11th grade, and 96 in 12th grade. The student body consists of 115 male students and 59 female students, representing a demographic distribution of 101 White students, 56 Hispanic students, 9 multiracial students, and 8 Black students. To deliver its specialized curricula and maintain operational oversight, West-MEC employs 370.82 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff members, a comprehensive workforce that includes 131.3 FTE teachers, 27.16 FTE instructional aides, and 212.36 FTE support staff personnel.