Deer Valley Unified District (4246)

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Phoenix, Arizona - 41 schools

An equity score of 33/100 ranks Deer Valley Unified District (4246) #225 of 437 districts in Arizona (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,561 per pupil, Deer Valley Unified District (4246) ranks #440 of 634 Arizona districts by per-pupil spending (Arizona districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

33,199
Total Enrollment
41
Schools
$9,561
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Deer Valley Unified District (4246) operates 41 public schools serving 33,199 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Arizona. The school portfolio breaks down into 36 combined, 3 middle, 2 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Maricopa County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,561 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 634 Arizona districts by per-pupil spending. See how Arizona compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 48.9% local, 38.6% state, and 12.6% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 33/100, ranked #225 of 437 in Arizona against a state average of 38, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 5 of 41 schools offering Advanced Placement (81 AP courses district-wide), a 733.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 41.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 58.6% White, 26.1% Hispanic or Latino, 4.1% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Arrowhead Elementary School, with a diversity index of 68.6/100.

Its largest campus is Mountain Ridge High School, enrolling 2,823 students (9% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Vista Peak, at 63 students, a 45x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Deer Valley Unified District (4246) school enrollment varies 45× across entities

Deer Valley Unified District (4246) school enrollment ranges from 63 students (lowest) to 2,823 students (highest), a spread of 2,760 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity, the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Deer Valley Unified District (4246) student-counselor ratio is 734:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Deer Valley Unified District (4246) chronic absenteeism rate is 41.4% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

12.6%
Federal
38.6%
State
48.9%
Local

Funding Equity

33
Equity Score
225 / 437
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 41 schools in Deer Valley Unified District (4246).

White 58.6%
Hispanic or Latino 26.1%
African American 3.6%
Asian 4.1%
Multiracial 6.1%
Other 1.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 54.0/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Deer Valley Unified District (4246)'s schools, above the Arizona average of 47.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Arrowhead Elementary School 68.6
  2. 2 Park Meadows Elementary School 68.4
  3. 3 Barry Goldwater High School 65.7
  4. 4 Esperanza Elementary School 64.7
  5. 5 Sunrise Elementary School 64.2

Programs & Resources

5 / 41
Schools with AP
81 AP courses total
733.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
41.4%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Deer Valley Unified District (4246)

School Enrollment
Mountain Ridge High School
2,823
Sandra Day O'connor High School
2,658
Boulder Creek High School
2,221
Deer Valley High School
1,707
Barry Goldwater High School
1,602
Highland Lakes School
1,091
West Wing School
963
Terramar Academy of the Arts
934
Sierra Verde Steam Academy
932
Sonoran Foothills School
921
Stetson Hills School
887
Union Park School
873
Canyon Springs Stem Academy
805
Inspiration Mountain School
789
Diamond Canyon School
740
Hillcrest Middle School
732
Paseo Hills School
689
Copper Creek Elementary School
688
Legend Springs Elementary
685
Desert Sky Middle School
640
Norterra Canyon School
601
Desert Sage Elementary School
594
Sunset Ridge School
563
Constitution Elementary School
545
Arrowhead Elementary School
515
Park Meadows Elementary School
495
Las Brisas Elementary School
480
Gavilan Peak School
473
Mirage Elementary School
454
Greenbrier Elementary School
452
Deer Valley Middle School
448
Esperanza Elementary School
443
Village Meadows Elementary School
441
Desert Mountain School
438
Sunrise Elementary School
426
Mountain Shadows Elementary School
426
Anthem School
400
Traditional Academy at Bellair
241
Aspire Deer Valley's Online Academy
225
New River Elementary School
162
Vista Peak
63

How Deer Valley Unified District (4246) Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arizona districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Gilbert Unified District (4239) Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Peoria Unified School District (4237) Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Phoenix Union High School District (4286) Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Tucson Unified District (4403) Larger Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Deer Valley Unified District (4246)'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Arizona

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Compare Deer Valley Unified District (4246)

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Mesa Unified District (4235) →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Deer Valley Unified District (4246)?

Deer Valley Unified District (4246) has 41 schools, including 36 combined, 2 elementary, 3 middle. Total enrollment is 33,199 students.

How much does Deer Valley Unified District (4246) spend per student?

Deer Valley Unified District (4246) spends $9,561 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #225 in Arizona.

What is the demographic composition of Deer Valley Unified District (4246)?

Deer Valley Unified District (4246) students are 58.6% White, 26.1% Hispanic or Latino, 4.1% Asian, 3.6% African American, averaged across 41 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Deer Valley Unified District (4246)?

Deer Valley Unified District (4246) has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #225 out of 437 districts in Arizona.