Pendergast Elementary District (4283)

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 - 12 schools

An equity score of 40/100 ranks Pendergast Elementary District (4283) #182 of 437 districts in Arizona (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,983 per pupil, Pendergast Elementary District (4283) ranks #390 of 634 Arizona districts by per-pupil spending (Arizona districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

8,266
Total Enrollment
12
Schools
$9,983
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) operates 12 public schools serving 8,266 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Arizona. The school portfolio breaks down into 12 combined schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly 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 $9,983 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 28.1% local, 49.4% state, and 22.5% 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 40/100, ranked #182 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.

a 636:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 28.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 75.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% African American, 8.4% White across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Garden Lakes Elementary School, with a diversity index of 55.5/100.

Its largest campus is Garden Lakes Elementary School, enrolling 941 students (12% of the district's total enrollment).

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) school enrollment varies 2.1× across entities

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) school enrollment ranges from 457 students (lowest) to 941 students (highest), a spread of 484 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. 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

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 55.0% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) student-counselor ratio is 636:1 — 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

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) chronic absenteeism rate is 28.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Pendergast Elementary District (4283) is typically wider than the Pendergast Elementary District (4283)-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

22.5%
Federal
49.4%
State
28.1%
Local

Funding Equity

40
Equity Score
182 / 437
State Rank
38
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 12 schools in Pendergast Elementary District (4283).

White 8.4%
Hispanic or Latino 75.7%
African American 9.2%
Asian 2.2%
Multiracial 2.8%
Other 1.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 40.0/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Pendergast Elementary District (4283)'s schools, below the Arizona average of 47.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Garden Lakes Elementary School 55.5
  2. 2 Sunset Ridge Elementary School 51.8
  3. 3 Sonoran Sky Elementary School 51.0
  4. 4 Canyon Breeze Elementary 49.5
  5. 5 Rio Vista Elementary 44.4

Programs & Resources

636:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
28.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Pendergast Elementary District (4283)

School Enrollment
Garden Lakes Elementary School
941
Westwind Elementary School
932
Copper King Elementary
738
Desert Horizon Elementary School
690
Desert Mirage Elementary School
675
Pendergast Elementary School
665
Rio Vista Elementary
662
Canyon Breeze Elementary
640
Sunset Ridge Elementary School
611
Villa De Paz Elementary School
550
Sonoran Sky Elementary School
537
Amberlea Elementary School
457

How Pendergast Elementary District (4283) Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arizona districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Maricopa Unified School District (4441) Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Laveen Elementary District (4276) Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Flagstaff Unified District (4192) Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Florence Unified School District (4437) Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Yuma Elementary District (4499) Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Pendergast Elementary District (4283)'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 Pendergast Elementary District (4283)

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 Pendergast Elementary District (4283)?

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) has 12 schools, including 12 combined. Total enrollment is 8,266 students.

How much does Pendergast Elementary District (4283) spend per student?

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) spends $9,983 per student. The district has an equity score of 40/100, ranking #182 in Arizona.

What is the demographic composition of Pendergast Elementary District (4283)?

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) students are 75.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% African American, 8.4% White, 2.2% Asian, averaged across 12 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Pendergast Elementary District (4283)?

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) has an equity score of 40/100, ranking #182 out of 437 districts in Arizona.