- Enrollment
- 2,334
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Surprise, AZ
Ashton Ranch Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Ashton Ranch Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040269003124
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ashton Ranch Middle School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #3 of 8
- elementary schools in Surprise · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- students per teacher
- 40.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Ashton Ranch Middle School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ashton Ranch Middle School ranks #3 of 8 elementary schools in Surprise, AZ.
School address
District: Dysart Unified District (4243) · Arizona
NCES ID 040269003124 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-54 students YoY
Ashton Ranch Middle School shrank from 543 students in 2022-23 to 489 in 2023-24 (-9.9%).
Teacher FTE added 31.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-54 students YoY 040269003124 · Surprise, AZ Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
480 enr · 15.5:1 · 40.0% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Valley Vista High School (2,334 students)
Ashton Ranch Middle School shrank from 543 students in 2022-23 to 489 in 2023-24 (-9.9%). Teacher FTE added 31.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Ashton Ranch Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Valley Vista H
Valley Vista High School
2,334 students
- Shadow Ridge H
Shadow Ridge High School
2,212 students
- Willow Canyon
Willow Canyon High School
1,901 students
- Dysart High Sc
Dysart High School
1,471 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View
1,045 students
- This school 480
Ashton Ranch Middle School
480 students
What this shows Ashton Ranch Middle School reports 480 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ashton Ranch Middle School compares
Ashton Ranch Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.5:1 | ▼ 9% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.0% | ▼ 17% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 480 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
480
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
40.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 41% in Arizona - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
66.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$10,550
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 76 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 39.0%
White 38.3%
African American 10.0%
Two or More 9.2%
Asian 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 39.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.2, Ashton Ranch Middle School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Dysart Unified District (4243) reports $10,550 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ashton Ranch Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Vista High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shadow Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Willow Canyon High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dysart High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain View | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ashton Ranch Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,212
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,901
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,471
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,045
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar elementary schools in Surprise
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~480 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ashton Ranch Middle School
How many students attend Ashton Ranch Middle School?
Ashton Ranch Middle School has 480 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Surprise, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 543 (2022-23) → 489 (2023-24), down 54.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ashton Ranch Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ashton Ranch Middle School is 15.5:1, which is 9% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ashton Ranch Middle School?
40.0% of students at Ashton Ranch Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ashton Ranch Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Ashton Ranch Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 39.0% of enrollment, in Surprise, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ashton Ranch Middle School?
Ashton Ranch Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ashton Ranch Middle School rank among elementary schools in Surprise?
By Resource Investment Index, Ashton Ranch Middle School ranks #3 of 8 elementary schools in Surprise, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Surprise on the city page.
What other schools are in Dysart Unified District (4243)?
Besides Ashton Ranch Middle School, Dysart Unified District (4243) also operates Valley Vista High School (2,334 students), Shadow Ridge High School (2,212 students), and Willow Canyon High School (1,901 students). See the Dysart Unified District (4243) district page for the complete list.