- Enrollment
- 796
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Apache Junction, AZ
Cactus Canyon Junior High
Federal NCES profile for Cactus Canyon Junior High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040079000040
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cactus Canyon Junior High earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #6 of 10
- public schools in Apache Junction · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.6:1
- students per teacher
- 40.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Cactus Canyon Junior High has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cactus Canyon Junior High ranks #6 of 10 public schools in Apache Junction, AZ.
School address
District: Apache Junction Unified District (4443) · Arizona
NCES ID 040079000040 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-82 students YoY
Cactus Canyon Junior High shrank from 702 students in 2022-23 to 620 in 2023-24 (-11.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 36.2 → 31.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-82 students YoY 040079000040 · Apache Junction, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
527 enr · 14.6:1 · 40.9% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Apache Junction High School (796 students)
Cactus Canyon Junior High shrank from 702 students in 2022-23 to 620 in 2023-24 (-11.7%). Teacher FTE lost 36.2 → 31.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Cactus Canyon Junior High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Apache Junctio
Apache Junction High School
796 students
- This school
Cactus Canyon Junior High
527 students
- Desert Vista E
Desert Vista Elementary School
435 students
- Four Peaks Ele
Four Peaks Elementary School
400 students
- Peralta Trail 282
Peralta Trail Elementary School
282 students
What this shows Cactus Canyon Junior High reports 527 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cactus Canyon Junior High compares
Cactus Canyon Junior High 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 | 14.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.9% | ▼ 15% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 527 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
527
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
40.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% 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
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 32% in Arizona - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
73.2%
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
$11,498
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
83
in-school suspensions + 132 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 40.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 46.7%
Hispanic or Latino 42.7%
Two or More 4.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.0%
African American 2.3%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 46.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.6, Cactus Canyon Junior High is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
District finance for Apache Junction Unified District (4443) reports $11,498 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cactus Canyon Junior High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Junction High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Vista Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Four Peaks Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Peralta Trail Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cactus Canyon Junior High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 435
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 282
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
Similar middle schools in Apache Junction
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~527 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cactus Canyon Junior High
How many students attend Cactus Canyon Junior High?
Cactus Canyon Junior High has 527 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Apache Junction, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 702 (2022-23) → 620 (2023-24), down 82.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cactus Canyon Junior High?
The student-teacher ratio at Cactus Canyon Junior High is 14.6:1, which is 14% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 7% 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 Cactus Canyon Junior High?
40.9% of students at Cactus Canyon Junior High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cactus Canyon Junior High?
The largest demographic group at Cactus Canyon Junior High is White at 46.7% of enrollment, in Apache Junction, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cactus Canyon Junior High?
Cactus Canyon Junior High has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 Cactus Canyon Junior High rank among public schools in Apache Junction?
By Resource Investment Index, Cactus Canyon Junior High ranks #6 of 10 public schools in Apache Junction, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Apache Junction on the city page.
What other schools are in Apache Junction Unified District (4443)?
Besides Cactus Canyon Junior High, Apache Junction Unified District (4443) also operates Apache Junction High School (796 students), Desert Vista Elementary School (435 students), and Four Peaks Elementary School (400 students). See the Apache Junction Unified District (4443) district page for the complete list.