- Enrollment
- 615
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Scottsdale, AZ
Cactus Shadows High School
Federal NCES profile for Cactus Shadows High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040000101204
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 6
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cactus Shadows High School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #3 of 4
- schools in Scottsdale · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.9:1
- students per teacher
- 5.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Cactus Shadows High School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cactus Shadows High School ranks #3 of 4 schools in Scottsdale, AZ.
School address
District: Cave Creek Unified District (4244) · Arizona
NCES ID 040000101204 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Cactus Shadows High School held near 1,566 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-22 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 76.0 → 72.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-22 students YoY 040000101204 · Scottsdale, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
1,362 enr · 17.9:1 · 5.0% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Sonoran Trails Middle School (615 students)
Cactus Shadows High School held near 1,566 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-22 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 76.0 → 72.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Cactus Shadows High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Cactus Shadows High School
1,362 students
- Sonoran Trails
Sonoran Trails Middle School
615 students
- Black Mountain 496
Black Mountain Elementary School
496 students
- Horseshoe Trai 424
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
424 students
- Lone Mountain 376
Lone Mountain Elementary School
376 students
- Desert Willow 338
Desert Willow Elementary School
338 students
What this shows Cactus Shadows High School reports 1,362 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cactus Shadows High School compares
Cactus Shadows High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.9:1 | ▲ 5% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.0% | ▼ 90% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,362 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,362
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
5.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 90% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 62% in Arizona - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
37.6%
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
$9,626
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 272 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
45
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.0%
Hispanic or Latino 12.3%
Two or More 3.5%
Asian 2.4%
African American 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 80.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.3, Cactus Shadows High School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 51
District finance for Cave Creek Unified District (4244) reports $9,626 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cactus Shadows High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoran Trails Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Black Mountain Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Horseshoe Trails Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lone Mountain Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Desert Willow Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cactus Shadows High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 496
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 376
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 338
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in Scottsdale
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~1,362 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cactus Shadows High School
How many students attend Cactus Shadows High School?
Cactus Shadows High School has 1,362 students enrolled. It is a public school in Scottsdale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 1,588 (2022-23) → 1,566 (2023-24), nearly flat (-22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cactus Shadows High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cactus Shadows High School is 17.9:1, which is 5% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cactus Shadows High School?
5.0% of students at Cactus Shadows High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cactus Shadows High School?
The largest demographic group at Cactus Shadows High School is White at 80.0% of enrollment, in Scottsdale, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cactus Shadows High School?
Cactus Shadows High School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cactus Shadows High School rank among schools in Scottsdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Cactus Shadows High School ranks #3 of 4 schools in Scottsdale, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Scottsdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Besides Cactus Shadows High School, Cave Creek Unified District (4244) also operates Sonoran Trails Middle School (615 students), Black Mountain Elementary School (496 students), and Horseshoe Trails Elementary School (424 students). See the Cave Creek Unified District (4244) district page for the complete list.