Enrollment
413
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Phoenix, AZ
Cactus Wren Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cactus Wren Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040906000919
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cactus Wren Elementary School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Arizona schools.
- #16 of 116
- elementary schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.1:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 71.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Cactus Wren Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 85% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cactus Wren Elementary School ranks #16 of 116 elementary schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Washington Elementary School District (4260) · Arizona
NCES ID 040906000919 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.1:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-29% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
71.8%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+49% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Cactus Wren Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Cactus Wren Elementary School
Cactus Wren Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 413 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 12.1:1, Cactus Wren Elementary School is leaner than roughly 85% of Arizona schools and 29% under the state's 17:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 71.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 413 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 290 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #46.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (59%) and White (17%) (diversity index 61/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 69.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 24.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Phoenix's elementary schools, it stands alongside Academy of Math and Science Avondale (1,175 students): Cactus Wren Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Washington Elementary School District (4260) also operates Lookout Mountain School (979 students) and Mountain View Elementary School (903 students) alongside Cactus Wren Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Cactus Wren Elementary School compares
Cactus Wren Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.1:1 | ▼ 29% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.8% | ▲ 49% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 413 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
413
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
71.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 15% in Arizona - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
69.7%
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
$10,856
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,145
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
17
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 58.6%
White 16.5%
African American 9.9%
Asian 6.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.6%
Two or More 2.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 58.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.1, Cactus Wren Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Washington Elementary School District (4260), which includes Cactus Wren Elementary School.
$10,856
Per student
-17%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-35%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.7%
State 45.6%
Federal 24.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Cactus Wren Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lookout Mountain School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Acacia Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Orangewood School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palo Verde Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cactus Wren Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 979
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 903
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 806
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 797
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 797
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar elementary schools in Phoenix
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Academy of Math and Science Avondale
Standard public school
1,175 students
Kyrene Altadena Middle School
Standard public school
857 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Catalina Ventura School
Standard public school
842 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Inspiration Mountain School
Standard public school
789 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Alhambra Traditional School
Standard public school
733 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Legacy Traditional School - North Phoenix
Standard public school
567 students
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arizona, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~413 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Cactus Wren Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Cactus Wren Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Washington Elementary School District (4260)'s spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Cactus Wren Elementary School
How many students attend Cactus Wren Elementary School?
Cactus Wren Elementary School has 413 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cactus Wren Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cactus Wren Elementary School is 12.1:1, which is 29% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 23% 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 Wren Elementary School?
71.8% of students at Cactus Wren Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cactus Wren Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cactus Wren Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 58.6% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cactus Wren Elementary School?
Cactus Wren Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cactus Wren Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Cactus Wren Elementary School ranks #16 of 116 elementary schools in Phoenix, 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 Phoenix on the city page.
Is Cactus Wren Elementary School a good school?
Cactus Wren Elementary School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Arizona schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Washington Elementary School District (4260)?
Besides Cactus Wren Elementary School, Washington Elementary School District (4260) also operates Lookout Mountain School (979 students), Mountain View Elementary School (903 students), and Acacia Elementary School (806 students). See the Washington Elementary School District (4260) district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.