Enrollment
728
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Tan Valley, AZ
Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy
Federal NCES profile for Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040292002862
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in San Tan Valley · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.3:1
- students per teacher
- 34.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in San Tan Valley, AZ.
School address
District: Florence Unified School District (4437) · Arizona
NCES ID 040292002862 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
42.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.3:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
34.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy
Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy is a mid-sized elementary school in San Tan Valley, Arizona, enrolling 728 students.
At 17.3:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Arizona median, within a few percentage points of the 17:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 34.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 728 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 273 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #32.
Its student body is led by White (43%) and Hispanic or Latino (42%) (diversity index 63/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Florence Unified School District (4437) spends $8,692 per pupil, 34% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 16.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among San Tan Valley's elementary schools, it stands alongside Legacy Traditional-San Tan (749 students): Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Florence Unified School District (4437) also operates Poston Butte High School (1,310 students) and Florence High School (857 students) alongside Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy.
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 Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy compares
Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.3:1 | ▲ 2% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.9% | ▼ 28% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 728 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
728
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
34.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 57% in Arizona - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
31.0%
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
$8,692
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
33
in-school suspensions + 60 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.8 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
White 42.9%
Hispanic or Latino 42.2%
African American 5.2%
Two or More 4.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.9%
Asian 1.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
Largest group: White at 42.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.2, Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Florence Unified School District (4437), which includes Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy.
$8,692
Per student
-34%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-48%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.7%
State 52.4%
Federal 16.0%
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 Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poston Butte High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Florence High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Florence K-8 | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| San Tan Foothills High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Anthem Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,310
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 857
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 793
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 722
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar elementary schools in San Tan Valley
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Legacy Traditional-San Tan
Standard public school
749 students
American Leadership Academy San Tan Valley K-6
Standard public school
637 students
J. O. Combs Middle School
Standard public school
581 students 21.5:1 students per teacher
Champion San Tan
Standard public school
458 students
Happy Valley School East Campus
Standard public school
396 students
Combs Traditional Academy
Standard public school
211 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~728 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy's federal record.
- Compare Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Florence Unified School District (4437)'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 Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy
How many students attend Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy?
Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy has 728 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Tan Valley, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy is 17.3:1, which is 2% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy?
34.9% of students at Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy?
The largest demographic group at Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy is White at 42.9% of enrollment, in San Tan Valley, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy?
Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy 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 Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy rank among elementary schools in San Tan Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in San Tan Valley, 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 San Tan Valley on the city page.
Is Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy a good school?
Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. 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 Florence Unified School District (4437)?
Besides Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy, Florence Unified School District (4437) also operates Poston Butte High School (1,310 students), Florence High School (857 students), and Florence K-8 (805 students). See the Florence Unified School District (4437) district page for the complete list.
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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.