Enrollment
1,182
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · San Tan Valley, AZ
Combs High School
Federal NCES profile for Combs High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040399002895
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Combs High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools.
- #6 of 9
- schools in San Tan Valley · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 27.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Combs High School has class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Combs High School ranks #6 of 9 schools in San Tan Valley, AZ.
School address
District: J O Combs Unified School District (4445) · Arizona
NCES ID 040399002895 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
59.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
27.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-44% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Combs High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Combs High School
Combs High School is a large combined-grade school in San Tan Valley, Arizona, enrolling 1,182 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 27.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 93% of state schools at 1,182 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 142 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #44.
Its student body is led by White (54%) and Hispanic or Latino (36%) (diversity index 58/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 296 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 57.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding J O Combs Unified School District (4445) spends $8,666 per pupil, 34% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 346 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,182 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among San Tan Valley's public schools, it stands alongside American Leadership Academy Ironwood K12 (2,084 students): Combs High School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
J O Combs Unified School District (4445) also operates J. O. Combs Middle School (581 students) and Ellsworth Elementary School (516 students) alongside Combs High 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 Combs High School compares
Combs High 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 | 20:1 | ▲ 18% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.0% | ▼ 44% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,182 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,182
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
27.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% 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
20:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 76% in Arizona - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
57.4%
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
$8,666
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 296 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
217
in-school suspensions + 129 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 29.3 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 53.8%
Hispanic or Latino 35.7%
African American 3.6%
Two or More 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.9%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: White at 53.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.0, Combs High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for J O Combs Unified School District (4445), which includes Combs High School.
$8,666
Per student
-34%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-48%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.0%
State 53.2%
Federal 14.9%
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 Combs High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. O. Combs Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ellsworth Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ranch Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jack Harmon Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Combs High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 581
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 516
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 509
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 384
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 382
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in San Tan Valley
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
American Leadership Academy Ironwood K12
Standard public school
2,084 students
Poston Butte High School
Standard public school
1,310 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Walker Butte K-8
Standard public school
718 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
San Tan Heights Elementary
Standard public school
669 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Skyline Ranch Elementary School
Standard public school
583 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Copper Basin
Standard public school
557 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~1,182 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Combs High School's federal record.
- Compare Combs High School against another school. Compare schools
- J O Combs Unified School District (4445)'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 Combs High School
How many students attend Combs High School?
Combs High School has 1,182 students enrolled. It is a public school in San Tan Valley, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Combs High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Combs High School is 20:1, which is 18% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Combs High School?
27.0% of students at Combs High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Combs High School?
The largest demographic group at Combs High School is White at 53.8% 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 58.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Combs High School?
Combs High School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Combs High School rank among schools in San Tan Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Combs High School ranks #6 of 9 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 schools in San Tan Valley on the city page.
Is Combs High School a good school?
Combs High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% 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 J O Combs Unified School District (4445)?
Besides Combs High School, J O Combs Unified School District (4445) also operates J. O. Combs Middle School (581 students), Ellsworth Elementary School (516 students), and Ranch Elementary School (509 students). See the J O Combs Unified School District (4445) 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.