- Enrollment
- 1,182
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Tan Valley, AZ
Combs Traditional Academy
Federal NCES profile for Combs Traditional Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040399003231
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Combs Traditional Academy earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of Arizona schools.
- #2 of 6
- elementary schools in San Tan Valley · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 24.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Combs Traditional Academy has class sizes smaller than 71% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Combs Traditional Academy ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in San Tan Valley, AZ.
School address
District: J O Combs Unified School District (4445) · Arizona
NCES ID 040399003231 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-23 students YoY
Combs Traditional Academy shrank from 227 students in 2022-23 to 204 in 2023-24 (-10.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 15.0 → 11.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-23 students YoY 040399003231 · San Tan Valley, AZ Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
211 enr · 14.1:1 · 24.7% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Combs High School (1,182 students)
Combs Traditional Academy shrank from 227 students in 2022-23 to 204 in 2023-24 (-10.1%). Teacher FTE lost 15.0 → 11.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Combs Traditional Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Combs High Sch
Combs High School
1,182 students
- J. O. Combs Mi
J. O. Combs Middle School
581 students
- Ellsworth Elem
Ellsworth Elementary School
516 students
- Ranch Elementa
Ranch Elementary School
509 students
- Kathryn Sue Si 384
Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary
384 students
- This school 211
Combs Traditional Academy
211 students
What this shows Combs Traditional Academy reports 211 students on the CCD universe file.
How Combs Traditional Academy compares
Combs Traditional Academy 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 | 14.1:1 | ▼ 17% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.7% | ▼ 49% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 211 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
211
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% 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
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 29% in Arizona - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.7%
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
$9,719
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
Counselors0.8 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 44.1%
Hispanic or Latino 44.1%
African American 4.7%
Two or More 4.7%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.6, Combs Traditional Academy is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for J O Combs Unified School District (4445) reports $9,719 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Combs Traditional Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combs High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| J. O. Combs Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ellsworth Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ranch Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Combs Traditional Academy'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
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
Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy
Standard public school
728 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
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
Nationwide elementary 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 (~211 students)
Frequently asked questions about Combs Traditional Academy
How many students attend Combs Traditional Academy?
Combs Traditional Academy has 211 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Tan Valley, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 227 (2022-23) → 204 (2023-24), down 23.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Combs Traditional Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Combs Traditional Academy is 14.1:1, which is 17% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 10% 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 Combs Traditional Academy?
24.7% of students at Combs Traditional Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Combs Traditional Academy?
The largest demographic group at Combs Traditional Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 44.1% 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 60.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Combs Traditional Academy?
Combs Traditional Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical 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 Combs Traditional Academy rank among elementary schools in San Tan Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Combs Traditional Academy ranks #2 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.
What other schools are in J O Combs Unified School District (4445)?
Besides Combs Traditional Academy, J O Combs Unified School District (4445) also operates Combs High School (1,182 students), J. O. Combs Middle School (581 students), and Ellsworth Elementary School (516 students). See the J O Combs Unified School District (4445) district page for the complete list.