Enrollment
211
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
15.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.1:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
24.7%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-49% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Combs Traditional Academy compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Combs Traditional Academy
Combs Traditional Academy is a mid-sized elementary school in San Tan Valley, Arizona, enrolling 211 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 24.7% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 211 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 65 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #12.
Its student body is led by White (44%) and Hispanic or Latino (44%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 264 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.7% 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.
Among San Tan Valley's elementary schools, it stands alongside Legacy Traditional-San Tan (749 students): Combs Traditional Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount.
J O Combs Unified School District (4445) also operates Combs High School (1,182 students) and J. O. Combs Middle School (581 students) alongside Combs Traditional 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 Combs Traditional Academy compares
Combs Traditional 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$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
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for J O Combs Unified School District (4445), which includes Combs Traditional Academy.
$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 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
- 1,182
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- 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
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 (~211 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Combs Traditional Academy's federal record.
- Compare Combs Traditional Academy 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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Combs Traditional Academy a good school?
Combs Traditional Academy earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% 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 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.
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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.