- Enrollment
- 1,905
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Scottsdale, AZ
Desert Canyon Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Desert Canyon Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040757001671
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Canyon Elementary earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Arizona schools.
- #5 of 26
- schools in Scottsdale · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.3:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 5.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Canyon Elementary has class sizes smaller than 77% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Canyon Elementary ranks #5 of 26 schools in Scottsdale, AZ.
School address
District: Scottsdale Unified District (4240) · Arizona
NCES ID 040757001671 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-26 students YoY
Desert Canyon Elementary shrank from 496 students in 2022-23 to 470 in 2023-24 (-5.2%).
Teacher FTE added 34.5 → 37.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-26 students YoY 040757001671 · Scottsdale, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
453 enr · 13.3:1 · 5.8% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Desert Mountain High School (1,905 students)
Desert Canyon Elementary shrank from 496 students in 2022-23 to 470 in 2023-24 (-5.2%). Teacher FTE added 34.5 → 37.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Canyon Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Desert Mountai
Desert Mountain High School
1,905 students
- Chaparral High
Chaparral High School
1,773 students
- Arcadia High S
Arcadia High School
1,679 students
- Saguaro High S
Saguaro High School
1,300 students
- Cheyenne Tradi
Cheyenne Traditional School
953 students
- This school 453
Desert Canyon Elementary
453 students
What this shows Desert Canyon Elementary reports 453 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Canyon Elementary compares
Desert Canyon Elementary 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 | 13.3:1 | ▼ 22% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.8% | ▼ 88% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 453 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
453
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
5.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 88% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 23% in Arizona - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,306
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 69.3%
Hispanic or Latino 12.1%
Two or More 9.1%
Asian 6.0%
African American 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 69.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.3, Desert Canyon Elementary is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Scottsdale Unified District (4240) reports $11,306 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Canyon Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Mountain High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chaparral High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Arcadia High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Saguaro High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cheyenne Traditional School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Canyon Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,773
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,679
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,300
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 953
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Scottsdale
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Cactus Shadows High School
Standard public school
1,362 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Great Hearts Academies - Scottsdale Prep
Standard public school
898 students
Desert Sun Academy
Standard public school
191 students 8:1 students per teacher
Scottsdale Online Learning
Standard public school
141 students 5.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~453 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Canyon Elementary
How many students attend Desert Canyon Elementary?
Desert Canyon Elementary has 453 students enrolled. It is a public school in Scottsdale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 496 (2022-23) → 470 (2023-24), down 26.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Canyon Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Canyon Elementary is 13.3:1, which is 22% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 15% 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 Desert Canyon Elementary?
5.8% of students at Desert Canyon Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Canyon Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Desert Canyon Elementary is White at 69.3% of enrollment, in Scottsdale, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Canyon Elementary?
Desert Canyon Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Canyon Elementary rank among schools in Scottsdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Canyon Elementary ranks #5 of 26 schools in Scottsdale, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Scottsdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Scottsdale Unified District (4240)?
Besides Desert Canyon Elementary, Scottsdale Unified District (4240) also operates Desert Mountain High School (1,905 students), Chaparral High School (1,773 students), and Arcadia High School (1,679 students). See the Scottsdale Unified District (4240) district page for the complete list.