Enrollment
453
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.3:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
5.8%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-88% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desert Canyon Elementary compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desert Canyon Elementary
Desert Canyon Elementary is a lower-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Scottsdale, Arizona, enrolling 453 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 5.8% free-meal eligibility runs 88% below the Arizona average.
With 453 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 93% of the 2,064 Arizona schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 103 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #8, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (69%) and Hispanic or Latino (12%) (diversity index 49/100).
16.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Scottsdale Unified District (4240) spends $9,802 per pupil, 25% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Scottsdale's public schools, it stands alongside Cactus Shadows High School (1,362 students): Desert Canyon Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.3:1 vs 17.9:1).
Scottsdale Unified District (4240) also operates Desert Mountain High School (1,905 students) and Chaparral High School (1,773 students) alongside Desert Canyon Elementary.
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 Desert Canyon Elementary compares
Desert Canyon Elementary on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$9,802
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
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Scottsdale Unified District (4240), which includes Desert Canyon Elementary.
$9,802
Per student
-25%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-41%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 68.5%
State 19.1%
Federal 12.5%
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 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
- 1,905
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- 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
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 (~453 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desert Canyon Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Desert Canyon Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Scottsdale Unified District (4240)'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 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.
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, attendance rates. 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.
Is Desert Canyon Elementary a good school?
Desert Canyon Elementary earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% 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 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.
Related tools
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.