- Enrollment
- 1,905
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Scottsdale, AZ
Desert Canyon Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Canyon Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040757000603
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Canyon Middle School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #3 of 7
- middle schools in Scottsdale · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- students per teacher
- 10.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Canyon Middle School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Canyon Middle School ranks #3 of 7 middle schools in Scottsdale, AZ.
School address
District: Scottsdale Unified District (4240) · Arizona
NCES ID 040757000603 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-62 students YoY
Desert Canyon Middle School shrank from 490 students in 2022-23 to 428 in 2023-24 (-12.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 29.8 → 25.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-62 students YoY 040757000603 · Scottsdale, AZ Middle · SMALL · TRAD
423 enr · 14.6:1 · 10.8% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Desert Mountain High School (1,905 students)
Desert Canyon Middle School shrank from 490 students in 2022-23 to 428 in 2023-24 (-12.7%). Teacher FTE lost 29.8 → 25.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Canyon Middle School 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 423
Desert Canyon Middle School
423 students
What this shows Desert Canyon Middle School reports 423 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Canyon Middle School compares
Desert Canyon Middle School 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 | 14.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.8% | ▼ 78% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 423 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
423
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
10.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 78% 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
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 32% in Arizona - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.4%
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
$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
Counselors1.4 FTE
Per 302 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 27 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 70.0%
Hispanic or Latino 12.1%
Asian 8.3%
African American 4.7%
Two or More 3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 70.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.5, Desert Canyon Middle School is about as mixed as 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 Middle School 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cheyenne Traditional School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Canyon Middle School'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
Nationwide middle 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 (~423 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Canyon Middle School
How many students attend Desert Canyon Middle School?
Desert Canyon Middle School has 423 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Scottsdale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 490 (2022-23) → 428 (2023-24), down 62.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Canyon Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Canyon Middle School is 14.6:1, which is 14% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 7% 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 Middle School?
10.8% of students at Desert Canyon Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Canyon Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Canyon Middle School is White at 70.0% of enrollment, in Scottsdale, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Canyon Middle School?
Desert Canyon Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Desert Canyon Middle School rank among middle schools in Scottsdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Canyon Middle School ranks #3 of 7 middle 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 middle schools in Scottsdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Scottsdale Unified District (4240)?
Besides Desert Canyon Middle School, 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.