- Enrollment
- 2,693
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 70/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Saint George, UT
Desert Canyons Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Desert Canyons Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 490114001627
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Canyons Elementary earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Utah schools.
- #6 of 11
- public schools in Saint George · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26.8:1
- large classes for Utah
- 13.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Canyons Elementary has class sizes larger than 90% of Utah schools. Computed live against every Utah school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Canyons Elementary ranks #6 of 11 public schools in Saint George, UT.
School address
District: Washington District · Utah
NCES ID 490114001627 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+95 students YoY
Desert Canyons Elementary grew from 510 students in 2022-23 to 605 in 2023-24 (+18.6%).
Teacher FTE added 25.0 → 27.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+95 students YoY 490114001627 · Saint George, UT Elementary · MID · TRAD
670 enr · 26.8:1 · 13.7% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Utah Online K8 (2,693 students)
Desert Canyons Elementary grew from 510 students in 2022-23 to 605 in 2023-24 (+18.6%). Teacher FTE added 25.0 → 27.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Utah schools → · Find another →
Desert Canyons Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Utah Online K8
Utah Online K8
2,693 students
- Utah Online 7-
Utah Online 7-12
1,547 students
- Crimson Cliffs
Crimson Cliffs High
1,401 students
- Snow Canyon Hi
Snow Canyon High
1,324 students
- Dixie High
Dixie High
1,263 students
- This school 670
Desert Canyons Elementary
670 students
What this shows Desert Canyons Elementary reports 670 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Canyons Elementary compares
Desert Canyons Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Utah and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Utah | Utah avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 26.8:1 | ▲ 25% | 21.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.7% | ▼ 51% | 28.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 670 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.8:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
670
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
13.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% below the Utah average of 28.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
26.8:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 90% in Utah - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
24.8%
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
$9,106
per pupil, district-wide
- below Utah avg of $10,678
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 670 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 77.5%
Hispanic or Latino 12.8%
Two or More 5.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.8%
African American 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Asian 0.1%
Largest group: White at 77.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.9, Desert Canyons Elementary is less mixed than the Utah school average of 40.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Washington District reports $9,106 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Canyons Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Online K8 | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Utah Online 7-12 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crimson Cliffs High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Snow Canyon High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dixie High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Canyons Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,547
- Students per teacher
- 29.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,401
- Students per teacher
- 28:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,324
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,263
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
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 (~670 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Canyons Elementary
How many students attend Desert Canyons Elementary?
Desert Canyons Elementary has 670 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Saint George, UT. CCD year-over-year: 510 (2022-23) → 605 (2023-24), up 95.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Canyons Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Canyons Elementary is 26.8:1, which is 25% higher than the Utah average of 21.4:1 and 71% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Canyons Elementary?
13.7% of students at Desert Canyons Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Utah average of 28.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Canyons Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Desert Canyons Elementary is White at 77.5% of enrollment, in Saint George, UT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Canyons Elementary?
Desert Canyons Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower 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 Canyons Elementary rank among public schools in Saint George?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Canyons Elementary ranks #6 of 11 public schools in Saint George, UT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Saint George on the city page.
What other schools are in Washington District?
Besides Desert Canyons Elementary, Washington District also operates Utah Online K8 (2,693 students), Utah Online 7-12 (1,547 students), and Crimson Cliffs High (1,401 students). See the Washington District district page for the complete list.