- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Phoenix, AZ
Desert Cove Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Cove Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040593000477
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Cove Elementary School earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 80% of Arizona schools.
- #15 of 179
- schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 26.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Cove Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 80% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Cove Elementary School ranks #15 of 179 schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) · Arizona
NCES ID 040593000477 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
Desert Cove Elementary School held near 385 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 32.9 → 31.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-11 students YoY 040593000477 · Phoenix, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
414 enr · 12.9:1 · 26.8% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Pinnacle High School (2,430 students)
Desert Cove Elementary School held near 385 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 32.9 → 31.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Cove Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Pinnacle High
Pinnacle High School
2,430 students
- Paradise Valle
Paradise Valley High School
1,900 students
- Horizon High S
Horizon High School
1,767 students
- North Canyon H
North Canyon High School
1,560 students
- Shadow Mountai
Shadow Mountain High School
1,080 students
- This school 414
Desert Cove Elementary School
414 students
What this shows Desert Cove Elementary School reports 414 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Cove Elementary School compares
Desert Cove Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 24% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.8% | ▼ 45% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 414 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
414
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 45% 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
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 20% in Arizona - lower ratio than 80% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$11,848
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
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 51.4%
Hispanic or Latino 36.2%
Two or More 6.0%
African American 2.4%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: White at 51.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.0, Desert Cove Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) reports $11,848 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Cove Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paradise Valley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Canyon High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shadow Mountain High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Cove Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,767
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,560
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,080
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Phoenix
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pan-American Charter School
Standard public school
1,221 students
Great Hearts Academies - Anthem Prep
Standard public school
1,031 students
Westwind Elementary School
Standard public school
932 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Stetson Hills School
Standard public school
887 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Union Park School
Standard public school
873 students 19:1 students per teacher
Fireside Elementary School
Standard public school
693 students 15.1:1 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 (~414 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Cove Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Cove Elementary School?
Desert Cove Elementary School has 414 students enrolled. It is a public school in Phoenix, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 396 (2022-23) → 385 (2023-24), nearly flat (-11).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Cove Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Cove Elementary School is 12.9:1, which is 24% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 18% 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 Cove Elementary School?
26.8% of students at Desert Cove Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Cove Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Cove Elementary School is White at 51.4% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Cove Elementary School?
Desert Cove Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Desert Cove Elementary School rank among schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Cove Elementary School ranks #15 of 179 schools in Phoenix, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Phoenix on the city page.
What other schools are in Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)?
Besides Desert Cove Elementary School, Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students), Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students), and Horizon High School (1,767 students). See the Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) district page for the complete list.