- Enrollment
- 979
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Phoenix, AZ
Desert Foothills Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Foothills Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040906000922
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Foothills Middle School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #8 of 24
- middle schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.8:1
- students per teacher
- 45.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Foothills Middle School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Foothills Middle School ranks #8 of 24 middle schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Washington Elementary School District (4260) · Arizona
NCES ID 040906000922 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-18 students YoY
Desert Foothills Middle School held near 614 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-18 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 37.5 → 45.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-18 students YoY 040906000922 · Phoenix, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
621 enr · 16.8:1 · 45.9% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Lookout Mountain School (979 students)
Desert Foothills Middle School held near 614 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-18 headcount). Teacher FTE added 37.5 → 45.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Foothills Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lookout Mounta
Lookout Mountain School
979 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View Elementary School
903 students
- Acacia Element
Acacia Elementary School
806 students
- Orangewood Sch
Orangewood School
797 students
- Palo Verde Mid
Palo Verde Middle School
797 students
- This school
Desert Foothills Middle School
621 students
What this shows Desert Foothills Middle School reports 621 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Foothills Middle School compares
Desert Foothills Middle 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 | 16.8:1 | ▼ 1% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 45.9% | ▼ 5% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 621 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
621
Bigger than 75% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
45.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 53% in Arizona - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
66.3%
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
$12,008
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
128
in-school suspensions + 176 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 20.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 49.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 50.2%
White 33.0%
African American 8.4%
Two or More 4.2%
Asian 2.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 50.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.9, Desert Foothills Middle School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Washington Elementary School District (4260) reports $12,008 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Foothills Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lookout Mountain School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Acacia Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Orangewood School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Palo Verde Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Foothills Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 903
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 806
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 797
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 797
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar middle schools in Phoenix
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~621 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Foothills Middle School
How many students attend Desert Foothills Middle School?
Desert Foothills Middle School has 621 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Phoenix, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 632 (2022-23) → 614 (2023-24), nearly flat (-18).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Foothills Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Foothills Middle School is 16.8:1, which is 1% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 7% higher 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 Foothills Middle School?
45.9% of students at Desert Foothills Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Foothills Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Foothills Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 50.2% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Foothills Middle School?
Desert Foothills Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical 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 Foothills Middle School rank among middle schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Foothills Middle School ranks #8 of 24 middle 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 middle schools in Phoenix on the city page.
What other schools are in Washington Elementary School District (4260)?
Besides Desert Foothills Middle School, Washington Elementary School District (4260) also operates Lookout Mountain School (979 students), Mountain View Elementary School (903 students), and Acacia Elementary School (806 students). See the Washington Elementary School District (4260) district page for the complete list.