- Enrollment
- 2,307
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Reno, NV
Desert Heights Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Desert Heights Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 320048000426
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Heights Elementary earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nevada median.
- #30 of 36
- schools in Reno · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.8:1
- students per teacher
- 95.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Heights Elementary has class sizes near the Nevada median. Computed live against every Nevada school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Heights Elementary ranks #30 of 36 schools in Reno, NV.
School address
District: Washoe County School District · Nevada
NCES ID 320048000426 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+44 students YoY
Desert Heights Elementary grew from 463 students in 2022-23 to 507 in 2023-24 (+9.5%).
Teacher FTE added 24.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+44 students YoY 320048000426 · Reno, NV Other · SMALL · TRAD
474 enr · 19.8:1 · 95.7% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: North Valleys High School (2,307 students)
Desert Heights Elementary grew from 463 students in 2022-23 to 507 in 2023-24 (+9.5%). Teacher FTE added 24.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Nevada schools → · Find another →
Desert Heights Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- North Valleys
North Valleys High School
2,307 students
- Spanish Spring
Spanish Springs High School
2,131 students
- Edward C. Reed
Edward C. Reed High School
2,092 students
- Procter R. Hug
Procter R. Hug High School
2,008 students
- Reno High Scho
Reno High School
1,741 students
- This school 474
Desert Heights Elementary
474 students
What this shows Desert Heights Elementary reports 474 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Heights Elementary compares
Desert Heights Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Nevada and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nevada | Nevada avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.8:1 | ▼ 3% | 20.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 95.7% | ▲ 25% | 76.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 474 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.8:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
474
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
95.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% above the Nevada average of 76.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.8:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 60% in Nevada - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.5%
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
$10,869
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nevada avg of $16,469
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 474 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 51.7%
White 27.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 8.2%
Two or More 6.3%
African American 3.2%
Asian 3.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 51.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.7, Desert Heights Elementary is more mixed than the Nevada school average of 56.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Washoe County School District reports $10,869 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Heights Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Valleys High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanish Springs High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edward C. Reed High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Procter R. Hug High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Reno High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Heights Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,131
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 2,092
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,008
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar other schools in Reno
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~474 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Heights Elementary
How many students attend Desert Heights Elementary?
Desert Heights Elementary has 474 students enrolled. It is a public school in Reno, NV. CCD year-over-year: 463 (2022-23) → 507 (2023-24), up 44.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Heights Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Heights Elementary is 19.8:1, which is 3% lower than the Nevada average of 20.5:1 and 26% 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 Heights Elementary?
95.7% of students at Desert Heights Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nevada average of 76.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Heights Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Desert Heights Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 51.7% of enrollment, in Reno, NV. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Heights Elementary?
Desert Heights Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (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 Heights Elementary rank among schools in Reno?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Heights Elementary ranks #30 of 36 schools in Reno, NV. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Reno on the city page.
What other schools are in Washoe County School District?
Besides Desert Heights Elementary, Washoe County School District also operates North Valleys High School (2,307 students), Spanish Springs High School (2,131 students), and Edward C. Reed High School (2,092 students). See the Washoe County School District district page for the complete list.