Enrollment
1,020
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Laveen, AZ
Desert Meadows Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Meadows Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040429002769
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Meadows Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Arizona schools.
- #6 of 7
- schools in Laveen · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.2:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 59.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Meadows Elementary School has class sizes larger than 71% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Meadows Elementary School ranks #6 of 7 schools in Laveen, AZ.
School address
District: Laveen Elementary District (4276) · Arizona
NCES ID 040429002769 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
53.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.2:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
59.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+22% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desert Meadows Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desert Meadows Elementary School
Desert Meadows Elementary School is a higher-need, large combined-grade school in Laveen, Arizona, enrolling 1,020 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 59.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 91% of state schools at 1,020 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 155 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #93.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (60%) and African American (24%) (diversity index 58/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 1020 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 50.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Laveen Elementary District (4276) spends $9,365 per pupil, 29% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 16.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Laveen's public schools, it stands alongside Estrella Foothills Global Academy (984 students): Desert Meadows Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.2:1 vs 24:1).
Laveen Elementary District (4276) also operates Rogers Ranch School (997 students) and Paseo Pointe School (988 students) alongside Desert Meadows Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Desert Meadows Elementary School compares
Desert Meadows Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.2:1 | ▲ 13% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.0% | ▲ 22% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,020 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,020
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
59.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 71% in Arizona - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
50.4%
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
$9,365
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,145
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 1020 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 52 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 59.8%
African American 23.9%
White 6.5%
Two or More 4.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.7%
Asian 1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 59.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.8, Desert Meadows Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Laveen Elementary District (4276), which includes Desert Meadows Elementary School.
$9,365
Per student
-29%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-44%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.7%
State 53.8%
Federal 16.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Desert Meadows Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogers Ranch School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Paseo Pointe School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Estrella Foothills Global Academy | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Laveen Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Vista Del Sur Accelerated | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Meadows Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 997
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 988
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 984
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 894
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 893
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools in Laveen
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arizona, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,020 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desert Meadows Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Desert Meadows Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Laveen Elementary District (4276)'s spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Desert Meadows Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Meadows Elementary School?
Desert Meadows Elementary School has 1,020 students enrolled. It is a public school in Laveen, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Meadows Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Meadows Elementary School is 19.2:1, which is 13% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Meadows Elementary School?
59.0% of students at Desert Meadows Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Meadows Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Meadows Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 59.8% of enrollment, in Laveen, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Meadows Elementary School?
Desert Meadows Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Meadows Elementary School rank among schools in Laveen?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Meadows Elementary School ranks #6 of 7 schools in Laveen, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Laveen on the city page.
Is Desert Meadows Elementary School a good school?
Desert Meadows Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Arizona schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Laveen Elementary District (4276)?
Besides Desert Meadows Elementary School, Laveen Elementary District (4276) also operates Rogers Ranch School (997 students), Paseo Pointe School (988 students), and Estrella Foothills Global Academy (984 students). See the Laveen Elementary District (4276) district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.