Enrollment
876
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Yuma, AZ
Desert Mesa Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Mesa Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 19/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040960001804
👥 S:T ratio 8
🌟 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 Mesa Elementary School earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Arizona schools.
- #18 of 21
- schools in Yuma · Resource Index
- 19
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.1:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 50.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Mesa Elementary School has class sizes larger than 90% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Mesa Elementary School ranks #18 of 21 schools in Yuma, AZ.
School address
District: Yuma Elementary District (4499) · Arizona
NCES ID 040960001804 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
23.1:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+36% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
50.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+5% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desert Mesa Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desert Mesa Elementary School
Desert Mesa Elementary School is a higher-need, large combined-grade school in Yuma, Arizona, enrolling 876 students.
Class loads run heavy: 23.1:1 is larger than about 90% of Arizona schools and 36% above the 17:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 50.9% lands close to the Arizona typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 876 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 227 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #175, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (77%) and White (19%) (diversity index 36/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 876 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 41.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Yuma Elementary District (4499) spends $9,775 per pupil, 26% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 32.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Yuma's public schools, it stands alongside Sunrise Elementary School (655 students): Desert Mesa Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (23.1:1 vs 21.1:1).
Yuma Elementary District (4499) also operates Castle Dome Middle School (939 students) and Mary a Otondo Elementary School (893 students) alongside Desert Mesa 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 Mesa Elementary School compares
Desert Mesa 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 | 23.1:1 | ▲ 36% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.9% | ▲ 5% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 876 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.1:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
876
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
50.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% 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
23.1:1
students per teacher
- 36% above state mean
Top 90% in Arizona - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
41.1%
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
$9,775
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 876 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.8 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 77.4%
White 19.3%
Two or More 1.5%
African American 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Asian 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 77.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.3, Desert Mesa Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Yuma Elementary District (4499), which includes Desert Mesa Elementary School.
$9,775
Per student
-26%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-41%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.6%
State 45.2%
Federal 32.3%
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 Mesa Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Dome Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mary a Otondo Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sunrise Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| R Pete Woodard Jr High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dorothy Hall Elementary | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Mesa Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 939
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 893
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 8/100
- Enrollment
- 655
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 601
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Yuma
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sunrise Elementary School
Standard public school
655 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Dorothy Hall Elementary
Standard public school
601 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Mesquite Elementary
Standard public school
568 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
James D Price School
Standard public school
63 students 9:1 students per teacher
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 (~876 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desert Mesa Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Desert Mesa Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Yuma Elementary District (4499)'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 Mesa Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Mesa Elementary School?
Desert Mesa Elementary School has 876 students enrolled. It is a public school in Yuma, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Mesa Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Mesa Elementary School is 23.1:1, which is 36% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 47% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Mesa Elementary School?
50.9% of students at Desert Mesa Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Mesa Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Mesa Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 77.4% of enrollment, in Yuma, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Mesa Elementary School?
Desert Mesa Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 19/100 (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 Mesa Elementary School rank among schools in Yuma?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Mesa Elementary School ranks #18 of 21 schools in Yuma, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Yuma on the city page.
Is Desert Mesa Elementary School a good school?
Desert Mesa Elementary School earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% 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 Yuma Elementary District (4499)?
Besides Desert Mesa Elementary School, Yuma Elementary District (4499) also operates Castle Dome Middle School (939 students), Mary a Otondo Elementary School (893 students), and Sunrise Elementary School (655 students). See the Yuma Elementary District (4499) 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.