- Enrollment
- 939
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Desert Mesa Elementary School held near 827 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 38.0 → 42.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 040960001804 · Yuma, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
876 enr · 23.1:1 · 50.9% lunch · RII 19
Nearest enrollment peer: Castle Dome Middle School (939 students)
Desert Mesa Elementary School held near 827 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 38.0 → 42.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Mesa Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Castle Dome Mi
Castle Dome Middle School
939 students
- Mary a Otondo
Mary a Otondo Elementary School
893 students
- This school
Desert Mesa Elementary School
876 students
- Sunrise Elemen
Sunrise Elementary School
655 students
- R Pete Woodard
R Pete Woodard Jr High School
614 students
- Dorothy Hall E
Dorothy Hall Elementary
601 students
What this shows Desert Mesa Elementary School reports 876 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Mesa Elementary School compares
Desert Mesa 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 | 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 methodology
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
$10,416
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
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.
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
District finance for Yuma Elementary District (4499) reports $10,416 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
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 (~876 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 841 (2022-23) → 827 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.