- Enrollment
- 1,773
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Scottsdale, AZ
Desert Mountain High School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Mountain High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 040757000604
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Mountain High School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona.
- #6 of 7
- public schools in Scottsdale · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.9:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 6.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Mountain High School has class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Mountain High School ranks #6 of 7 public schools in Scottsdale, AZ.
School address
District: Scottsdale Unified District (4240) · Arizona
NCES ID 040757000604 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+60 students YoY
Desert Mountain High School held near 1,940 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+60 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 87.1 → 93.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+60 students YoY 040757000604 · Scottsdale, AZ High · MID · TRAD
1,905 enr · 21.9:1 · 6.0% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Chaparral High School (1,773 students)
Desert Mountain High School held near 1,940 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+60 headcount). Teacher FTE added 87.1 → 93.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Mountain High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Desert Mountain High School
1,905 students
- Chaparral High
Chaparral High School
1,773 students
- Arcadia High S
Arcadia High School
1,679 students
- Saguaro High S
Saguaro High School
1,300 students
- Cheyenne Tradi
Cheyenne Traditional School
953 students
- Cocopah Middle
Cocopah Middle School
861 students
What this shows Desert Mountain High School reports 1,905 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Mountain High School compares
Desert Mountain High 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 | 21.9:1 | ▲ 29% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 6.0% | ▼ 88% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,905 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.9:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,905
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
6.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 88% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.9:1
students per teacher
- 29% above state mean
Top 86% in Arizona - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
43.1%
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
$11,306
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 476 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 87 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 69.7%
Asian 12.6%
Hispanic or Latino 9.7%
Two or More 3.3%
African American 3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 69.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.7, Desert Mountain High School is about as mixed as the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 15
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Scottsdale Unified District (4240) reports $11,306 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Mountain High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaparral High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Arcadia High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Saguaro High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cheyenne Traditional School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cocopah Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Mountain High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,679
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,300
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 953
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 861
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Nationwide high 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 (~1,905 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.9:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Mountain High School
How many students attend Desert Mountain High School?
Desert Mountain High School has 1,905 students enrolled. It is a high school in Scottsdale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 1,880 (2022-23) → 1,940 (2023-24), nearly flat (+60).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Mountain High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Mountain High School is 21.9:1, which is 29% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 39% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Mountain High School?
6.0% of students at Desert Mountain High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Mountain High School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Mountain High School is White at 69.7% of enrollment, in Scottsdale, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Mountain High School?
Desert Mountain High School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (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 Mountain High School rank among public schools in Scottsdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Mountain High School ranks #6 of 7 public schools in Scottsdale, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Scottsdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Scottsdale Unified District (4240)?
Besides Desert Mountain High School, Scottsdale Unified District (4240) also operates Chaparral High School (1,773 students), Arcadia High School (1,679 students), and Saguaro High School (1,300 students). See the Scottsdale Unified District (4240) district page for the complete list.