- Enrollment
- 2,510
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Glendale, AZ
Desert Palms Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Palms Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040625000510
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Palms Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Arizona schools.
- #14 of 46
- schools in Glendale · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 50.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Palms Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 74% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Palms Elementary School ranks #14 of 46 schools in Glendale, AZ.
School address
District: Peoria Unified School District (4237) · Arizona
NCES ID 040625000510 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-62 students YoY
Desert Palms Elementary School shrank from 477 students in 2022-23 to 415 in 2023-24 (-13.0%).
Teacher FTE added 27.3 → 28.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-62 students YoY 040625000510 · Glendale, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
373 enr · 13.8:1 · 50.9% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Liberty High School (2,510 students)
Desert Palms Elementary School shrank from 477 students in 2022-23 to 415 in 2023-24 (-13.0%). Teacher FTE added 27.3 → 28.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Palms Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Liberty High S
Liberty High School
2,510 students
- Centennial Hig
Centennial High School
2,026 students
- Sunrise Mounta
Sunrise Mountain High School
1,896 students
- Ironwood High
Ironwood High School
1,804 students
- Raymond S. Kel
Raymond S. Kellis
1,691 students
- This school 373
Desert Palms Elementary School
373 students
What this shows Desert Palms Elementary School reports 373 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Palms Elementary School compares
Desert Palms Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▼ 19% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.9% | ▲ 5% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 373 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
373
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 26% in Arizona - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
60.6%
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
$10,026
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 46.9%
White 32.2%
African American 8.8%
Two or More 5.6%
Asian 3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 46.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.3, Desert Palms Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Peoria Unified School District (4237) reports $10,026 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Palms Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Centennial High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sunrise Mountain High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ironwood High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Raymond S. Kellis | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Palms Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,026
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,896
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,804
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,691
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar other schools in Glendale
1 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 (~373 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Palms Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Palms Elementary School?
Desert Palms Elementary School has 373 students enrolled. It is a public school in Glendale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 477 (2022-23) → 415 (2023-24), down 62.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Palms Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Palms Elementary School is 13.8:1, which is 19% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 12% lower 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 Palms Elementary School?
50.9% of students at Desert Palms Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Palms Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Palms Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 46.9% of enrollment, in Glendale, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Palms Elementary School?
Desert Palms Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Palms Elementary School rank among schools in Glendale?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Palms Elementary School ranks #14 of 46 schools in Glendale, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Glendale on the city page.
What other schools are in Peoria Unified School District (4237)?
Besides Desert Palms Elementary School, Peoria Unified School District (4237) also operates Liberty High School (2,510 students), Centennial High School (2,026 students), and Sunrise Mountain High School (1,896 students). See the Peoria Unified School District (4237) district page for the complete list.