Enrollment
2,103
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mesa, AZ
Desert Ridge High
Federal NCES profile for Desert Ridge High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040340002283
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Ridge High earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona.
- #40 of 70
- schools in Mesa · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.5:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 15.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Ridge High has class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Ridge High ranks #40 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ.
School address
District: Gilbert Unified District (4239) · Arizona
NCES ID 040340002283 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
98.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.5:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
15.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-69% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desert Ridge High compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desert Ridge High
Desert Ridge High is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Mesa, Arizona, enrolling 2,103 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 15.0% free-meal eligibility runs 69% below the Arizona average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 98% of state schools at 2,103 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 58 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #16.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and Hispanic or Latino (29%) (diversity index 58/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 421 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
The surrounding Gilbert Unified District (4239) spends $9,253 per pupil, 30% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Mesa's public schools, it stands alongside Eastmark High School (1,889 students): Desert Ridge High is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (21.5:1 vs 23.6:1).
Gilbert Unified District (4239) also operates Highland High School (2,992 students) and Gilbert High School (2,418 students) alongside Desert Ridge High.
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 Ridge High compares
Desert Ridge High on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.5:1 | ▲ 26% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.0% | ▼ 69% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,103 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.5:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,103
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
15.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% 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
21.5:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 84% in Arizona - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$9,253
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 421 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
27
in-school suspensions + 154 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.6 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
White 57.0%
Hispanic or Latino 29.4%
Two or More 6.1%
African American 3.5%
Asian 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 57.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.3, Desert Ridge High is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 21
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Gilbert Unified District (4239), which includes Desert Ridge High.
$9,253
Per student
-30%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-44%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.1%
State 44.8%
Federal 12.1%
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 Ridge High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gilbert High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Campo Verde High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mesquite High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Greenfield Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Ridge High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,992
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,418
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,863
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,303
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,160
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in Mesa
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Eastmark High School
Standard public school
1,889 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Sequoia Choice School Arizona Distance Learning School
Standard public school
1,711 students
Silver Valley Elementary
Standard public school
1,384 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
Astravo Online Academy
Standard public school
849 students
Eagleridge Enrichment Program
Standard public school
694 students 63.1:1 students per teacher
American Leadership Academy Virtual
Standard public school
660 students
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 (~2,103 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desert Ridge High's federal record.
- Compare Desert Ridge High against another school. Compare schools
- Gilbert Unified District (4239)'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 Ridge High
How many students attend Desert Ridge High?
Desert Ridge High has 2,103 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mesa, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Ridge High?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Ridge High is 21.5:1, which is 26% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 37% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Ridge High?
15.0% of students at Desert Ridge High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Ridge High?
The largest demographic group at Desert Ridge High is White at 57.0% of enrollment, in Mesa, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Ridge High?
Desert Ridge High has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Ridge High rank among schools in Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Ridge High ranks #40 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Mesa on the city page.
Is Desert Ridge High a good school?
Desert Ridge High earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona. 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 Gilbert Unified District (4239)?
Besides Desert Ridge High, Gilbert Unified District (4239) also operates Highland High School (2,992 students), Gilbert High School (2,418 students), and Campo Verde High School (1,863 students). See the Gilbert Unified District (4239) 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.