- Enrollment
- 1,491
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Santa Fe, NM
Desert Sage Academy
Federal NCES profile for Desert Sage Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 79/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 350237000788
👥 S:T ratio 87
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 80
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Sage Academy earns 79/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 99% of New Mexico schools.
- #1 of 24
- schools in Santa Fe · Resource Index
- 79
- Resource Index · Higher
- 3.3:1
- small classes for New Mexico
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Sage Academy has class sizes smaller than 99% of New Mexico schools. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sage Academy ranks #1 of 24 schools in Santa Fe, NM.
School address
District: Santa Fe Public Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350237000788 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Desert Sage Academy shrank from 313 students in 2022-23 to 281 in 2023-24 (-10.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 21.1 → 13.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-32 students YoY 350237000788 · Santa Fe, NM Other · SMALL · TRAD
69 enr · 3.3:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 79
Nearest enrollment peer: Santa Fe High (1,491 students)
Desert Sage Academy shrank from 313 students in 2022-23 to 281 in 2023-24 (-10.2%). Teacher FTE lost 21.1 → 13.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
Desert Sage Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Santa Fe High
Santa Fe High
1,491 students
- Capital High
Capital High
1,388 students
- El Camino Real
El Camino Real Academy Community
704 students
- Nina Otero Com
Nina Otero Community School
629 students
- Pinon Elementa 513
Pinon Elementary
513 students
- This school 69
Desert Sage Academy
69 students
What this shows Desert Sage Academy reports 69 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Sage Academy compares
Desert Sage Academy is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Mexico and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Mexico | New Mexico avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 3.3:1 | ▼ 76% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 69 | top 86% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
3.3:1
Leaner classes than 99% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
69
Bigger than 7% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the New Mexico average of 80.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
3.3:1
students per teacher
- 76% below state mean
Top 1% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 100% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$14,817
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Mexico avg of $19,381
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.7 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 85.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 8.7%
White 5.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 85.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.8, Desert Sage Academy is less mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Santa Fe Public Schools reports $14,817 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Sage Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Capital High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| El Camino Real Academy Community | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Nina Otero Community School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pinon Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Sage Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,388
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 704
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 629
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 513
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
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 (~69 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Sage Academy
How many students attend Desert Sage Academy?
Desert Sage Academy has 69 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Santa Fe, NM. CCD year-over-year: 313 (2022-23) → 281 (2023-24), down 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Sage Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Sage Academy is 3.3:1, which is 76% lower than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 79% 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 Sage Academy?
100.0% of students at Desert Sage Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Sage Academy?
The largest demographic group at Desert Sage Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 85.5% of enrollment, in Santa Fe, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Sage Academy?
Desert Sage Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 79/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Sage Academy rank among schools in Santa Fe?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sage Academy ranks #1 of 24 schools in Santa Fe, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Santa Fe on the city page.
What other schools are in Santa Fe Public Schools?
Besides Desert Sage Academy, Santa Fe Public Schools also operates Santa Fe High (1,491 students), Capital High (1,388 students), and El Camino Real Academy Community (704 students). See the Santa Fe Public Schools district page for the complete list.