- Enrollment
- 960
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Phoenix, AZ
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism
Federal NCES profile for Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040168000092
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 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 Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #15 of 24
- middle schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.6:1
- students per teacher
- 61.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism ranks #15 of 24 middle schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Cartwright Elementary District (4282) · Arizona
NCES ID 040168000092 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-54 students YoY
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism shrank from 572 students in 2022-23 to 518 in 2023-24 (-9.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 29.0 → 28.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-54 students YoY 040168000092 · Phoenix, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
510 enr · 17.6:1 · 61.9% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Frank Borman School (960 students)
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism shrank from 572 students in 2022-23 to 518 in 2023-24 (-9.4%). Teacher FTE lost 29.0 → 28.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Frank Borman S
Frank Borman School
960 students
- Charles W. Har
Charles W. Harris School
875 students
- Peralta School
Peralta School
817 students
- Manuel Pena Jr
Manuel Pena Jr. School
806 students
- Sunset School
Sunset School
739 students
- This school
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism
510 students
What this shows Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism reports 510 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism compares
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism 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 | 17.6:1 | ▲ 4% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.9% | ▲ 28% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 510 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
510
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
61.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 60% in Arizona - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
54.1%
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
$11,949
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 510 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
36
in-school suspensions + 99 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 85.7%
African American 8.4%
White 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.0%
Asian 0.6%
Two or More 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 85.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.7, Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cartwright Elementary District (4282) reports $11,949 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Borman School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Charles W. Harris School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Peralta School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Manuel Pena Jr. School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sunset School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 875
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 817
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 806
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 739
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar middle schools in Phoenix
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~510 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism
How many students attend Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism?
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism has 510 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Phoenix, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 572 (2022-23) → 518 (2023-24), down 54.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism is 17.6:1, which is 4% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism?
61.9% of students at Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism?
The largest demographic group at Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism is Hispanic or Latino at 85.7% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism?
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (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 Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism rank among middle schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism ranks #15 of 24 middle schools in Phoenix, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Phoenix on the city page.
What other schools are in Cartwright Elementary District (4282)?
Besides Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism, Cartwright Elementary District (4282) also operates Frank Borman School (960 students), Charles W. Harris School (875 students), and Peralta School (817 students). See the Cartwright Elementary District (4282) district page for the complete list.