Enrollment
510
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.6:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
61.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 510 students.
At 17.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Arizona median, within a few percentage points of the 17:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 61.9% of students eligible for free meals.
With 510 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 337 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #214.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (86% of enrollment) (diversity index 26/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 510 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 54.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 41.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 135 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 510 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Phoenix's middle schools, it stands alongside Sonoran Trails Middle School (615 students): Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.6:1 vs 17.6:1).
Cartwright Elementary District (4282) also operates Frank Borman School (960 students) and Charles W. Harris School (875 students) alongside Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism.
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 Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism compares
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$11,851
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
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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cartwright Elementary District (4282), which includes Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism.
$11,851
Per student
-10%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.7%
State 42.2%
Federal 41.1%
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 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
- 960
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- 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.
Similar middle 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 (~510 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism's federal record.
- Compare Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism against another school. Compare schools
- Cartwright Elementary District (4282)'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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism a good school?
Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. 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 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.
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.