- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Scottsdale, AZ
Desert Shadows Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Shadows Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040593000478
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Shadows Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #21 of 26
- schools in Scottsdale · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.3:1
- students per teacher
- 11.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Shadows Elementary School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Shadows Elementary School ranks #21 of 26 schools in Scottsdale, AZ.
School address
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) · Arizona
NCES ID 040593000478 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
Desert Shadows Elementary School held near 479 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 34.8 → 34.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+15 students YoY 040593000478 · Scottsdale, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
554 enr · 16.3:1 · 11.0% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Pinnacle High School (2,430 students)
Desert Shadows Elementary School held near 479 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount). Teacher FTE held 34.8 → 34.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Shadows Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Pinnacle High
Pinnacle High School
2,430 students
- Paradise Valle
Paradise Valley High School
1,900 students
- Horizon High S
Horizon High School
1,767 students
- North Canyon H
North Canyon High School
1,560 students
- Shadow Mountai
Shadow Mountain High School
1,080 students
- This school 554
Desert Shadows Elementary School
554 students
What this shows Desert Shadows Elementary School reports 554 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Shadows Elementary School compares
Desert Shadows Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.3:1 | ▼ 4% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 11.0% | ▼ 77% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 554 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.3:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
554
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
11.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 77% 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
16.3:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 48% in Arizona - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$11,848
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 554 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.9%
Hispanic or Latino 19.1%
Two or More 7.4%
Asian 3.2%
African American 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 67.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.6, Desert Shadows Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) reports $11,848 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Shadows Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paradise Valley High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Canyon High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shadow Mountain High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Shadows Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,767
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,560
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,080
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Scottsdale
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Cactus Shadows High School
Standard public school
1,362 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Great Hearts Academies - Scottsdale Prep
Standard public school
898 students
Desert Sun Academy
Standard public school
191 students 8:1 students per teacher
Scottsdale Online Learning
Standard public school
141 students 5.9:1 students per teacher
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 (~554 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.3:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Shadows Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Shadows Elementary School?
Desert Shadows Elementary School has 554 students enrolled. It is a public school in Scottsdale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 464 (2022-23) → 479 (2023-24), nearly flat (+15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Elementary School is 16.3:1, which is 4% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 4% higher 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 Shadows Elementary School?
11.0% of students at Desert Shadows Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Shadows Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Shadows Elementary School is White at 67.9% of enrollment, in Scottsdale, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Shadows Elementary School?
Desert Shadows Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical 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 Shadows Elementary School rank among schools in Scottsdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Shadows Elementary School ranks #21 of 26 schools in Scottsdale, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Scottsdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)?
Besides Desert Shadows Elementary School, Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students), Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students), and Horizon High School (1,767 students). See the Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) district page for the complete list.