- Enrollment
- 1,774
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Nogales, AZ
Desert Shadows Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Shadows Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040553001238
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 10
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Shadows Middle School earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Arizona schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Nogales · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.4:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 62.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Shadows Middle School has class sizes larger than 88% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Shadows Middle School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Nogales, AZ.
School address
District: Nogales Unified District (4457) · Arizona
NCES ID 040553001238 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Desert Shadows Middle School held near 765 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 35.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 040553001238 · Nogales, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
784 enr · 22.4:1 · 62.9% lunch · RII 18
Nearest enrollment peer: Nogales High School (1,774 students)
Desert Shadows Middle School held near 765 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 35.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Shadows Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Nogales High S
Nogales High School
1,774 students
- This school
Desert Shadows Middle School
784 students
- Wade Carpenter 547
Wade Carpenter Middle School
547 students
- Francisco Vasq 508
Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Elementary School
508 students
- Lincoln Elemen 421
Lincoln Elementary School
421 students
- Mary L Welty E 381
Mary L Welty Elementary School
381 students
What this shows Desert Shadows Middle School reports 784 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Shadows Middle School compares
Desert Shadows Middle 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 | 22.4:1 | ▲ 32% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.9% | ▲ 30% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 784 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.4:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
784
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% 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
22.4:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 88% in Arizona - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
36.1%
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
$9,157
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 392 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 74 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 99.4%
White 0.3%
Asian 0.3%
African American 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 99.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 1.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 1.2, Desert Shadows Middle School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
District finance for Nogales Unified District (4457) reports $9,157 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Shadows Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nogales High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wade Carpenter Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mary L Welty Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Shadows Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 547
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 508
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 421
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 381
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
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 (~784 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Shadows Middle School
How many students attend Desert Shadows Middle School?
Desert Shadows Middle School has 784 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Nogales, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 760 (2022-23) → 765 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Middle School is 22.4:1, which is 32% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 43% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Shadows Middle School?
62.9% of students at Desert Shadows Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Shadows Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Shadows Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 99.4% of enrollment, in Nogales, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Shadows Middle School?
Desert Shadows Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (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 Shadows Middle School rank among public schools in Nogales?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Shadows Middle School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Nogales, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Nogales on the city page.
What other schools are in Nogales Unified District (4457)?
Besides Desert Shadows Middle School, Nogales Unified District (4457) also operates Nogales High School (1,774 students), Wade Carpenter Middle School (547 students), and Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Elementary School (508 students). See the Nogales Unified District (4457) district page for the complete list.