- Enrollment
- 2,823
- Students per teacher
- 25.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Glendale, AZ
Desert Sky Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Sky Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040775001147
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Sky Middle School earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools.
- #68 of 80
- public schools in Glendale · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.3:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 36.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Sky Middle School has class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sky Middle School ranks #68 of 80 public schools in Glendale, AZ.
School address
District: Deer Valley Unified District (4246) · Arizona
NCES ID 040775001147 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-1 students YoY
Desert Sky Middle School held near 647 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 30.4 → 29.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-1 students YoY 040775001147 · Glendale, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
640 enr · 21.3:1 · 36.9% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Mountain Ridge High School (2,823 students)
Desert Sky Middle School held near 647 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 30.4 → 29.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Sky Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mountain Ridge
Mountain Ridge High School
2,823 students
- Sandra Day O'c
Sandra Day O'connor High School
2,658 students
- Boulder Creek
Boulder Creek High School
2,221 students
- Deer Valley Hi
Deer Valley High School
1,707 students
- Barry Goldwate
Barry Goldwater High School
1,602 students
- This school 640
Desert Sky Middle School
640 students
What this shows Desert Sky Middle School reports 640 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Sky Middle School compares
Desert Sky 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 | 21.3:1 | ▲ 25% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.9% | ▼ 24% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 640 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.3:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
640
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.3:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 83% in Arizona - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
50.2%
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
$10,940
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
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 427 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
39
in-school suspensions + 59 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 52.0%
Hispanic or Latino 36.6%
Two or More 4.8%
African American 4.4%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 52.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.1, Desert Sky Middle School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Deer Valley Unified District (4246) reports $10,940 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Sky Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sandra Day O'connor High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Boulder Creek High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Deer Valley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Barry Goldwater High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Sky Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,658
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 2,221
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,707
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,602
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
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 (~640 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Sky Middle School
How many students attend Desert Sky Middle School?
Desert Sky Middle School has 640 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Glendale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 648 (2022-23) → 647 (2023-24), nearly flat (-1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Sky Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Sky Middle School is 21.3:1, which is 25% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Sky Middle School?
36.9% of students at Desert Sky Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Sky Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Sky Middle School is White at 52.0% of enrollment, in Glendale, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Sky Middle School?
Desert Sky Middle School 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 Sky Middle School rank among public schools in Glendale?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sky Middle School ranks #68 of 80 public schools in Glendale, 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 Glendale on the city page.
What other schools are in Deer Valley Unified District (4246)?
Besides Desert Sky Middle School, Deer Valley Unified District (4246) also operates Mountain Ridge High School (2,823 students), Sandra Day O'connor High School (2,658 students), and Boulder Creek High School (2,221 students). See the Deer Valley Unified District (4246) district page for the complete list.