- Enrollment
- 697
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Somerton, AZ
Desert Sonora Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Sonora Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040789001565
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Sonora Elementary School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #1 of 4
- schools in Somerton · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.2:1
- students per teacher
- 74.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Sonora Elementary School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sonora Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 schools in Somerton, AZ.
School address
District: Somerton Elementary District (4500) · Arizona
NCES ID 040789001565 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-36 students YoY
Desert Sonora Elementary School shrank from 439 students in 2022-23 to 403 in 2023-24 (-8.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 25.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-36 students YoY 040789001565 · Somerton, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
406 enr · 16.2:1 · 74.9% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Somerton Middle School (697 students)
Desert Sonora Elementary School shrank from 439 students in 2022-23 to 403 in 2023-24 (-8.2%). Teacher FTE lost 25.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Sonora Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Somerton Middl
Somerton Middle School
697 students
- Tierra Del Sol
Tierra Del Sol Elementary School
579 students
- Orange Grove E
Orange Grove Elementary School
412 students
- This school
Desert Sonora Elementary School
406 students
- Encanto Learni
Encanto Learning Center
403 students
- Sun Valley Ele 260
Sun Valley Elementary School
260 students
What this shows Desert Sonora Elementary School reports 406 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Sonora Elementary School compares
Desert Sonora Elementary School 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 | 16.2:1 | ▼ 5% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.9% | ▲ 55% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 406 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.2:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
406
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
74.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% 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
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 47% in Arizona - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
44.3%
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
$11,752
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 406 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 97.3%
White 2.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Two or More 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 97.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 5.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 5.3, Desert Sonora Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
District finance for Somerton Elementary District (4500) reports $11,752 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Sonora Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somerton Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tierra Del Sol Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Orange Grove Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Encanto Learning Center | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sun Valley Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Sonora Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 579
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 412
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 403
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 260
- Students per teacher
- 26:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
Similar other schools in Somerton
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~406 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Sonora Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Sonora Elementary School?
Desert Sonora Elementary School has 406 students enrolled. It is a public school in Somerton, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 439 (2022-23) → 403 (2023-24), down 36.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Sonora Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Sonora Elementary School is 16.2:1, which is 5% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 3% 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 Sonora Elementary School?
74.9% of students at Desert Sonora Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Sonora Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Sonora Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 97.3% of enrollment, in Somerton, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Sonora Elementary School?
Desert Sonora Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (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 Sonora Elementary School rank among schools in Somerton?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sonora Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 schools in Somerton, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Somerton on the city page.
What other schools are in Somerton Elementary District (4500)?
Besides Desert Sonora Elementary School, Somerton Elementary District (4500) also operates Somerton Middle School (697 students), Tierra Del Sol Elementary School (579 students), and Orange Grove Elementary School (412 students). See the Somerton Elementary District (4500) district page for the complete list.