- Enrollment
- 856
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Glendale, AZ
Desert Spirit
Federal NCES profile for Desert Spirit, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040342002281
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Spirit earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools.
- #41 of 46
- schools in Glendale · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 73.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Spirit has class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Spirit ranks #41 of 46 schools in Glendale, AZ.
School address
District: Glendale Elementary District (4271) · Arizona
NCES ID 040342002281 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
Desert Spirit held near 683 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 31.5 → 34.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+13 students YoY 040342002281 · Glendale, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
682 enr · 22:1 · 73.0% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Horizon School (856 students)
Desert Spirit held near 683 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount). Teacher FTE added 31.5 → 34.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Spirit in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Horizon School
Horizon School
856 students
- Challenger Mid
Challenger Middle School
839 students
- William C Jack
William C Jack School
811 students
- Bicentennial S
Bicentennial South School
729 students
- Harold W Smith
Harold W Smith School
719 students
- This school
Desert Spirit
682 students
What this shows Desert Spirit reports 682 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Spirit compares
Desert Spirit 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 | 22:1 | ▲ 29% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.0% | ▲ 51% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 682 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
682
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
73.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% 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
22:1
students per teacher
- 29% above state mean
Top 86% in Arizona - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
62.2%
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
$10,795
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
66
in-school suspensions + 51 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 76.7%
African American 8.8%
White 6.3%
Asian 3.7%
Two or More 2.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 76.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.8, Desert Spirit is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Glendale Elementary District (4271) reports $10,795 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Spirit Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Challenger Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| William C Jack School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bicentennial South School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Harold W Smith School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Spirit's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 839
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 811
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 719
- Students per teacher
- 27.7:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar other schools in Glendale
1 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 (~682 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Spirit
How many students attend Desert Spirit?
Desert Spirit has 682 students enrolled. It is a public school in Glendale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 670 (2022-23) → 683 (2023-24), nearly flat (+13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Spirit?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Spirit is 22:1, which is 29% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 40% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Spirit?
73.0% of students at Desert Spirit are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Spirit?
The largest demographic group at Desert Spirit is Hispanic or Latino at 76.7% of enrollment, in Glendale, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Spirit?
Desert Spirit has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Spirit rank among schools in Glendale?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Spirit ranks #41 of 46 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 schools in Glendale on the city page.
What other schools are in Glendale Elementary District (4271)?
Besides Desert Spirit, Glendale Elementary District (4271) also operates Horizon School (856 students), Challenger Middle School (839 students), and William C Jack School (811 students). See the Glendale Elementary District (4271) district page for the complete list.