- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Scottsdale, AZ
Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 61/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040593001239
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Arizona schools.
- #1 of 26
- schools in Scottsdale · Resource Index
- 61
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 8.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 85% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School ranks #1 of 26 schools in Scottsdale, AZ.
School address
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) · Arizona
NCES ID 040593001239 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-17 students YoY
Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School held near 354 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 31.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-17 students YoY 040593001239 · Scottsdale, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
371 enr · 12:1 · 8.9% lunch · RII 61
Nearest enrollment peer: Pinnacle High School (2,430 students)
Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School held near 354 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount). Teacher FTE added 31.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Springs Preparatory 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 371
Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School
371 students
What this shows Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School reports 371 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School compares
Desert Springs Preparatory 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 | 12:1 | ▼ 29% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 8.9% | ▼ 82% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 371 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
371
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
8.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 82% 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
12:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 15% in Arizona - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 Springs Preparatory 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shadow Mountain High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Springs Preparatory 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 (~371 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School?
Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School has 371 students enrolled. It is a public school in Scottsdale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 371 (2022-23) → 354 (2023-24), nearly flat (-17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School is 12:1, which is 29% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 24% lower 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 Springs Preparatory Elementary School?
8.9% of students at Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School?
Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 61/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School rank among schools in Scottsdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School ranks #1 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 Springs Preparatory 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.