- Enrollment
- 1,020
- Students per teacher
- 28.3:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Goodyear, AZ
Desert Star
Federal NCES profile for Desert Star, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 20/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040096002255
👥 S:T ratio 9
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Star earns 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Arizona schools.
- #9 of 13
- schools in Goodyear · Resource Index
- 20
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.8:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 46.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Star has class sizes larger than 89% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Star ranks #9 of 13 schools in Goodyear, AZ.
School address
District: Avondale Elementary District (4272) · Arizona
NCES ID 040096002255 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Desert Star held near 630 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.3 → 30.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 040096002255 · Goodyear, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
637 enr · 22.8:1 · 46.9% lunch · RII 20
Nearest enrollment peer: Copper Trails (1,020 students)
Desert Star held near 630 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.3 → 30.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Star in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Copper Trails
Copper Trails
1,020 students
- Desert Thunder
Desert Thunder
928 students
- Michael Anders
Michael Anderson
834 students
- Wildflower Acc
Wildflower Accelerated Academy
750 students
- Centerra Mirag
Centerra Mirage Stem Academy
659 students
- This school
Desert Star
637 students
What this shows Desert Star reports 637 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Star compares
Desert Star 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 | 22.8:1 | ▲ 34% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.9% | ▼ 3% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 637 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.8:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
637
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.8:1
students per teacher
- 34% above state mean
Top 89% in Arizona - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
44.0%
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
$10,264
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 637 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
71
in-school suspensions + 35 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 59.5%
White 22.8%
African American 12.6%
Two or More 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 59.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.7, Desert Star is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Avondale Elementary District (4272) reports $10,264 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Star Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Trails | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Thunder | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Michael Anderson | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wildflower Accelerated Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Centerra Mirage Stem Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Star's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 928
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 834
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 750
- Students per teacher
- 27.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 659
- Students per teacher
- 28.7:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar other schools in Goodyear
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 (~637 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Star
How many students attend Desert Star?
Desert Star has 637 students enrolled. It is a public school in Goodyear, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 638 (2022-23) → 630 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Star?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Star is 22.8:1, which is 34% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 45% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Star?
46.9% of students at Desert Star are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Star?
The largest demographic group at Desert Star is Hispanic or Latino at 59.5% of enrollment, in Goodyear, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Star?
Desert Star has a Resource Investment Index of 20/100 (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 Star rank among schools in Goodyear?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Star ranks #9 of 13 schools in Goodyear, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Goodyear on the city page.
What other schools are in Avondale Elementary District (4272)?
Besides Desert Star, Avondale Elementary District (4272) also operates Copper Trails (1,020 students), Desert Thunder (928 students), and Michael Anderson (834 students). See the Avondale Elementary District (4272) district page for the complete list.