- Enrollment
- 1,362
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Scottsdale, AZ
Desert Sun Academy
Federal NCES profile for Desert Sun Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040000100616
👥 S:T ratio 68
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Sun Academy earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of Arizona schools.
- #2 of 4
- schools in Scottsdale · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 8:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 11.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Sun Academy has class sizes smaller than 95% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sun Academy ranks #2 of 4 schools in Scottsdale, AZ.
School address
District: Cave Creek Unified District (4244) · Arizona
NCES ID 040000100616 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-81 students YoY
Desert Sun Academy shrank from 322 students in 2022-23 to 241 in 2023-24 (-25.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 24.0 → 21.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-81 students YoY 040000100616 · Scottsdale, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
191 enr · 8:1 · 11.8% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Cactus Shadows High School (1,362 students)
Desert Sun Academy shrank from 322 students in 2022-23 to 241 in 2023-24 (-25.2%). Teacher FTE lost 24.0 → 21.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Sun Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cactus Shadows
Cactus Shadows High School
1,362 students
- Sonoran Trails
Sonoran Trails Middle School
615 students
- Black Mountain 496
Black Mountain Elementary School
496 students
- Horseshoe Trai 424
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
424 students
- Lone Mountain 376
Lone Mountain Elementary School
376 students
- This school 191
Desert Sun Academy
191 students
What this shows Desert Sun Academy reports 191 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Sun Academy compares
Desert Sun Academy 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 | 8:1 | ▼ 53% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 11.8% | ▼ 76% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 191 | top 72% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
191
Bigger than 19% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
11.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 76% 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
8:1
students per teacher
- 53% below state mean
Top 5% in Arizona - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
96.9%
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
$9,626
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
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 72.8%
Hispanic or Latino 20.4%
Two or More 5.2%
African American 1.6%
Largest group: White at 72.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.5, Desert Sun Academy is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
District finance for Cave Creek Unified District (4244) reports $9,626 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Sun Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cactus Shadows High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sonoran Trails Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Black Mountain Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horseshoe Trails Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lone Mountain Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Sun Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 615
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
- Enrollment
- 496
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 376
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar other schools in Scottsdale
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 (~191 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Sun Academy
How many students attend Desert Sun Academy?
Desert Sun Academy has 191 students enrolled. It is a public school in Scottsdale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 322 (2022-23) → 241 (2023-24), down 81.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Sun Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Sun Academy is 8:1, which is 53% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 49% 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 Sun Academy?
11.8% of students at Desert Sun Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Sun Academy?
The largest demographic group at Desert Sun Academy is White at 72.8% of enrollment, in Scottsdale, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Sun Academy?
Desert Sun Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Sun Academy rank among schools in Scottsdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sun Academy ranks #2 of 4 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 Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Besides Desert Sun Academy, Cave Creek Unified District (4244) also operates Cactus Shadows High School (1,362 students), Sonoran Trails Middle School (615 students), and Black Mountain Elementary School (496 students). See the Cave Creek Unified District (4244) district page for the complete list.