- Enrollment
- 869
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Buckeye, AZ
Desert Sunset Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Sunset Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 14/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040717003804
👥 S:T ratio 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Sunset Elementary School earns 14/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools.
- #5 of 6
- schools in Buckeye · Resource Index
- 14
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.6:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 36.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Sunset Elementary School has class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sunset Elementary School ranks #5 of 6 schools in Buckeye, AZ.
School address
NCES ID 040717003804 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+41 students YoY
Desert Sunset Elementary School grew from 631 students in 2022-23 to 672 in 2023-24 (+6.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 30.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+41 students YoY 040717003804 · Buckeye, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
648 enr · 21.6:1 · 36.9% lunch · RII 14
Nearest enrollment peer: Tonopah Valley High School (869 students)
Desert Sunset Elementary School grew from 631 students in 2022-23 to 672 in 2023-24 (+6.5%). Teacher FTE lost 30.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Sunset Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Tonopah Valley
Tonopah Valley High School
869 students
- Ruth Fisher Mi
Ruth Fisher Middle School
745 students
- Winters Well E
Winters Well Elementary School
663 students
- This school
Desert Sunset Elementary School
648 students
- Tartesso Eleme 340
Tartesso Elementary School
340 students
What this shows Desert Sunset Elementary School reports 648 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Sunset Elementary School compares
Desert Sunset Elementary School is a growing 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 | 21.6:1 | ▲ 27% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.9% | ▼ 24% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 648 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.6:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
648
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.6:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 84% in Arizona - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$10,380
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.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 58.6%
White 24.4%
African American 10.2%
Two or More 4.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 58.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.4, Desert Sunset Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
District finance for Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) reports $10,380 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Sunset Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonopah Valley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ruth Fisher Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Winters Well Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tartesso Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Sunset Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 745
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 663
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 340
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar other schools in Buckeye
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Verrado Heritage Elementary School
Standard public school
1,014 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Blue Horizons Elementary School
Standard public school
976 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Marionneaux Elementary School
Standard public school
697 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Sequoia Pathfinder Academy at Verrado Way and I-10
Standard public school
602 students
Festival Foothills Elementary School
Standard public school
262 students 16.4:1 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 (~648 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Sunset Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Sunset Elementary School?
Desert Sunset Elementary School has 648 students enrolled. It is a public school in Buckeye, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 631 (2022-23) → 672 (2023-24), up 41.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Sunset Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Sunset Elementary School is 21.6:1, which is 27% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 38% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Sunset Elementary School?
36.9% of students at Desert Sunset Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Sunset Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Sunset Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 58.6% of enrollment, in Buckeye, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Sunset Elementary School?
Desert Sunset Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 14/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 1 factor: student-teacher ratio. 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 Sunset Elementary School rank among schools in Buckeye?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Sunset Elementary School ranks #5 of 6 schools in Buckeye, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Buckeye on the city page.
What other schools are in Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254)?
Besides Desert Sunset Elementary School, Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) also operates Tonopah Valley High School (869 students), Ruth Fisher Middle School (745 students), and Winters Well Elementary School (663 students). See the Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) district page for the complete list.