Enrollment
648
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.6:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+27% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
36.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desert Sunset Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desert Sunset Elementary School
Desert Sunset Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Buckeye, Arizona, enrolling 648 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 36.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 648 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 97% of the 2,064 Arizona schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 294 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #277, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (59%) and White (24%) (diversity index 58/100).
The surrounding Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) spends $8,894 per pupil, 32% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Buckeye's public schools, it stands alongside Verrado Heritage Elementary School (1,014 students): Desert Sunset Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (21.6:1 vs 24.1:1).
Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254) also operates Tonopah Valley High School (869 students) and Ruth Fisher Middle School (745 students) alongside Desert Sunset Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Desert Sunset Elementary School compares
Desert Sunset Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$8,894
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,145
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
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.
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254), which includes Desert Sunset Elementary School.
$8,894
Per student
-32%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-46%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 76.0%
State 9.1%
Federal 14.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
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
- 869
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- 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
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arizona, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~648 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desert Sunset Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Desert Sunset Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Saddle Mountain Unified School District (4254)'s spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
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.
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.
Is Desert Sunset Elementary School a good school?
Desert Sunset Elementary School earns 14/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
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.
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Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.