- Enrollment
- 1,020
- Students per teacher
- 28.3:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Goodyear, AZ
Desert Thunder
Federal NCES profile for Desert Thunder, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 19/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040096002381
👥 S:T ratio 7
🌟 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 Thunder earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Arizona schools.
- #10 of 13
- schools in Goodyear · Resource Index
- 19
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.2:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 37.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Thunder has class sizes larger than 90% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Thunder ranks #10 of 13 schools in Goodyear, AZ.
School address
District: Avondale Elementary District (4272) · Arizona
NCES ID 040096002381 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+35 students YoY
Desert Thunder held near 946 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+35 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 40.3 → 42.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+35 students YoY 040096002381 · Goodyear, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
928 enr · 23.2:1 · 37.0% lunch · RII 19
Nearest enrollment peer: Copper Trails (1,020 students)
Desert Thunder held near 946 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+35 headcount). Teacher FTE added 40.3 → 42.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Thunder in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Copper Trails
Copper Trails
1,020 students
- This school
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
- Desert Star
Desert Star
637 students
What this shows Desert Thunder reports 928 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Thunder compares
Desert Thunder 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 | 23.2:1 | ▲ 36% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.0% | ▼ 23% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 928 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.2:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
928
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
23.2:1
students per teacher
- 36% above state mean
Top 90% in Arizona - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
51.1%
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 928 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
63
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 61.5%
White 18.3%
African American 14.9%
Two or More 2.4%
Asian 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 61.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.5, Desert Thunder 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 Thunder Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Trails | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Michael Anderson | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wildflower Accelerated Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Centerra Mirage Stem Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Star | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Thunder's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 637
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
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 (~928 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Thunder
How many students attend Desert Thunder?
Desert Thunder has 928 students enrolled. It is a public school in Goodyear, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 911 (2022-23) → 946 (2023-24), nearly flat (+35).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Thunder?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Thunder is 23.2:1, which is 36% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 48% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Thunder?
37.0% of students at Desert Thunder are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Thunder?
The largest demographic group at Desert Thunder is Hispanic or Latino at 61.5% of enrollment, in Goodyear, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Thunder?
Desert Thunder has a Resource Investment Index of 19/100 (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 Thunder rank among schools in Goodyear?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Thunder ranks #10 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 Thunder, Avondale Elementary District (4272) also operates Copper Trails (1,020 students), Michael Anderson (834 students), and Wildflower Accelerated Academy (750 students). See the Avondale Elementary District (4272) district page for the complete list.