Enrollment
435
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Apache Junction, AZ
Desert Vista Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Vista Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040079001461
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Vista Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #7 of 10
- public schools in Apache Junction · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.5:1
- students per teacher
- 39.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Vista Elementary School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Vista Elementary School ranks #7 of 10 public schools in Apache Junction, AZ.
School address
District: Apache Junction Unified District (4443) · Arizona
NCES ID 040079001461 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
28.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.5:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
39.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-19% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desert Vista Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desert Vista Elementary School
Desert Vista Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Apache Junction, Arizona, enrolling 435 students.
At 15.5:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Arizona median, within a few percentage points of the 17:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 39.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 435 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 286 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #207, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (49%) and Hispanic or Latino (42%) (diversity index 58/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 54.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Apache Junction Unified District (4443) spends $9,806 per pupil, 25% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Apache Junction's public schools, it stands alongside Four Peaks Elementary School (400 students): Desert Vista Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.5:1 vs 16:1).
Apache Junction Unified District (4443) also operates Apache Junction High School (796 students) and Cactus Canyon Junior High (527 students) alongside Desert Vista 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 Vista Elementary School compares
Desert Vista 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 | 15.5:1 | ▼ 9% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.0% | ▼ 19% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 435 | top 47% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
435
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
39.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% 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
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 41% in Arizona - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
54.3%
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
$9,806
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.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 39 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
White 48.5%
Hispanic or Latino 42.3%
African American 3.2%
Two or More 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.3%
Asian 1.1%
Largest group: White at 48.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.4, Desert Vista Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Apache Junction Unified District (4443), which includes Desert Vista Elementary School.
$9,806
Per student
-25%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-41%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 55.9%
State 34.6%
Federal 9.5%
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 Vista Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Junction High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cactus Canyon Junior High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Four Peaks Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Peralta Trail Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Vista Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 796
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 527
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 282
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
Similar other schools in Apache Junction
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~435 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desert Vista Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Desert Vista Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Apache Junction Unified District (4443)'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 Vista Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Vista Elementary School?
Desert Vista Elementary School has 435 students enrolled. It is a public school in Apache Junction, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Vista Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Vista Elementary School is 15.5:1, which is 9% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 1% 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 Vista Elementary School?
39.0% of students at Desert Vista Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Vista Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Vista Elementary School is White at 48.5% of enrollment, in Apache Junction, 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 Vista Elementary School?
Desert Vista Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Vista Elementary School rank among public schools in Apache Junction?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Vista Elementary School ranks #7 of 10 public schools in Apache Junction, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Apache Junction on the city page.
Is Desert Vista Elementary School a good school?
Desert Vista Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. 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 Apache Junction Unified District (4443)?
Besides Desert Vista Elementary School, Apache Junction Unified District (4443) also operates Apache Junction High School (796 students), Cactus Canyon Junior High (527 students), and Four Peaks Elementary School (400 students). See the Apache Junction Unified District (4443) 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.