- Enrollment
- 796
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-35 students YoY
Desert Vista Elementary School shrank from 536 students in 2022-23 to 501 in 2023-24 (-6.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 28.3 → 27.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-35 students YoY 040079001461 · Apache Junction, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
435 enr · 15.5:1 · 39.0% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: Apache Junction High School (796 students)
Desert Vista Elementary School shrank from 536 students in 2022-23 to 501 in 2023-24 (-6.5%). Teacher FTE lost 28.3 → 27.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Vista Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Apache Junctio
Apache Junction High School
796 students
- Cactus Canyon
Cactus Canyon Junior High
527 students
- This school
Desert Vista Elementary School
435 students
- Four Peaks Ele
Four Peaks Elementary School
400 students
- Peralta Trail 282
Peralta Trail Elementary School
282 students
What this shows Desert Vista Elementary School reports 435 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Vista Elementary School compares
Desert Vista Elementary School 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 | 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 methodology
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
$11,498
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
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.
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
District finance for Apache Junction Unified District (4443) reports $11,498 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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.
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 (~435 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 536 (2022-23) → 501 (2023-24), down 35.
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, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.