- Enrollment
- 2,600
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Phoenix, AZ
Desert Vista High School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Vista High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 040834000680
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 15
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Vista High School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona.
- #35 of 65
- high schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.9:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 7.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Vista High School has class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Vista High School ranks #35 of 65 high schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Tempe Union High School District (4287) · Arizona
NCES ID 040834000680 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-162 students YoY
Desert Vista High School shrank from 2,964 students in 2022-23 to 2,802 in 2023-24 (-5.5%).
Teacher FTE added 126.6 → 129.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-162 students YoY 040834000680 · Phoenix, AZ High · LARGE · TRAD
2,761 enr · 21.9:1 · 7.0% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Corona Del Sol High School (2,600 students)
Desert Vista High School shrank from 2,964 students in 2022-23 to 2,802 in 2023-24 (-5.5%). Teacher FTE added 126.6 → 129.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Vista High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Desert Vista High School
2,761 students
- Corona Del Sol
Corona Del Sol High School
2,600 students
- Mcclintock Hig
Mcclintock High School
1,781 students
- Mountain Point
Mountain Pointe High School
1,570 students
- Tempe High Sch
Tempe High School
1,431 students
- Marcos De Niza
Marcos De Niza High School
1,408 students
What this shows Desert Vista High School reports 2,761 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Vista High School compares
Desert Vista High 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 | 21.9:1 | ▲ 29% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 7.0% | ▼ 86% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,761 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.9:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,761
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
7.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 86% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.9:1
students per teacher
- 29% above state mean
Top 86% in Arizona - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
34.0%
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
$11,252
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
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 394 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 90 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 49.4%
Hispanic or Latino 28.0%
Two or More 8.2%
African American 6.1%
Asian 6.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 49.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.3, Desert Vista High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 15
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tempe Union High School District (4287) reports $11,252 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Vista High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corona Del Sol High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mcclintock High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mountain Pointe High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Tempe High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Marcos De Niza High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Vista High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,781
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,570
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,431
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,408
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar high schools in Phoenix
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Madison Highland Prep
Standard public school
510 students
Arizona Preparatory Academy
Alternative education program
233 students
Ombudsman - Charter West
Alternative education program
176 students
Skyline Prep High School
Alternative education program
167 students
Intelli-School - Paradise Valley
Alternative education program
63 students
Think Through Academy
Standard public school
61 students
Nationwide high 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 (~2,761 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.9:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Vista High School
How many students attend Desert Vista High School?
Desert Vista High School has 2,761 students enrolled. It is a high school in Phoenix, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 2,964 (2022-23) → 2,802 (2023-24), down 162.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Vista High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Vista High School is 21.9:1, which is 29% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 39% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Vista High School?
7.0% of students at Desert Vista High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Vista High School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Vista High School is White at 49.4% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Vista High School?
Desert Vista High School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (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 Vista High School rank among high schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Vista High School ranks #35 of 65 high schools in Phoenix, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Phoenix on the city page.
What other schools are in Tempe Union High School District (4287)?
Besides Desert Vista High School, Tempe Union High School District (4287) also operates Corona Del Sol High School (2,600 students), Mcclintock High School (1,781 students), and Mountain Pointe High School (1,570 students). See the Tempe Union High School District (4287) district page for the complete list.