Enrollment
2,761
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
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 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 040834000680
👥 S:T ratio 12
📚 AP courses 75
🌟 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 39/100 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
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 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 →
Teachers (FTE)
126.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.9:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+29% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
7.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-86% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desert Vista High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desert Vista High School
Desert Vista High School is a lower-poverty, large high school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 2,761 students.
Class loads run heavy: 21.9:1 is larger than about 86% of Arizona schools and 29% above the 17:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 7.0% free-meal eligibility runs 86% below the Arizona average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,761 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 36 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #18.
Its student body is led by White (49%) and Hispanic or Latino (28%) (diversity index 66/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 15 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 394 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 34.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Tempe Union High School District (4287) spends $9,314 per pupil, 29% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Phoenix's high schools, it stands alongside Madison Highland Prep (510 students): Desert Vista High School is larger than that campus by headcount.
Tempe Union High School District (4287) also operates Corona Del Sol High School (2,600 students) and Mcclintock High School (1,781 students) alongside Desert Vista High 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 High School compares
Desert Vista High 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 | 21.9:1 | ▲ 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 (what these measure)
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
$9,314
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
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Tempe Union High School District (4287), which includes Desert Vista High School.
$9,314
Per student
-29%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-44%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 68.9%
State 21.9%
Federal 9.2%
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 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
- 2,600
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- 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
Similar high 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 (~2,761 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desert Vista High School's federal record.
- Compare Desert Vista High School against another school. Compare schools
- Tempe Union High School District (4287)'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 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.
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 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Desert Vista High School a good school?
Desert Vista High School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona. 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 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.
Related tools
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.