- Enrollment
- 737
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Casa Grande, AZ
Desert Willow Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Willow Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040171002574
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 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 Willow Elementary School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools.
- #4 of 8
- schools in Casa Grande · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 43.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Willow Elementary School has class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Willow Elementary School ranks #4 of 8 schools in Casa Grande, AZ.
School address
District: Casa Grande Elementary District (4446) · Arizona
NCES ID 040171002574 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Desert Willow Elementary School held near 465 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 23.0 → 21.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 040171002574 · Casa Grande, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
505 enr · 22:1 · 43.9% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Cactus Middle School (737 students)
Desert Willow Elementary School held near 465 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 23.0 → 21.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Willow Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cactus Middle
Cactus Middle School
737 students
- Villago Middle
Villago Middle School
723 students
- Mccartney Ranc
Mccartney Ranch Elementary School
668 students
- Casa Grande Mi
Casa Grande Middle School
648 students
- Palo Verde Sch
Palo Verde School
548 students
- This school
Desert Willow Elementary School
505 students
What this shows Desert Willow Elementary School reports 505 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Willow Elementary School compares
Desert Willow Elementary School 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 | 22:1 | ▲ 29% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.9% | ▼ 9% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 505 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
505
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22:1
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
61.8%
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
$10,237
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 505 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 57.2%
White 28.7%
African American 5.9%
Two or More 4.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.6%
Asian 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 57.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.4, Desert Willow Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Casa Grande Elementary District (4446) reports $10,237 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Willow Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cactus Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Villago Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mccartney Ranch Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Casa Grande Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Palo Verde School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Willow Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 723
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 668
- Students per teacher
- 24.7:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 648
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 548
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar other schools in Casa Grande
3 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 (~505 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Willow Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Willow Elementary School?
Desert Willow Elementary School has 505 students enrolled. It is a public school in Casa Grande, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 471 (2022-23) → 465 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Willow Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Willow Elementary School is 22:1, which is 29% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 40% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Willow Elementary School?
43.9% of students at Desert Willow Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Willow Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Willow Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 57.2% of enrollment, in Casa Grande, 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 Willow Elementary School?
Desert Willow Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (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 Willow Elementary School rank among schools in Casa Grande?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Willow Elementary School ranks #4 of 8 schools in Casa Grande, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Casa Grande on the city page.
What other schools are in Casa Grande Elementary District (4446)?
Besides Desert Willow Elementary School, Casa Grande Elementary District (4446) also operates Cactus Middle School (737 students), Villago Middle School (723 students), and Mccartney Ranch Elementary School (668 students). See the Casa Grande Elementary District (4446) district page for the complete list.